{"id":5429,"date":"2022-04-26T10:31:49","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T22:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=5429"},"modified":"2022-04-26T11:44:41","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T23:44:41","slug":"winemaker-series-martin-bell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=5429","title":{"rendered":"Winemaker series: Martin Bell"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5429\" class=\"elementor elementor-5429\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e5ead71 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e5ead71\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c398ce5\" data-id=\"c398ce5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e6ef20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e6ef20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After a flying visit back in 2021, I managed to sneak in an interview with Martin Bell, winemaker at Butterworth, at the winery on Te Muna Road, before harvest in February this year (and that huge deluge of rain).<\/p><p><strong>WineFolio:<\/strong> How have you been through the last few months, because I have to say that for me, it has been hard! 100 days was a long time to be not able to travel outside of Auckland, and the absolute joy when we finally could \u2013 was amazing.<\/p><p><strong>Martin Bell<\/strong>: A lot of places, even Wellington, still relied on that traffic, from Auckland coming through. The Government things, with people moving around, and, of course, that\u2019s not happening. People aren\u2019t going out to lunch any more, because you can\u2019t entertain people. And then all of a sudden\u2026<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: But Kai Schubert was telling me he\u2019s never been so busy?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Absolutely 100%. Because every Wellingtonian has said \u201cI\u2019m sick of this \u2013 and I don\u2019t want to fly anywhere \u2013 so I\u2019m going to Martinborough, Gladstone and so on, and I\u2019m going to spend up big here\u201d. So it has been an interesting time for a winery perspective. Because Kai\u2019s massively busy, but restaurants in Wellington are absolutely struggling.<\/p><p>So you tried the 2021 Riesling?<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Yes, that was good. Before we did the tasting, we all had a discussion about what we were likely to be looking at \u2013 given that I think we had one wine with under one gram of residual sugar, to one that was over eighty grams. So quite different styles. And I said that we needed to be very careful about how we look at the wines, and look for what was delicious in each one. It could be hard to fall into the trap of being seduced by sugar, because we humans love sweet things. And, almost, a really dry Riesling has to work a little harder to shine? Yours and the Maude did well, and both dry styles. I think the second and third place wines both had 31 grams of residual sugar.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-07a02b8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"07a02b8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70ec80b\" data-id=\"70ec80b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-893c8a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"893c8a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Butterworth-dry-Riesling-20-1-1024x618.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5263\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Butterworth-dry-Riesling-20-1-1024x618.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Butterworth-dry-Riesling-20-1-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Butterworth-dry-Riesling-20-1-768x464.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Butterworth-dry-Riesling-20-1-1536x927.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Butterworth-dry-Riesling-20-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-03e5061 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03e5061\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-65719da\" data-id=\"65719da\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47d3455 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"47d3455\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Yes, the magic number.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: but a really good, dry Riesling is a magical thing too \u2013 a thing of beauty.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: It is. When I first arrived here they said \u2018you\u2019re making a dry riesling\u201d and I thought \u201coooh, haven\u2019t made one of those in a few years\u201d It had been nearly ten years, so I had to re-acquaint myself with \u2018drys\u2019. And I didn\u2019t go the Aussie dry way \u2013 I was looking at the Germanic dry\u2026 so Dr Loosen, for example. Those five to seven grams, with a searing acidity.<\/p><p>Towards the end of the ferment, it is tasting it three times daily. And there\u2019s just that continuous \u201cshould I, shouldn\u2019t I?\u201d and then you just finally get to that point and go \u201cthat\u2019s it\u201d. And you smack it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e58f63\" data-id=\"7e58f63\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1de71bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1de71bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Is that point obvious, once you reach it \u2013 or do you have to second guess yourself?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Second, and third guessing! Sometimes it just happens. 2020 it happened with us \u2013 it was \u201cOh, there it is!\u201d But in 2021, my harvest intern and I \u2013 we were eventually here at 9 o\u2019clock one night, still tasting it. And we said to each other \u201cI think this is it!\u201d And we knocked it with a bit of sulphur. And this is the product \u2013 in your glass. We\u2019re very very happy with it actually.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Do you remember the first one I tried of yours \u2013 it would have been a Julicher 2018? It had a residue in the bottle and we had a conversation about it, but now I don\u2019t recall what it was?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-637481e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"637481e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-194e1ec\" data-id=\"194e1ec\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d10af10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d10af10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Yes, it would have been the \u201918 as we didn\u2019t have a \u201919 with that big frost. That was cream of tartar \u2013 wine diamonds. Being a small winery, we just don\u2019t have the ability to get the small volume wines down to minus four. I cooled it, and had it outside over the winter period. I remember doing it as a kid, with a paperclip on a string in a really salty solution, and the crystals used to build on there, and it is weird that in winemaking you actually apply that science.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: That is a really delicious Riesling. The thing with the Top Tastings is that it is not just me, and my opinion. I think I liked it more than most, and maybe it got one \u2018it\u2019s Ok\u2019 vote. All it takes is for one person to be cool on it and it drops out the Top 10 completely. I\u2019m pleased we managed to do it, even with COVID around. Some people were a bit reticent.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: I think the thing with Omicron is there\u2019s just so much uncertainty out there of everything really. You\u2019ll be having orders \u2013 for example, one from Ireland which was really big \u2013 and literally, Omicron hit them\u2026 and they halved it. That\u2019s the joy of Omicron for the industry \u2013 you\u2019re just juggling orders until the time it goes on the boat.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-997502a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"997502a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2c8ee6a\" data-id=\"2c8ee6a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d66aa2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d66aa2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"804\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-1-936x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5419\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-1-936x1024.jpg 936w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-1-274x300.jpg 274w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-1-768x840.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-1-1404x1536.jpg 1404w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a78e558\" data-id=\"a78e558\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1171c71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1171c71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Imagine getting it just as harvest arrives?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: It would be diabolical. I\u2019m basically a one man band with an assistant, really. Without the winemaker it\u2019s pretty hard to make wine, I think. Everyone could sit there and YouTube it?<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Funny enough, for the Riesling Top 10 tasting we had a really wide range of styles \u2013 including one P\u00e9t Nat, from Greystone. It was Riesling, so we tasted it!<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: It is a good style, and I applaud those that can make good ones, you know.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0f6cc2c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0f6cc2c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e6a7e9f\" data-id=\"e6a7e9f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e9ab25 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e9ab25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: So, ageability for that \u2013 over ten years?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Oh Jeez, easily. Very low bot, so it\u2019s going to hold that freshness. That \u201918 had a bit of bot in it, and that\u2019s starting to show now, with a little age character, even after four years. The \u201920 and the \u201921 were very free from bot and because of that those clean flavours are just going to keep that smooth gradient up for ageability. I do like the ones with a bit of bot in as well though. They look wonderful around 15 years \u2013 they get that wonderful burnt apricot jam flavour. This was picked nearly in April, and its still only 11.5% alcohol \u2013 so just that hang time. I think that\u2019s maybe the key factor for us at Te Muna. It\u2019s slightly cooler at night, but warmer during the day. I\u2019m hoping to put a bit more Riesling in. And a few different clones \u2013 this is all 110, just to give it a bit more. I love this wine, and I want this wine to grow!<\/p><p>So, next \u2013 Sav Blanc \u2013 this is our new release. It hasn\u2019t been released yet, actually. Barrel-aged Sauvignon 2020, bottled just before Christmas. We\u2019ll look to release this in the next month or so. We put it into the NZIWS, just to see how it does?<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Having worked the New Zealand shows, it interesting to see how some of the more generic wines can shine, and sometimes the ones with personality don\u2019t make the podium. I\u2019m always quite keen, open-minded, and positive when I\u2019m looking at wine.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4eb6b50 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4eb6b50\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f3e30c4\" data-id=\"f3e30c4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e03df32 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e03df32\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-sav-1024x579.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5418\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-sav-1024x579.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-sav-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-sav-768x434.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-sav-1536x868.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-sav.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cbc6783 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cbc6783\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-afd9950\" data-id=\"afd9950\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a405651 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a405651\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Positive judging. When I was doing judging, it is how I was taught to do it. Everything is a gold until they prove otherwise. The positives and negatives of every single one of them. Like with the Riesling. Ours and Maude as dry Rieslings against ones with 30 grams of sugar \u2013 it shows fair judging. Judging a wine for what it is, and the style it is. Looking at every wine as a positive.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: So the WineFolio rule no.1 is \u2018delicious\u2019. Is this wine delicious? Because that\u2019s what we\u2019re looking for.<\/p><p>Anyway \u2013 tell me about this wine, because it is delicious!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-014966c\" data-id=\"014966c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f346ac0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f346ac0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MB<\/strong>: It got 16 months on lees, full gross lees. 12 months in barrel, all old oak. It is fermented in oak, and this particular year it wasn\u2019t unfortunately hand-harvested. It was 2020, and we had six pickers &#8211; who did an awesome job and picked fifty-odd tonnes, and they got to the Sauvignon, and you could just see their heads drop. Because there\u2019s fifty odd rows of Sauvignon. We got our friends down the road at Craggy Range to take it off with a harvester, and that\u2019s the first time we\u2019ve ever had to do that. But there was no way with six pickers that we were going to get it done. The fruit was still in beautiful condition. That little bit of maceration has helped it a little bit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fc11cd8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fc11cd8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e9c019c\" data-id=\"e9c019c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bad68e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bad68e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: This has a lovely golden, crushed tarragon green herb flavour \u2013 ripe and direct. Nice texture, good line of acidity. That white Bordeaux, style but with a distinctive Te Muna acidity.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: This in about a years time with a lovely piece of salmon, or any kind of seafood, it\u2019s going to taste amazing. That ripeness from the hang time. I think you\u2019ve tried our \u201918 Pinot \u2013 but shall we have another try of it now?<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Sure, always happy to see how things have developed. I love the colour of that \u2013 really glowing but quite pale ruby. I\u2019m amazed at the range of colour in New Zealand Pinots now. You wouldn\u2019t believe the ding dong we had at our place last night \u2013 about three hours of discussion about what \u2018Pinot is supposed to be like\u2019. I was saying \u201cI don\u2019t care what the colour is like \u2013 taste it\u201d. For me, with Pinot, it\u2019s about that initial perfume. I could just smell that, all day.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: This is four years on, and you can just see it starting to hit its straps now. It\u2019s important for the Butterworths that we make enough of this that we\u2019re always four years behind. I\u2019m totally behind that. I think that having a Pinot up, at \u201920 or \u201921 release is lovely, but having the ability to show people \u2013 especially at this price \u2013 something that has got a little bit of age. You can see where it is starting to head to. To show a consumer this at 4 years and say \u201cimagine this in 10 years..\u201d I think that is where New Zealand Pinot should be at. It\u2019s fun.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: But as well as that serious but ethereal nature to it \u2013 this has a real pop of juicy flavour to it as well.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong> (smiles) That\u2019s Te Muna. 100%. In 2020 I had a guy from Bordeaux who came and did ferment rounds with me, and he said \u201cI didn\u2019t realise Pinot had fruit? This is more fruit than I get in Bordeaux. We don\u2019t get this fruit weight and power.\u201d It is something I try to promote, is that fruit weight. The ferments never get more than 31 degrees, one plunge per day, twenty days on skins \u2013 is about the usual. But, that is totally dependent on what\u2019s happening. Last year was probably an average of 17 or 18 days because we had a lot of shot berry \u2013 the very small berries \u2013 and so the extraction was just that much faster. But 2020 was about 22 days.<\/p><p>All pressed off by taste \u2013 as soon as you start to get that little bit of bitterness in the back palate \u2013 straight to the press. And that\u2019s the joy of being a small winery, is that we can react that fast. Things are changing so quickly.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-17b69ff elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17b69ff\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1516297\" data-id=\"1516297\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b88205 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7b88205\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-barrel-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5417\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-barrel-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-barrel-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Butterworth-barrel.jpg 950w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99dd593\" data-id=\"99dd593\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73d0732 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73d0732\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: This wine is really putting a smile on my face. It has so much going on. I adore the tannin in this. I have a sip and I think, \u2018no, the tannin is just one part of it\u2019 \u2013 but it is a part I keep coming back to!<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: when the Julichers employed me they said to me that the Julicher Estate was always going to be a \u2018single vineyard wine by design\u2019. You actually build a Pinot from this. I thought \u2018What on earth are they talking about?\u2019 because I came from a place where you made wine from this block, and then wine from this block. Well then when I was tasting through &#8211; and every single block, and every barrel was different; and I thought \u2018I can do this\u2019. You get the tension in there, the crunchiness, the floral prettiness.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dbd3997 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dbd3997\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b6a87c\" data-id=\"4b6a87c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00565bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00565bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There was one barrel, I swear to you \u2013 it tasted like a Gewurz! It was all rose petal and all up on the top end, and no weight down the bottom. And I thought \u201cyou are going into this \u2013 this is going to be amazing!\u201d<\/p><p>And there was this one block \u2013 115 \u2013 out the back with weight and heaviness and density and it was like a Pinot for Merlot lovers. I couldn\u2019t believe it. I wanted more of it! So I was able to build this Pinot up and around, with this tension. So this actually is a single vineyard wine by design. And again, the joy of Te Muna Road \u2013 the acids hold. I brought my Abel in, and it was beautiful and ripe \u2013 the flavour were perfect \u2013 sugars were on the money, and it came in with a pH of 3.3. So after malolactic I think it was at 3.45, so that\u2019s your strength in the middle of the palate. And that\u2019s where Martinborough, with the Abel clone is special, it just has this acidity.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: What\u2019s the main clone in Marlborough? Is it 10\/5?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: I think Central is more 10\/5. At Giesen we had Clone 5 and 6 and a little bit of Abel too \u2013 that was wonderful, but then we had all the Dijons running through, like a patchwork. Every ten rows there\u2019s something different.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: I often hear that 10\/5 is regarded as a bit of a workhorse \u2013 that it\u2019s nothing special, but I recall at Bell Hill, they were looking at it as though it might become a single clone wine for them, there.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Malcolm Rees-Francis was the same. He was always talking about his 10\/5. We\u2019ve got a new plot we\u2019re planting just next door, and we\u2019ve got some 10\/5 going in there.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3243aa8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3243aa8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bdeb531\" data-id=\"bdeb531\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d4ed5c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2d4ed5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/019c7f31-88ac-44b4-b893-36e73a983615-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5416\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/019c7f31-88ac-44b4-b893-36e73a983615-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/019c7f31-88ac-44b4-b893-36e73a983615-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/019c7f31-88ac-44b4-b893-36e73a983615-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/019c7f31-88ac-44b4-b893-36e73a983615-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/019c7f31-88ac-44b4-b893-36e73a983615.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff218b9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ff218b9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5d9e115\" data-id=\"5d9e115\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f6c0bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9f6c0bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: How are your new plantings going \u2013 they look good to me? Chardonnay wasn\u2019t it?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Yes, fabulous. Planted in October. That\u2019s all Chardonnay. We\u2019ve got 15 and 95 here in our Chardonnay and some Mendoza down the back there. That might even crop next year. And we\u2019ve replanted a bit of old Pinot that had been grafted on to Sauvignon vines, with 548 Chardonnay and that\u2019s going to be our workhorse. And thirty rows of 95, and ten rows of 1066. You\u2019ll have heard about winemakers raving about Mendoza \u2013 Helen just loves it \u2013 well 1066 is like Mendoza on steroids \u2013 especially when it comes to hen and chicken. A little bit higher in alcohol, but holding that beautiful acid line through it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-71ed6ba\" data-id=\"71ed6ba\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-edd3af3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"edd3af3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Is that that Muscat one?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: No, no, that\u2019s 848 or something like that. I got offered a bit of that. I think Palliser are making a wine out of that now. The 1066 \u2013 Riversun were like \u2018don\u2019t do it\u2019. Winemakers love it but grape growers hate it. So I\u2019m like \u201cYou know what \u2013 I\u2019m a winemaker, and I\u2019m the one who\u2019s choosing!\u201d What I\u2019m hoping is that, because it is so up and down in crop, is to get a puncheon of that per year. Ten rows, about 850 kilos, and then that is going to go towards an icon wine.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Oh, wonderful. Well, I heard about it first, so let me have a taste of that when it\u2019s ready!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7c3bb6c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7c3bb6c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-11248b0\" data-id=\"11248b0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-737e62b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"737e62b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MB<\/strong>: And we\u2019re also producing an icon Pinot as well. Whereas the Pinot in your glass is made as this \u2018whole\u2019 kind of thing, \u2018The Tactician\u2019 is going to be weight. That 115 and Abel. The inspiration behind it was that Brad and Warren, the two owners, they love to have a wee cheeky cigar, but they want to drink their wine with their cigars. And Pinot is lovely with cigars \u2013 don\u2019t get me wrong. So this is a Pinot for cigar smokers. 1000 bottles, couple of magnums, etched bottles, corks, wax seal. Just waiting for the bottles from France. They were supposed to come in December. It is the 2020 vintage though, so we\u2019ll be patient.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Remind me what you were doing at Giesen before this?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: I was in the Premium section, so I was playing with Clayvin and Ridge and Waihopai block. But also a little bit in product development as well. I was working on the whole low alcohol thing, which was a great time. It has been a great journey. And then this job popped up, and there\u2019s no way I\u2019m turning down Te Muna Road, it is too good a chance. It has been a fun ride and loved my time at those places, but this is something special.<\/p><p>And I\u2019m across everything. Digging holes, filling out paperwork. Cruising the vines and talking to the Vineyard Manager about what is going on, and then out in the sales and everything. You run around and you burn the soles of your feet! (laughs). One thing that is happening though is a bit more young blood coming through. The old crew are still here. You\u2019ve still got Larry and Helen and Strat Canning, but there\u2019s these young bloods rising underneath, and bringing with them a lot of cool ideas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e55c875 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e55c875\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2992737\" data-id=\"2992737\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13f8f2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13f8f2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: I think you can include yourself in that.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: I think I can. It\u2019s nice too because you\u2019re accepted. The older guys are actually very very cool. They listen to you when you talk, and there\u2019s a lot of interaction.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: I think it is a sweet spot at the moment. You\u2019ve got our market age, where we\u2019re beyond that initial foray, and now into \u2018well now we know we can do it\u2026 so what should we actually do?\u2019 Plus vine age. Plus the age of those pioneers, and looking to help up those who will follow them.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b25d20f\" data-id=\"b25d20f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0639b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d0639b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"730\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-Bell-pic2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5420\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-Bell-pic2.jpg 828w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-Bell-pic2-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-Bell-pic2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Martin-Bell-pic2-768x762.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9c0a084 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9c0a084\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a8379e\" data-id=\"7a8379e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ee7f0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ee7f0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When I spoke to Huw at Pyramid Valley, he was talking about the understanding of the place and how that plays a big part too. Taking that legacy on. He was a very smart guy.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: We\u2019re looking at bigger format oak and cuves now. The winery here has been put on a back burner, because all the money has gone into the vines. When I first got here, the Chardonnay would be lucky to get to the top wire, and you wouldn\u2019t have to trim the Back Block because it was never up there. It was real struggle street. Water shortages, and wind, very bony soil. Now, we\u2019re not just putting seaweed on the soil, it\u2019s essentially an organic pro-biotic that is going into the soil to try and build that biomass up in the soils. Water retention and nutrition is better now. Now the vines are growing better and a healthy vine means healthy wine. And any disease pressure \u2013 it will handle it better.<\/p><p>We still get those massive frosts. We\u2019ve just installed another frost fan in the middle, and we\u2019re going to have another two parked up into there. Those frosts are getting more and more severe. This year wasn\u2019t so bad \u2013 we only had eight or nine of them, but last year we had eighteen! And ten of those were under minus two degrees. With climate change we\u2019re not necessarily getting hotter or colder, we\u2019re getting more extremes. When Wim first started out he might get two or three frosts a year. Now we\u2019re looking at eighteen, and they can happen up to harvest.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: How\u2019s the re-brand over to Butterworth gone?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: it\u2019s gone really well. I think holding a legacy has been really good. The gold J has really helped. Having Wim\u2019s name on the bottle gives that tie-in, and also on the back \u2013 \u2018founder Wim Julicher\u2019. It has shown that it is not just a new brand. Both Brand and Warren are really big on family and lineage. And Wim is still as much a part of this place now as he was back then. He was in last harvest and he was on the tractor \u2013 tipping fruit and having a rare old time. That tractor is still going \u2013 a 1953 International.<\/p><p>The new name is easier to pronounce, and recognisable. We\u2019re doing super well in the States, around all the yacht clubs \u2013 they all know the Butterworths. They were very insistent though that the product inside has to remain the same. Same philosophies that Wim brought in \u2013 no fining agents, vegan-friendly.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-615cd53 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"615cd53\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1befb81\" data-id=\"1befb81\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e27b42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e27b42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: I\u2019m seeing little improvements though!?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Oh yeah, we\u2019re always thinking how can we improve \u2013 in the vineyards, in the winery. The incremental changes that we think will improve the wine, but still hold that style. And I\u2019ve still got to work with the terroir. The most important thing is the land, and what the grapes produce from that. I just guide it.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: what is the best part of a winemaker\u2019s year, for you?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-12dc119\" data-id=\"12dc119\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-359ec4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"359ec4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MB<\/strong>: The celebration is Vintage. Bringing that fruit in, is a celebration. We really saw that last year when Brad and Warren were here. You saw the joy on their faces \u2013 a grin never left them. That day was a joy. We had a long table, with a big spread in the middle of it. We were picking the 115 and the Chardonnay that day, and all the fruit was just immaculate. There was talking, wine flowing. It was one of those days.<\/p><p>The joy of joys is Vintage \u2013 but\u2026 I\u2019m a winemaker! Even when you\u2019re dealing with waste water \u2013 you think \u201cI\u2019d still rather this than being in an office\u201d. There\u2019s so much satisfaction in this job, I enjoy every moment of it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a flying visit back in 2021, I managed to sneak in an interview with Martin Bell, winemaker at Butterworth, at the winery on Te Muna Road, before harvest in &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews-with-nz-winemakers"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Winemaker series: Martin Bell - 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