Martinborough

Martinborough is a town in South Wairarapa District, a district of the Wellington region on the North Island of New Zealand. It is the second largest city and seat of the chambers of the District Council. It is located 65 kilometers east of Wellington and 35 kilometers southwest of Masterton. At the 2001 census, the town had 1,356 inhabitants.

History

As a city founder John Martin is considered who laid the first roads in the 19th century in the pattern of the Union Jack. Many streets are named after foreign cities, which were attended by Martin. Before the founding of the city, the region was known as Waihenga. In the town of examples of colonial architecture can still be seen today, for example, Built in 1892, Peppers Martinborough Hotel.

Prior to the expansion of viticulture in and around the city, she was mainly a rural service center for the surrounding farms.

Viniculture

Martinborough has today a large number of wineries that mainly grow Pinot Noir. Martinborough has a warm micro-climate and aligned in an east-west direction hill. Nearly all wineries are located on narrow strips around the north and east sides of the city and at the Dry River to the south of the city. They all follow the dry river beds that have a suitable soil for growing grapes.

Important wineries in the region are Te Kairanga, Palliser Estate Wines, Dry River, Martinborough Vineyard, James Murdoch, Ata Rangi and Craggy Range. In November, a wine festival increases the population temporarily by 10,000.

In addition to the wine-growing region is used to Martinborough cattle and sheep farming and the cultivation of olive trees, lavender and nuts. Fishing plays a role in the nearby coastal settlements Ngawi and Cape Palliser. Tourism is also an important economic factor.

Martinborough has a primary school, ' Martinborough Primary School, as a secondary school serving the Kuranui College in Wellington.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Gillian Weir ( b. 1941 ), organist and harpsichordist