Terroir. Appellations. Key terms in the world of French vinification, established centuries ago, where the defined provenance of a particular area can be more important to the Gallic approach than anything else. In NZ we're only just catching up to something the French have long understood: that it is prudent to protect your prime viticultural assets.

In 2016 the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Amendment Bill was passed into law here. It set out to define our pivotal winemaking areas and protect them (We can see the French rolling their eyes from here about how, in 2018, we are only just prescribing the area in which something labelled 'Marlborough' can be produced).

The Geographical Indicators that were established near our capital, Martinborough GI and Gladstone GI, reside there alongside Masterton. Only a tiny part of the total volume of wine made in NZ comes from these combined areas (currently around 1.3%), but as the likes of France, Italy or Spain will tell you, small can stand tall. This is a part of New Zealand that is generally made up of family-owned wineries with low production volumes. It is a region, however, that over-delivers in quality, generating a reputation for itself that far exceeds its numerical contribution.

Via this collective approach, the area now known as Wellington Wine Country delivers a unique and exciting array of quality vinous offerings. With the world's 'coolest little capital' just an hour's drive away, inserting 'Wellington' into the name was always going to be a good idea. This is a brilliant and overdue move, we reckon; so much so, we've decided to create a permanent home for these impressive wines, starting with our Wellington stores, and through the month of September we'd love to see you in here as we explore and elevate the wines from Wellington Wine Country under their auspicious new banner.