A few words from John Belsham from New Zealand

The latest on the 2012 harvest

..... from New Zealand. Our friends at Foxes Island in Awatere, Marlborough, reported recently:

"We are fully into vintage. Fortunately the Indian summer has saved the day and the quality is looking good. Vintage is short and furious this year – it started about 2.5 weeks late however the end game hasn’t changed as the vines are done and this morning it was a cool 3 degrees. Riesling looks fantastic – with the really cool vintage, Kelly Brown and John Belsham feel like they are back in Germany again. Foxes Riesling comes in this week.

Marlborough Pinot Noir volumes will be down. Too early to tell exactly by how much overall but producers initially reporting as high as 35-40% decline in volume. Quality however looks very good and as always those on top of their viticulture should stand out."

Owner and winemaker John Belsham also added " Its been rather fabulous, the fruit is beautiful and clean and yields are down. It's been the easiest vintage in many, many years."

Can't wait to taste!!

Video Interview with John Belsham, Foxes Island

John Belsham is a man of many talents. First and foremost he is the founder and man behind Foxes Island wines in Marlborough, New Zealand. The first wine he produced was a Chardonnay, back in 1992, and since then he has secured and planted plots of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and of course Pinot Noir in the Wairau plains of Marlborough. His wines are some of the best we have tasted from New Zealand, and testament to what can be produced their given a conscientious and gentle approach.