Those of you who watch Country Calendar may have seen Churton Wines on Sunday 28th July 2024.
PRODUCING SOULFUL, ORGANICALLY CERTIFIED WINES FROM OUR DISTINCTIVE HILLSIDE VINEYARD IN MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND
For the past 30 years Sam and Mandy Weaver have farmed the land with a delicate hand, long before it was fashionable, and approached the vineyard with strong ecological values, a focus on biodiversity and adopted biodynamic principles. The wonderful diversity of the property from its mature trees and native bush to the riverbed and pastureland first attracted them to this special place. This is a family farm with three generations living and working on it, a herd of Red Devon cattle, that get let into the vines after harvest at Autumn, beehives, chickens and the family dogs.
Sam Weaver looked at an overview of their property and decided it looked like a side of beef, so all the different blocks are named after cuts of meat!
The reins have now been handed over to the second generation, Ben and Jack, who bring youth and innovation to the Churton vineyard and cellar.
Biodynamic farming allows them to truly express their unique hillside vineyard site and its soil. They learn daily from the farm and are always seeking ways to challenge themselves and convention, experimenting with a traditional approach to winemaking to bring out the best from their vines. They firmly believe that the source of exceptional wines lies in the vineyard.
Their biodynamics involves Microbiology, Macro-biology, Cosmic biology and Spiritual biology, and their wines cover 22ha of their 51ha farm.
They focus on four grape varieties, which they believe are best suited to the undulating hillside vineyard with its north-east aspect, clay soils and specific micro-climate. They are:
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Viognier
- Petit Manseng – they are NZs main producer of this wine, a native to France’s Jurancon area
- Pinot Noir
Churton also has a Wine Club if you would like to join.
Central Otago: The New Zealand wine region with vineyards to rival Burgundy
Susy Atkins, Daily Telegraph UK | July 2024 The world’sRead more…