MATAKANA WINE ESSAYS

Well, we are over jetlag and settled into the Matakana Valley early NZ spring. Lots of wine, showers and green things sprouting. One of the real pioneers in the wine business is Robin Ransom. He and his lovely wife founded one of the earliest vineyards here in 1993. Robin is the leader of our little wine coop and has been writing wonderful little essays on wine, our area, and all areas of the "grape to wine"process that get published monthy in our local paper. I am excited to be able to announce that Robin has graciously agreed to let me post his essays on this blog site for the education of all wine lovers. Knowledge is power and Robin is a fount of wine knowledge as you will see if you read this series of essays that I plan to post over the next few months.

To learn more about Ransom Wines go to their web site at

www.ransomwines.co.nz

They have really good wines, a lovely cellar/cafe, and are fun to visit and talk with if you want to get the real history of Matakana Valley Wines. If you are reading this in the states , you can buy their wines only in the state of Colo. Look for their Dark Summit Red as it is very yummy. If your local store does not stock Ransom Wines from NZ and you live in Colo. do ask them to get some for you!!

Sooooo, here is Robin's most recent article from last month.

LOCAL MATTERS CONTRIBUTION – SEPTEMBER 2007

Matakana Terroirists

If you have read much in recent years about wine you will have encountered the word “terroir”. It has no English equivalent but as you might detect, the word has a geographical origin. A very brief definition is that terroir is the total natural environment of any viticultural site, so it includes such things as temperature, sunlight, rainfall, wind, humidity, topography, altitude, slope, aspect, geology, soil, and soil water relations. From the infinite interactive possibilities of this list of variables it is obvious that terroir implies unique.

Why is terroir an issue? Consider this: a large proportion of all the wine available to us, whether from New Zealand or imported, cannot claim a meaningful terroir origin. It is manufactured in industrial circumstances and volumes, often with grapes from a number of regions or sub-regions and then blended or otherwise manipulated to ensure the resultant beverage is much the same this year as it was last year and before. These wines are generally competently made, inexpensive, and for many, enjoyable to drink – they have to be in order to sell. But they can never reflect the sense of place which single-vineyard, terroir-based wines always do, by definition.

It is inevitable that the uniqueness and authenticity which terroir imparts will become increasingly sought out by wine drinkers looking to understand how and why the Bordeaux blend wines from Matakana for example, differ from those of Hawkes Bay, and how and why the Matakana wines differ from one vintage to the next.

The satisfaction which comes with the ability to discern and discriminate in this way cannot be overstated in a world flooded with high quality goods and experiences. It will never lead to the demise of “manufactured” wine because as with most other consumer goods, there will always be a demand for a broad range of prices and qualities.

But for the Matakana terroirists, characterized as we are by family owned, single vineyard winegrowing operations, the notion of terroir cements our place, especially amongst the cognoscenti, as producers of unique and interesting wines. This will ensure that demand for Matakana wines, and in its own small way the prosperity of the region, continues to grow into the future.

Robin Ransom

President, Matakana Winegrowers Inc.

robin@ransomwines.co.nz

I learn a lot myself from reading what Robin writes each month and am glad to be able to share some of his knowledge with you. BTW, do pass this blog on to your wine loving friends. I pledge to hold the Hawks Nest wine marketing to a minimum for a bit so feel free to just come back occasionally to learn more about wines and the wines of Matakana Valley here in lovely NZ.

More soon;

Dr JIM

PS We are pouring our new 06 wine just released here in NZ--called Back Paddock-at the annual Warkworth annual spring city party on Sat. Oct 13th. Hours 11-4 by the river in Warkworth. So join us if you live in NZ!!!!