Pinot Noir Workshop speaker

2008 NZSVO workshop

Getting to grips with Pinot Noir - a look at Pinot Noir tannin management

Speaker Profile

Gareth King

Viticulturist, Felton Road

A fifth generation horticulturist, born and raised in Roxburgh Central Otago and graduating from Lincoln University in 1989, Gareth has developed strong ties to the region and it’s burgeoning wine growing industry.

Gareth has been head of viticulture at Felton Road for almost a decade. The management of the 35 hectare estate in that time has seen, first a transition to organics, then to a biodynamic regime. This has been carefully planned out over a period of years to the point today where biodynamic certification is currently under conversion with Demeter. Emphasis is given to promoting biodiversity with vineyard land being used to grow food, as well as grapes.

With the winery adopting a rigorous non intervention policy, a great deal of emphasis is placed on achieving balance in the vineyard. For the last few years a combination of traditional techniques such as cover crops and cultivation of soils combines with more cutting edge approaches: neutron probes, controlled trials, collaborative research and very detailed record keeping.

There is a strong belief at Felton Road that the wine is made in the vineyard and with a young, highly qualified and internationally diverse team working for Gareth the future for Felton Road is very exciting indeed!