QUEENSTOWN WINE

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 2

QUEENSTOWN WINE

A vineyard will be established near Queenstown later this year, both as a commercial venture and a tourist attraction. It should be producing grapes and two varieties of still white wine commercially in 1976. Ten acres of land have already been cleared at the end of the Frankton arm above the Kawerau Falls bridge, and the first three acres will be planted this spring. Vines grafted on rootstock have already been

ordered, and by 1976 the first three acres should be producing up to 1200 bottles of wine. Commercial grapegrowing trials have been held in parts of Central Otago before, but the Queenstown area has always been considered less suitable than others. However, a spokesman for the promoters said that the land at Frankton lay in a micro-climate that was temperate throughout the year, with plenty of sunshine and shelter. The land has been likened to that of the Rhine Valley, a notable

wine - producing area. According to the spokesman, it had been investigated and pronounced excellent for grape growing by a horticultural expert from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Varieties to be planted initially were Rhine Riesling and Golden Chasselas, two types which were expected to fare even better in Frankton than in the North Island, where they were widely grown. To attract tourists, antique wine-distilling equipment has been obtained and this will be housed in a Bavarian chalet-type building.

If approval can be obtained from the Customs Department for the use of an old copper-pot still, it will be set up and used.

Miss Sally Daphne Blundell, aged 22, the daughter of the Governor-General (Sir Denis Blundell) and Lady Blundell, and Mr Ronald Allan Harbutt Winstone, aged 34, of Auckland, who are to marry in

the Cathedral Church of St Paul, Wellington, early in September. Mr Winstone’s father is the chairman of directors of Winstone’s, Ltd, the builders’ merchants.