| 61 “Sauvignon Blanc is the region’s figurehead wine, but we have always believed that Marlborough is capable of doing a lot more at worldclass level.” Te Whare Rā REGIONAL T T Kim Newth Hurrah for Marlborough-produced Syrah Te Whare Rā owners and winemakers Jason and Anna Flowerday. Full-bodied New Zealand Syrah is predominantly produced out of Hawke’s Bay and Auckland (Waiheke island), but a small vineyard and winery in Marlborough is proving that excellent Syrah can be made much farther south. Marlborough’s Te Whare Rā’s Single Vineyard 5182 Syrah 2024 recently made the cut as a finalist for The Real Review NZ Red Wine of the Year. “It’s an amazing achievement for a Syrah from Marlborough,” says winemaker, Anna Flowerday, who co-owns Te Whare Rā with husband and fellow winemaker, Jason. “It is a great honour for us to be recognised in this way from among more than 700 winemakers in New Zealand. The Real Review has stepped up in the last 10 years to become the foremost go-to wine publication for New Zealand and Australia. They have so much indepth knowledge about wine, so this acknowledgement really does mean the world to us.” Anna and Jason planted Syrah at Te Whare Rā in 2004, only a year after they took up ownership. Jason grew up in Marlborough and Anna hails from South Australia, with both sharing multi-generational wine backgrounds. Their 11-hectare vineyard, originally planted in 1979, is one of the oldest in Marlborough, and today is managed with a combination of organic and biodynamic practices with all fruit handpicked and hand sorted. Te Whare Rā’s elite SV 5182 Syrah 2024 was made from the vines planted in 2004, proving the point that good wine really does takes time. It also represents the depth and diversity that exists in Marlborough. “Sauvignon Blanc is the region’s figurehead wine, but we have always believed that Marlborough is capable of doing a lot more at world-class level,” says Anna. “People thought we were crazy to plant Syrah here originally, but a few others are doing it now too in North Canterbury and Otago. It’s a variety that takes a lot of work, and in the South Island you’re growing at the edge of possibility. [But] We’ve had many accolades for our different wines produced here over the past 25 years.” Last year, Te Whare Rā was named Vigneron of the Year by The Real Review and was also awarded Rosé Wine of the Year New Zealand for their SV 5182 Rosé 2023. The number ‘5182’ has special significance for Anna and Jason, being their BioGro New Zealand vineyard designation number. It took four years of hard work and effort for the couple to achieve their organic certification. The four-digit number is almost like a postcode, linking their authentic, world-class wine to their place in Marlborough. “Organic growing goes hand in hand with quality. It is no accident that many organic producers are also award-winning producers, as so much effort has to go into what they make. Syrah represents another level of effort again.” Jason and Anna approach viticulture with a winemaker’s eye, growing for quality rather than quantity. Their Syrah vines are managed meticulously with shoot thinning and bunch thinning throughout the growing season. Te Whare Rā’s Cellar Door is open for wine sales and tastings from October to the end of February. We are the proud distributors of Te Whare Rā Wines and congratulate them on being named finalists in the 2026 Real Review New Zealand Wine Awards Federal is a 100% New Zealand-owned and independent beverage distributor Supporting the growth of our beverage industries. We specialise in the design, fabrication and manufacturing of storage and process vessels for the wine, beer and beverage industries. tira.co.nz +64 3 577 6310 enquiries@tira.co.nz crown
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