02 October 2024
By Stephen Wong MW in The Real Review
Image © Foley Family Wines
It was announced earlier this year that Paul Mason would be leaving Martinborough Vineyard to join Nga Waka.
This news was covered by a number of wine publications at the time, and I had the fortune to catch Paul in Martinborough in early August and subsequently ask him about the move, to which he very kindly shared some insight into his thoughts and motivations.
To set the scene, Roger Parkinson is set to retire at the end of the year after 32 years of being Nga Waka’s winemaker—since its first vintage. Paul Mason had taken on the mantle of winemaker at Martinborough Vineyard 20 years ago, carrying on the legacy of previous winemakers Claire Mulholland (now managing and making the wine at Burn Cottage) and Larry McKenna (founder of Escarpment, now retired). So in essence, these are two quite significant changes within the small Martinborough region. [READ MORE…]