Borthwick Estate

Borthwick Estate was established in 1996 by Paddy Borthwick and his father Robin in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand. The family has a long agricultural legacy in the area, dating back to Paddy's grandfather, PJ Borthwick, who immigrated in 1936 to purchase Te Whanga Station. Located approximately 100 kilometres north of Wellington, this 1,600 hectare property is a prominent Angus cattle and sheep station. Paddy, the great grandson of meat trade pioneer Sir Thomas Borthwick, chose to diversify the family business into viticulture after training at Roseworthy College in Australia. Before returning to Gladstone to plant his own vines, he gained winemaking experience across five countries and three continents.

The estate vineyard encompasses 27 hectares of vines situated on stony, free draining alluvial soils bordering the Ruamahunga River. The terroir is defined by a micro climate of warm daytime temperatures, cool nights, and low rainfall, which are conditions that support the production of concentrated fruit. For their Pinot Noir, the team manages eight hectares across 12 different clones, including Abel, 115, and 5. Pinot Gris was later added to the site in 2006 and 2007. The winery was completed in 2003 and is built directly into a hillside to provide natural temperature regulation throughout the year. Winemaking philosophy focuses on minimal intervention and sustainable practices, using natural yeast fermentation and manual plunging for the red wines.

The producer is primarily recognized for its Pinot Noir, specifically the Left Hand and Right Hand series. These wines are created to demonstrate the influence of individual winemaking styles on the same estate fruit. Briony Carnachan, who joined the team as winemaker and general manager in 2018, produces the Left Hand bottling using a precise and creative approach. Paddy Borthwick produces the Right Hand label using a more intuitive method. In addition to these premium Pinot Noirs, the estate produces Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. Their portfolio also includes the Paper Road range and a white blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Riesling known as CPR. Approximately 90 percent of the estate production is designated for international export markets.