New Press

As a new ‘producer’ in the world’s wine scene, New Press identifies and collaborates with accomplished, respected producers from around the world to create wines that represent not only the unique terroir of fruit, but offer the most pure and true expression of each variety, within each collection.

Melanie Brown, Kiwi girl and London-based hospitality entrepreneur, is most recognised in both hemispheres for her commitment in bringing premium NZ and Australian wines to the UK via her online business Specialist Cellars.

In early 2019 and working with highly regarded Marlborough Winemaker Ben Glover, she set out to create the first series in the New Press collection, three wines featuring iconic NZ varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Rosé.

Ben’s vineyards in Marlborough are situated on the Opawa River, which, over centuries of flooding and ebbing and flowing and evolving has deposited fertile silt loam from Kaiapoi and surrounds into the vineyard sites. With a north-facing aspect and nestled in the lea of the Wither Hills, the vines are sheltered from the enthusiastic worst of the southerly weather patterns.

The proximity of the vines to the high tide mark of Blenheim’s coast and being only 10m above sea level can, in some years, introduce a more umami influence into the wines from Ben’s single-vineyard site.