Framingham Wines

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Framingham Wines

New Zealand's Framingham Winery is located on the northeastern tip of the South Island in the Marlborough region, which is one of the country's most important wine-growing regions. The relatively cool, dry climate provides a good condition for viticulture. This was recognized by Rex Brooke- Taylor, an engineer from Wellington, who established the original estate vineyards. He named the vineyards Framingham after the hometown of his ancestors in England. The first Riesling seedlings were planted in the Wairau Valley vineyard as early as 1981. Today, they are among the oldest vines in the Marlborough region. 

The first wine with the name Framingham, a Riesling, was introduced to the wine market in 1994. Three years later, the current winery and tasting room were built. this was followed in 2002 by a production hall specifically for the production of red wines and a hall where the oak and stainless steel barrels are stored for the aging of the wines.

On the warm, stony soils of the Wairau Valley, the house winemaker, James Bowskill, grows Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, as well as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Montepulciano. Following Framingham's maxim, he takes as little influence as possible on the natural growth of the vines. This means painstaking manual labor, the abandonment of artificial fertilizers and tilling in order to preserve the biodiversity in the vineyard. 

The vinification of the wines is taken care of by Dr Andrew Hedley, a native of England. He has been involved in more than 13 vintages in Marlborough. He is assisted by his assistant Andrew Brown. 'Brownie', as he is affectionately known on the estate, has worked for Framingham since 2009. 

In addition to striving to make creative and individual wines, Framingham is committed to being considerate of our environment. In 2009, it was recognized as a sustainable company by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand. Furthermore, Framingham wines are certified organic by BioGro NZ Ltd.