Alan Brady MNZM
Born in Northern Ireland 1936, Alan Brady came to New Zealand as a young journalist on an “OE” in 1959. He is still here, having worked in both print and radio over the years.
It was on a visit to Central Otago in 1960, that his love affair with the region began, although it took another 16 years before he and his wife bought their first plot of land. The seven hectares and a cottage at Gibbston became a weekend retreat from the city. But the more they visited, the more they liked the location, the climate and the atmosphere of the place. So much so they decided to step off their career ladders and go and live there in 1977. Alan’s passion for the region has never dimmed.
He explored a number of possibilities for the land and even today has no idea why he was drawn to grapes. He had no cultural or practical background in viticulture but in the face of some skepticism and negative advice, in 1981 he planted a half acre experimental plot with half a dozen different varieties. One of them was Pinot Noir which grew easily and ripened more consistently than any of the others. Today he says: “Pinot found us, not the other way around. There was no great wisdom or vision on our part.”
For the next seven years he mixed viticulture then winemaking with freelance journalism in television, radio and print. He founded Gibbston Valley Wines Ltd with a hardy bunch of investors and in 1987 produced Central Otago’s first commercial vintages of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and a white blend under Gibbston Valley label. Two years later, in 1989/90, he built the area’s first purpose-built winery and restaurant and in 1995 New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave. The complex on the main road into Queenstown became the launch pad for wine tourism in Central Otago.
In 1998, Alan sold his shares in Gibbston Valley and built a second winery, Mount Edward, a few kilometres along the road. He ran this as a one man operation, specialising in Pinot Noir.
In 2004, aged 68, Alan sold a majority interest in Mount Edward and “retired.” He wrote the autobiography “Pinot Central - A Winemaker’s Story,” but says he missed getting his hands dirty at harvest. “I got bored”, so in 2006 he developed a new label as a small “retirement project.” This year (2014) will complete the ninth vintage of “Wild Irishman” Pinot Noir which sells locally and in Singapore and the UK.
Alan was a founding member and past president of Central Otago Winegrowers Association, a board member of New Zealand Winegrowers in the mid 1990s and founding chair of Gibbston Community Association. Currently, he is a director of Felton Road Wines Ltd, and works with a number of wine industry bodies.
In the 1996 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Alan was made MNZM for “services to the wine industry.” In 2011 he was the recipient of the Sir George Fistonich Medal, awarded to “Legends of New Zealand Wine”.
Larry McKenna RDA
Larry McKenna is the winemaker who introduced New Zealand to quality Pinot Noir, and in doing so helped Martinborough become known as Pinot Noir country.
McKenna arrived in Martinborough in1986, lured from his job as head winemaker for Delegats by the hunting and fishing opportunities and the chance as a shareholder to be fully involved in a winery from viticulture to marketing. He found a wine community that was beginning to stir.
Holder of a Diploma in Agriculture from Australia’s premier wine school, Roseworthy College, McKenna was the first professional winemaker in the area, and arrived in time to make the 1986 vintage. It was eye-opening, and set the pattern for a string of unprecedented, robust, rich- flavoured and multi-faceted wines that followed. When Martinborough Vineyard won four gold medals and champion wine of the national show in 1988 McKenna’s and the winery’s reputation was assured.
McKenna’s contribution to the industry as judge and chief judge here and in Australia has been significant. As well, he helped establish the Southern Pinot Noir workshop, now in its 25th year, and the Wellington Pinot Noir celebration in 2001. This is now New Zealand’s most important wine promotion.
McKenna describes as “ludicrous” suggestions that Martinborough is losing it mojo to Central Otago. “The Martinborough style is of far more interest to Pinot Noir lovers. It is more the classic style in structure and complexity” he says.
He sees a volume player entering the district but insists that “more small businesses like ours are what the area needs”.
