New Zealand

River Farm Wines

Marlborough

The newest name in Marlborough, the River Farm vineyards are amongst the best in both the Wairau Valley, with cool temperatures, dry conditions and a stony gravel soil type, and in the Southern Valleys where the temperature is cooler, the air drier and the soil has higher clay content. Working with blocks of different aged vines within these vineyards gives owner David Dew, and ex-Seresin winemaker, Brian Bicknell, a range of different characteristics to work with.

Some grapes are hand-picked and wild yeast, barrel fermented, and others machine picked and tank fermented. When coupled with the options of using both free-run and press-wine, Brian has the material to create wines that are interesting, complex and original. Each decision is made with care, with the aim of creating wines that express the very essence of Marlborough.

David Dew arrived in Marlborough as a young lawyer fresh from University in 1973. Having been brought up on a rural dairy farm in Taranaki, he was quick to notice the first vineyards being planted amongst the sheep farms of the Wairau Valley. In 1980, he and some colleagues established one of the first independent vineyards in the province. Over the years David’s involvement with the wine industry has grown – providing legal advice to the burgeoning sector. It didn’t stop there – he was soon spending his weekends helping out wine industry friends to establish their businesses. It wass only in 2008, however, that David decided to launch his own River Farm label from vineyards he has bought over the years.

The first vintage saw production of two Sauvignon Blancs from the Ben Morven Road and Saint Maur vineyard sites.

2009 was a great growing season for River Farm, culminating in a cool and dry March which helped ensure intense fruit character with good acid balance, producing wines even better than the 2008s and we are delighted to be introducing River Farm to the UK with such great wines.

Visit: www.riverfarmwines.co.nz