Business South August 2021

| 31 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Marlborough - Marlborough Grape Growers Co-operative/ FROMM Wines The co-operative’s owner/growers are from throughout the Marlborough sub-regions with the average landholding around nine hectares. Organic wine producer at home in Marlborough T Richard Loader T his year marks FROMM Wines thirtieth vintage of delicious wines handcrafted in the premium wine-growing region of Marlborough. The company’s founder, fifth-generation Swiss winemaker George Fromm, had been used to growing grapes on the slopes of the Swiss Alps. Already aware of Marlborough’s excellent grape growing climate, George was particu- larly impressed to find totally flat land in New Zealand. Choosing land between Blenheim and Renwick the vineyard is nestled between two valleys and subject to northwesterly and northerly winds that protect the grapes from humidity and reducing the risk of many diseases. Planting in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s George consistently reduced irrigation, training the vines to dig deeper and find their own water source. Today FROMM Wines 5.5-hectare vineyard is organic and completely dry-farmed. “Our wine maker tells me the roots will go down 12 to 14 metres,” says General Manager Stephan Walliser, whose family has owned FROMM Wines since 2008. “It’s very important to have very good root stock. Our grapes are 30 years old now and look strong and healthy. You need that for an organic winery and vineyard, because you can never cure disease, you can only prevent. Being organic we cannot use herbicides or pesticides.” While FROMM Wines has been producing organic wine since 2005 it was not till 2012 that it became fully certified organic. “It usually takes three years to get certified but with us it took just a little longer. “In the beginning the idea was not to get certified due to the extra costs involved. And for us producing organic wines was never a marketing tool. It was always just the right thing to do. “We have to look after the following gener- ations and we cannot poison the soil with all these herbicides and pesticides; it is absolute- ly not healthy. “I believe Marlborough has one of the highest cancer rates in New Zealand and I question why.” Stephan agrees that consumers are placing more and more importance on provenance, where and how their food was produced, but says the problem for younger generations is affordability of organic products, which are typically a lot more expensive. In addition to grapes from FROMM Wines’ own vineyards, organically or bio-dynamically grown grapes are bought-in from friends’ vineyards. channel and consumer need in mind that they need to fulfil and know what flavour profile is suitable for that circumstance. “That’s where our winemaker will work with them to give the client the right product. And because we draw from all over the district we can put together multitudes of blends that suit their requirements. “So it’s not just selling bulk wine, it’s be- spoke wine that suits the clients’ needs.” With eighty growers in the co-op commu- nity, each with differing needs, advice and support, Mike says having its own viticulturist has also been key to the success of the coop- erative. “One of the things that makes us different is that sense of community around the member- ship. First and foremost, we are a co-op and we’re all in this together. “But we also hold field days, seminars and workshops that bring the growers together around subjects that will be interesting for them to in managing their vineyards. So that sense of community is really important.” While Sauvignon Blanc has dominated pro- duction, because that is what the world wants from Marlborough, the co-op is now contem- plating supplying other varieties. “Pinot Noir will be the first and Pinot Gris could be the other,” says Mike. T to page 32 “Our grapes are 30 years old now and look strong and healthy. You need that for an organic winery and vineyard, because you can never cure disease…” Viticulture Contracting Specialist We take pride and care In all our work to offer you the very best for your vineyard 100% Locally Owned and Operated Hawkesbury Road Blenheim, Marlborough P 021 472 544 E office@handhcontracting.co.nz W handhcontracting.co.nz 03 578 533 9 • 76 High Street, Blenheim reception@hjc.co.nz • www.hjc.co.nz Commercial • Dispute Resolution • Employment • Property Law Relationship Property • Rural • Resource Management • Trust, Wills, and Estates Proud to be associated with Marlborough Grape Growers Cooperative