The picturesque town of martinborough is the winery hub of new zealand’s wairarapa region. In 1996, having quit well paid city jobs, margaret and tim coney bought a paddock here. After dismissing several flocks of sheep, they set about planting the 16 hectare plot with 10,000 vines. Armed only with spades, this marked the beginning of their commitment to craft wines with a natural, hands on approach. Martinborough’s cool climate is similar to that of burgundy, so pinot noir thrives here. Pizzicato proves this time and again, having scooped awards for several of its vintages. Complex and elegant, it has juicy notes of raspberry, cherry and pomegranate. Plenty of fruity flavour and fresh acidity make it a wonderful choice for rich lamb dishes.