Martinborough
Martinborough is a wine region located in the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand. The small town and surrounding district has a population of around 1,500 and is home to some of New Zealand's most respected wineries. Martinborough's cool climate and excellent soils are perfect for producing balanced and elegant wines based on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Martinborough benefits from a relatively dry climate due to the rainfall protection provided by the surrounding hills. The area has a climate quite similar to Marlborough, with a coastal influence. The high hours of sunshine, low rainfall and cool nights favor the ripening of the grapes and give character to the wines. The region's wine-growing areas lie on the Martinborough Terrace: a raised plateau of alluvial gravels that has been forced up over time by tectonic movement. The draining nature of this soil is excellent for viticulture because it limits the hydration of the vines, which leads to stress. These stressed vines put more energy into producing small, concentrated berries than into producing foliage, which increases the quality of the grapes and therefore the wines.