Jak Nash of Dog Point Vineyard — New Zealand’s largest certified organic vineyard and a family-owned pioneer of Marlborough wine — joined us for a few inspiring days out in the trade.

From Sauvignon Blanc to Pinot Noir – Dog Point Vineyard’s Organic Wines Shine

What an incredible few days hosting Jak Nash from the iconic Dog Point Vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand!

From inspiring trade tastings to customer visits that sparked meaningful conversations, the week was filled with connection, learning and a true celebration of what makes Dog Point so special.

For those unfamiliar, Dog Point Vineyard is not only one of Marlborough’s oldest privately established vineyards, but also New Zealand’s largest certified organic vineyard (certified by BioGro NZ). Family-owned and located on the beautiful hill slopes of the Southern Valleys, Dog Point has become a pioneer of organic and low-intervention winemaking in Marlborough.

The vineyard produces four exceptional wines:

  • a vibrant Sauvignon Blanc,

  • three barrel-fermented wines using natural wild yeasts — the acclaimed Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc (fermented in older French oak barrels), an elegant Chardonnay, and a refined Pinot Noir.

All wines are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free, reflecting Dog Point’s commitment to a sustainable, low-intervention ethos. Above all, the family’s focus is on crafting wines of uncompromising quality — wines that are built to age gracefully and cellar beautifully.

Of course, no trip would be complete without some fantastic food and wine pairings along the way — the perfect opportunity to highlight the craftsmanship and character of these wines.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at tastings, shared their passion, and made these few days such a success. We can’t wait to do it all again soon!

Full throttle week in Ireland with Cederberg’s David Nieuwoud

Great to have David Nieuwoudt from Cederberg, South Africa in Ireland last week! 🍷

We were delighted to welcome David Nieuwoudt of Cederberg, South Africa to Ireland last week. It was a fantastic visit filled with memorable tastings, meeting customers, and engaging in trade events, all while enjoying the wonderful hospitality our partners and customers are known for.

David’s deep knowledge, passion for wine, and vibrant personality made every occasion not just informative but truly enjoyable. A big thank you to everyone who joined us in making it such a special week!

No time to shower, no time to shave — that’s the pace of this market right now! A jam-packed week with David Nieuwoudt of Cederberg, South Africa, racing from customer visits to trade tastings, sharing incredible wines, and soaking up the best of Irish hospitality. His knowledge, passion, and personality made every stop a highlight, and the energy from our customers and partners kept the momentum rolling. What a week — non-stop, full throttle, and unforgettable!

Tindal Wine Merchants appointed new agent for Dog Point Vineyard. 

September 2023.

Tindal Wine Merchants has been appointed the new, sole Irish agents for Dog Point Vineyard, effective immediately. William Tindal, Director at Tindal Wine Merchants, said: ‘Like all good Kiwis the people behind Dog Point are pioneers, they were in at the beginning, planting vines and helping to establish a reputation for the wines of Marlborough, globally. Dog Point embraces sustainable and organic viticulture with a prudent winemaking style which captures the best of what their vines, soils and the region has to offer. The Tindal family has long ties to the region, we’ve all visited Dog Point over the years, we are delighted to now represent and share them among the ardent wine people of Ireland.’ 

Dog Point is a perfect match for our portfolio, located at the confluence of the Brancott and Omaka Valleys in Marlborough, New Zealand’s premium wine growing region and is one of the oldest privately established vineyards in the region. The Dog Point property comprises of undulating terrain, clay loam soils and a desirable northerly aspect.

Established in 2002 by partners, Ivan & Margaret Sutherland, and James & Wendy Healy. After working together at Cloudy Bay, Ivan and James decided to return to a more hands-on approach and establish their own wine label.

The name “Dog Point” dates from earliest European settlement of Marlborough, an area where shepherd’s dogs either wandered off or became lost. It is home to one of New Zealand’s cultural and ecological treasures, “ti kouka”, or cabbage tree. It is an aesthetic feature of the Dog Point landscape and a stylised version has become a key part of the Dog Point brand.

Learn more “Tindal Wine Merchants appointed new agent for Dog Point Vineyard. “

How sustainable are your summer wines?

In a restaurant the other day, I heard someone ask what reds were available by the glass. The stock answer came back from the helpful waitress. “Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz…”

When are we going to move away from the ‘International’ varieties and recognise that at the lower levels there is far more value to be found with indigenous varieties. Notwithstanding the sustainable element. Planting varieties in an area where they have no history generally means they struggle with one or more of the elements. Drought is the most obvious.

We are all more ‘sustainably’ aware. But what does that mean? Dig deeper and you may find that your understanding and associated buying pattern is far from sustainable. Cast your eyes over these questions and see how you do:

  • Would you pick an organic wine over one with a recognised sustainable certification such as the French HVE?
  • Are you happier selecting wines with names you recognise, or do you experiment regularly?
  • Do you regularly buy wines under 15 euro retail?
  • Does the weight of a bottle come into consideration when you buy a wine?
  • Would you discount a Grenache / Garnacha/ Shiraz if it had over 14% alcohol?

Mainly yes’ ? Don’t feel bad, most wine drinkers will be in this category. What we don’t realise is that sustainability doesn’t just apply to the vineyards. Actions in the winery, packaging and consumer buying habits all form part of the chain. Let’s look at the questions.

Learn more “How sustainable are your summer wines?”

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