Greater Wellington Regional Council

15 August 2015

Wellington Wine Country a winner

The establishment of Wellington Wine Country Limited to market wine produced across the greater Wellington region is a brilliant example of regional collaboration with big benefits to all concerned, according to Chris Laidlaw, chairman of the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

“Wellington Wine Country Limited will streamline and strengthen the marketing efforts of wine producers in Gladstone, Martinborough, Masterton, and Kapiti, adding huge value to the industry and to the region as a whole,” Mr Laidlaw said.

“Integrated marketing will reinforce the image of Wellington region as a place where fine foods and wines stand out as part of the suite of cultural and physical attractions,” he said.

Mr Laidlaw said it had taken something of a leap of trust for many in the Wairarapa, in particular, to recognise that people in markets abroad recognise Wellington as a regional destination.

“Wellington Wine Country Limited will enable all winemakers in the region to collaborate more effectively under a single banner yet retain their subregional identity, just as St Emilion or St Esteph do, for instance, within the wider Bordeaux region,” Mr Laidlaw said.

“It will help foreign buyers, who easily confuse the words Marlborough and Martinborough, or who can find the word ‘Wairarapa’ a bit of a challenge to pronounce; and it will help us to market the region as a destination with many options.

“It’s a regional no-brainer, and we should all congratulate the winemakers on their initiative”, said Mr Laidlaw.

© Scoop Media