Our Story
ONE TENDS TO FIND FLYING
OVERRATED, UNLIKETH MYSELF
AND THIS FINE WINE.
Colonel Kiwi Pinot Noir had ruled the North and South Islands of New Zealand but was miserably displaced by European settlers. Changes to the Colonel’s natural habitat meant he was forced to immigrate to the South Island. It was here he discovered great vineyards producing exceptional wine to rival that of the North. Seeking refuge in the picturesque Marlborough, Colonel Kiwi, being flightless, had a preference for the aromas of the undergrowth. Whilst there he discovered new and interesting terroirs for his favourite noble grape variety, Pinot Noir, but still pined for his native North. His life mantra was from Shakespeare’s Othello, ‘good wine is a good familiar creature’ and this he found in a noble creature ally.
LEADETH THY FLOCK WITH
THIS DELICIOUS DROP.
Mary Bo Peep Sauvignon Blanc was eager to do something about the plight of her friend, Colonel Kiwi, displaced from his true home. She went about recruiting the Noble Fellows; the iconic beasts of New Zealand who knew the land well, who each represented a noble variety and could help him win back his rightful home.
Her strength was in numbers. Her kind flocked in armies, her superior presence and largess all over New Zealand afforded her an international reputation, one bordering on global domination. She single-handedly put New Zealand on the map. There was no questioning she was a born Noble Fellow. Taking comfort in Shakespearean verse she would often bleet, ‘I pray you, don’t fall in love with me for I am falser than vows made in wine’ from As you Like It. But that was all in vain as whomever she encountered fell in love with her.
’TIS TRUE I MIGHT BE AN OLDETH COW BUT JUST LIKETH THY WINE, WE’RE IN OUR PRIME RIGHT NOW.
The first to be recruited was another white Noble Fellow who
would be an excellent addition to the force. She was Baron Betsy Pinot Gris, a Noble Fellow fuller in body and sweeter in nature but who also knew the North and South Island well.
She exhibited strength and power in her popularity, and
Baron Betsy was delighted at the challenge set for her to milk the land and her kind as much as she could to assist the cause. Her forte was espionage and if ever there was an obstacle she would overcome it. She preferred the wisdom of Omar Khayyam, the Shakespeare of Iran and would often quote, ‘the wine cup is the little silver well where truth, there be, doth well.’
GO GREEN AS THEY SAY, THY ORGANIC DROP ISETH NEAR
The second Noble recruitment was Mary Bo Peep’s environmentally conscious sister and most important ally – Clover Bo Peep Organic Sauvignon Blanc. The ruler of Hawke’s Bay, Clover was committed to saving the planet through her devotion to environmental practices and organic winemaking. She was a hippy at heart and lived and breathed all things green; the green vines, the green fields of clover, the green characters of her herbaceous brand of Sauvignon Blanc. It wasn’t just luck of the four-leaf variety that contributed to her other-worldliness, she was authentic, her values were strong, noble and true. Clover Bo Peep is the purist among the Noble Fellows, and importantly she had the ear of the ruler. If you were in with Clover, you were lying in a soft verdant sweetly scented bed of the stuff. Her ode to the world was from Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well ‘the mightiest space in fortune nature brings, to join like likes and kiss like native things’
WITH GLASS IN THY HAND, THOU ART CONTENT AS A PIG IN MUDDETH
Alas, there were a couple of rascals who were obstacles in their path, one a pig known as Princess Petunia Rosé. Princess Petunia was a dazzler, as pink and glorious as the summer sunset. She considered herself the ruler of the North Island and was not enamoured by a small flightless bird whose mission was to overthrow her. Petunia’s kind were strong under the summer skies, they would fight amongst the brambles to protect their sanctuary. They were vivacious, playful and had the vibrancy of youth on their side.
MOST DELECTABLE WHEN CHILLED,
NOT DISSIMILAR TO THYSELF.
Von Rockhop Grüner Veltliner was a grumpy rockhopper penguin, native to the East of New Zealand. He models his character and demeanour on that other penguin of ill-repute. Von Rockhop devours old comics when not waddling around protecting his coastline. His staunch Austrian/German bloodlines add a certain tight acidic character to his villainess personality. He strives for perfection in a not very healthy way and made the perfect partner in crime for Princess Petunia, often mumbling “You think because you are virtuous, that thee shall be no more wine?”
DRINKETH THY WINE FOR THE JOY OF THE WHOLE TABLE
Viscount Kea Chardonnay wanted nothing more than to overrule Mary Bo Peep Sauvignon Blanc. Intelligent, curious, and born to survive, he worked tirelessly from his home in Marlborough, adapting to changing conditions and environments to be the best he could be. He believed it was he who should be King. Subtle in his approach, yet with strength, a touch of flint and an embracing nature, he used his versatility and staying power to plan his attack with his armies in the dead of night. He dreamed of one day when he would say, “I drink wine to the joy of the whole table,” to the merriment of his royal followers.
And so the battle began, Princess Petunia was a swell of pink swine marching forth while
Von Rockhop was goosestepping from behind. But alas neither were a match for the impenetrable force of wine of the other Noble Fellows – Princess Petunia’s petition to rule a failure, her rosé gaining its colour from the sanguine fields from the loss on the battlefields and surrendering alongside Von Rockhop to bend the knee to the Noble Fellows.
Today the Noble Fellows are united in their differences and embrace their Marlborough heritage, equally enjoying every day and every moment in vinous and palatable bliss. We drink the wines of the Noble Fellows, and cheers to thee with an appreciation of their unique offerings and nod to their legacy.
DISCOVER OUR RANGE
