Did you know New Zealand is celebrating 200 years since the first vines were planted in New Zealand soil? Yorkshireman and Christian missionary Samuel Marsden first planted vines in Northland in September 1819 although we don’t know if he ever made wine. Charles Darwin noted that grapes were among the fruits flourishing under Maori care in the Bay of Islands when he sailed through on his world tour in 1835. He was less complimentary about one of the local towns, Russell, calling it ‘the hellhole of the Pacific’.  It’s one of the nicest hell holes you could ever wish to visit today.

Don’t forget to come and help us celebrate our 200^th anniversary at our annual trade tasting.

RSVP:  https://www.nzwine.com/en/events/ukeurope/upcoming-events/flavours-of-new-zealand-london-trade-2019/