News & Events
Wines of New Zealand
It was great to see so many of you at Wines of New Zealand! We featured wines from Ben Glover, of Zephyr and Glover Family Vineyards, and Jeremy McKenzie, of Isabel Estate. We were lucky enough to be joined by Ben Glover, who showcased his latest vintage.
In Marlborough, at the tip of the Southern Island, is the Wairau Valley and Isabel Estate. One of the first wineries in New Zealand, with some of the oldest vines in the region with original rootstock, Isabel Estate is known for expressive Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, dry Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. The wines were among the first to bottle the vibrant spirit of Marlborough. Under the new winemaking direction of Jeremy McKenzie, Isabel Estate wines have won several awards, such as a trophy for the 2020 Wild Barrique Chardonnay at the National Wine Awards of Aotearoa NZ 2022.
Then we move to the highly sought after Dillion’s point region, also within the Wairau Valley, where the lively wines of Zephyr can be found. The coastal vineyard is moderated by gentle breezes, or zephyrs. Planted in 1985 along the Opaoa river, just a few years after New Zealand’s first vintage, rows of Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc thrive in fertile loam soils. Since head winemaker Ben Glover launched Zephyr in 2007, the wines have developed a reputation for elegant aromatics and structural longevity.