[Akyeong Wine Cellar] The Vineyard Where the Prime Minister Married... Dreaming of a 1000-Year Legacy

<3> New Zealand 'Craggy Range'

Founded in 1998 in Gimlet Gravels, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Aiming to be an iconic winery including New Zealand blending

Editor's NoteNo two wines under the sky are the same. Even when grapes grown on the same land each year are vinified and aged using the same methods, the results differ every time. Wine is a 'drink of chance' created by the harmony of humans and nature. Each wine that silently disappears after leaving only a single intense memory carries an intriguing story. 'Akyung Wine Cellar' shares these stories of wines that are crafted and matured under various circumstances, one by one.

"Finally, let's get married."

Promising a lifetime to a beloved partner against the backdrop of a vineyard on a scenic hill is a scene many have dreamed of at least once. While this may be unfamiliar in Korea, which is not a wine-producing region, in countries abundant with beautiful vineyards, such dreams often become reality. In fact, celebrities have held weddings at wineries. Notable examples include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who married at Chateau Miraval estate in Provence, France, in 2012, and Derek Jeter and Hannah Davis, who wed at Harlan Estate Midwood Resort in Napa Valley, USA, in 2016.

A view of the Gimblett Gravels winery in Hawke's Bay, Craggy Range.

Earlier this year, a wedding that attracted much attention was held against the backdrop of vineyards in New Zealand. In January last year, then-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern held a press conference to announce her resignation. Although serving as Prime Minister was the most honorable role of her life, after more than five years in office, she felt her energy was largely depleted and that she was no longer the right person to bear the responsibilities of the position.

Ardern, who became the youngest Prime Minister in New Zealand's history at age 37 in 2017, also gave birth to a daughter with her fianc? Clarke Gayford in 2018. Notably, she attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York with her three-month-old daughter, drawing global attention due to breastfeeding. Upon announcing her resignation, she stated that spending more time with her family was her only plan, and at that moment, smiling at her fianc?, she said, "Let's finally get married," sparking renewed interest.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who held her wedding at Craggy Range Winery last January.

A year later, in January of this year, during the early summer of the Southern Hemisphere when grapes begin to ripen, former Prime Minister Ardern held her wedding. The ceremony was a quiet gathering of family and friends, but given her status, public interest in the wedding venue was high. The couple chose 'Craggy Range' winery in Hawke's Bay on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, about 310 km north of the capital Wellington.

Young Soil, Strong Attraction... Settling in Gimblett Gravels

Craggy Range operates wineries based in two locations: Gimlet Gravels in Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's North Island and Te Muna Road in Martinborough.

Craggy Range is a family-owned winery established by American businessman Terry Peabody. After achieving great success in mining and transportation industries, Peabody turned his attention to wine, a long-standing interest. Rather than acquiring an existing winery, he wanted to pioneer new land untouched by others. Peabody did not initially focus on New Zealand; he explored global wine regions without prejudice, from Bordeaux in France to Napa Valley in the USA and Margaret River in Australia, eventually arriving in New Zealand.

Peabody saw potential in New Zealand's land. The temperate maritime climate and relatively young soils, due to frequent tectonic activity, strongly attracted him. Subsequently, Peabody searched for the best site to produce top-quality wine in New Zealand with renowned Master of Wine Steve Smith, and after reviewing several candidates, decided to settle in Gimblett Gravels in Hawke's Bay on the North Island.

Terry Peabody, the founder of Craggy Range.

At 'Te Mata Peak,' overlooking the current Craggy Range estate, Peabody experienced a transformation from strong attraction to conviction. There, he dreamed of creating a winery that would inspire people through the region's unique landscape and heritage. Thus, in 1998, he established Craggy Range with the goal of building a winery that would become a legacy for his family and New Zealand. Peabody solidified his vision of a 'legacy for the future' by establishing a 1000-year trust to maintain family ownership. This founder's determination to nurture the winery as a national and family heritage, along with its stunning scenery, may have captivated former Prime Minister Ardern's heart.

The Gimblett Gravels, where Craggy Range first settled, was once the riverbed of the Ngaruroro River, uplifted by earthquakes. It is easy to imagine the barren riverbed covered with gravel. The gravelly soil has excellent drainage, requiring irrigation, which limits vine growth and increases fruit concentration. Additionally, the stones absorb heat during the day and release it at night, enhancing grape ripening. The soil, a mix of stones, gravel, and sand, shares climatic similarities with Bordeaux, France, including sunlight hours, humidity, and rainfall. For this reason, while most New Zealand wineries produce single-varietal wines, Craggy Range also produces blends of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah.

Craggy Range's 'Sophia'

Based on well-drained, heat-absorbing gravel soils, Craggy Range produces outstanding red wines from its Gimblett Gravels vineyards, with 'Sophia' being a representative wine. Sophia is Craggy Range's top-tier Prestige Collection wine, produced only in good vintages from the finest single vineyards. Named after the Greek word for 'wisdom,' Sophia embodies Craggy Range's wisdom and winemaking philosophy. The 2021 vintage used 77% hand-harvested Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc, aged for 17 months in French oak barrels. The wine naturally blends subtle aromas of wild thyme and sage with plum, fruitcake, and brioche, while cedar and tobacco leaf aromas add distinctive character.

A New Step Toward a Millennium Legacy... Biodiversity Project

A panoramic view of the Te Muna Road vineyard in Martinborough, Craggy Range.

The year after establishing the winery, in 1999, Craggy Range expanded its vineyards to Te Muna Road in Martinborough, also on the North Island. While Gimblett Gravels mainly planted Bordeaux varieties like Merlot, this site was chosen to expand cultivation to Sauvignon Blanc, well-known as New Zealand's representative variety, and Pinot Noir. Martinborough is a small town in the southernmost Wairarapa region of the North Island. Although summer temperatures can be high, the large diurnal temperature range makes it suitable for grape growing. Due to the small production scale, most wineries here focus on quality over quantity.

The Te Muna Road vineyard chosen by Craggy Range consists of two distinct terraces. The high ground, with volcanic ash slowly weathered from rocks over 20,000 years old, is considered ideal for Pinot Noir production. The mineral-rich volcanic ash soils of Te Muna Road impart complexity to Pinot Noir while maintaining an elegant character without excess. The lowland soils, a mix of limestone and gravel, provide an optimal environment for high-quality Sauvignon Blanc cultivation. Currently, Te Muna Road divides its vineyards into more than ten zones, producing Sauvignon Blanc that delicately reflects terroir.

Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir from Craggy Range

Martinborough, home to Te Muna Road, is regarded as one of New Zealand's premier Pinot Noir regions alongside Central Otago and is internationally recognized. A representative wine of Te Muna Road is the 'Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir.' Made from 100% Pinot Noir, the grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with wild yeast, then aged for 11 months in French oak barrels. The wine exhibits a light burgundy color with a hint of crimson, featuring the region's characteristic dry lavender aroma, red fruit scents like raspberry and cherry, and an elegant mushroom palette that harmonizes with soft tannins, boasting excellent structure.

In 1995, New Zealand became the first in the global wine industry to introduce the sustainability program 'Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ).' As a member of SWNZ, Craggy Range employs organic methods throughout grape cultivation and launched a biodiversity project in 2020, taking a new step toward its goal of a '1000-year legacy.' Over 100 hectares of the Martinborough site have been planted with more than 50,000 native trees to promote bird breeding, reduce pests, and create an environment conducive to natural yeast proliferation, thereby improving wine quality. We hope Craggy Range's efforts to pass on healthy land and heritage to future generations through the 1000-year trust will continue endlessly.

Pinot Noir from Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard.