Tinpot Hut’s owner and winemaker Fiona Turner began developing her Blind River “Home Block” vineyard in Marlborough’s Awatere Valley with husband Hamish in 2005. Originally part of a large sheep farming station, Fiona acknowledged the origins of her Home Block by naming her range of wines after the historic ‘Tinpot Hut’; a Marlborough landmark frequented by local high country musterers.
This vineyard was one of the founding properties to be planted in the emerging sub region of Blind River, just south of Marlborough’s Awatere Valley.
Growing Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, Blind River has a flavour spectrum which reflects its coastal location. ‘Minerality and crushed herbs on steroids’ is one description often bandied around.
The French call it ‘terroir’ – we like to call it ‘balance’ – the harmony of the vine, the soil, the climate and the subsequent grapes harvested at optimal ripeness to produce elegant wines. Marlborough, at the eastern tip of the South Island, has one of the highest annual sunshine hours in New Zealand (2,395 hours per year) and very low rainfall by New Zealand standards (650mm or 25in per year). The average annual temperatures are cool (12.5°C or 55°F).
From flowering November-December through to the grape ripening months of January-March and on to the harvest in late March/April, the sub regions in Marlborough have cool nights moving to warm days. These temperatures allow an extended ripening period that produces intense flavour development and excellent sugar to acid balance.
Tinpot Hut Wines produces wines from vineyards located in the sub-regions of Blind River (Awatere), Lower Wairau, Rapaura, and Omaka.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.