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Next WineryIn 1991 Highfield Estate was purchased from a Marlborough grape prowing family by an international partnership of Shin Yokoi (Japan) Tom Tenuwera (UK) and Neil Buchanan (NZ). The philosophy of the company is to produce wines of the highest quality for the international market and production increases in the future will only be permitted if quality is maintained. The Highfield vineyard and winery is run by Tony Hooper, Winemaker and Rhonda Finlay, Marketing Manager. Between them they bring sixteen years of industry experience to the winery and embrace the challange of leading an innovative company into the export arena.
Highfield Estate owns vineyards in the following areas:
Marlborough: 4 hectares Omoka Valley Winery Block, a silty clay vineyard planted in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot.
Marlborough: 9 hectares Mills & Ford Rd, Wairau Plains, planted in Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. Currently the Pinot Noir is being underplanted in Sauvignon Blanc and the future will see small plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for methode champenoise, and Semillon for botrytised wines. This vineyard is situated near the Wairau River and has stony, free draining soils with abundant pure underground water which, coupled with Marlborough's legendary climatic qualities of long, dry summers and cool autumns, provide a recipe for production of grapes of superior quality with intense flavours.
In addition a handful of contract growers have been selected for specific varieties to add regional variance and give more complexity to the wine.
Australian winemaker Tony Hooper, a Roseworthy graduate, brings experience from some of Australia's leading wineries such as McWilliams, Seppelts and Lindemans. Prior to joining Highfield in 1991, Tony gained valuable New Zealand experience with Villa Maria in Auckland, and Esk Valley in Hawkes Bay. Tony's passion and commitment to making premium wines is supported with state of the art equipment and the employment of the most up to date techniques available to the industry. In the vineyard Highfields winemaker takes a hands on approach with grower liaison and meticulous vine management, including leaf plucking, shoot thinning and employment of Scott Henry & Sylvos trellising systems. All this supports production of quality grapes with intense flavour and full ripeness.
Highfield Estate Winery Ltd currently crushes approximately 100 tonnes of grapes and produces 6000 cases of wine per annum. With planned plantings coming into production over the next three years significant growth is forecast.
Main export wines currently are Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
The full range comprises of Merlot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Botrytis Riesling.
A further range extension will see the release in September 1996 of a 'Limited Edition' range comprising of a 1993 Methode Champenoise, and from 1994, a Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc, Barrique Chardonnay and Merlot Cabernet. The philosophy behind these wines is a traditional handmade approach with great attention to detail, low quantity high quality, hand picked fruit, new French oak and valuable bottle ageing.
As a measure of our commitment to enhance our wines, consultant Michel Drappier of 'Drappier Champagne' in France oversees the production of our methode champenoise, and Alan Hoey, of Yalumba & Nautilus fame consults on our still wines. This coupled with our aim of gaining quality accreditation to ISO9002 by the end of 1996 illustrates our long term goals as an outstanding Marlborough winery.
UK: Hugh Phillips @ Boxford Wine Coy, Tel 01787 210187, Fax 01787 211391
Limited sales have also been established in South Africa and Japan.
Highfield Estate Winery is interested in building its presence in other markets and would welcome enquiries from prospective importers/distributors.
Rhonda Finlay, Highfield Estate Ltd, Brookby Rd, RD2, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand Tel: 64 3 572 8592, Fax: 64 3 572 9257