Johner Estate
“After falling in love with the beauty of the Wairarapa region, its climate and wonderful conditions to grow stunning Pinot Noir; we established our second Estate on the absolute opposite side of the world.”
Yes, Karl Johner, his wife Irene, and son Patrick have a well known winery in Germany where they were amongst the first vintners to adapt a quality regime and focus on great burgundy style wines. With their vision to also create great Pinot Noir in New Zealand, the focus of the wines is not set to upfront fruit. They just love complexity. Wines that reveal new delicate flavours whilst drinking, showing great depth and a lingering finish.
In the early 1970’s Karl encountered New Zealand for the first time whilst travelling the world looking into Pinot Noir growing sites. The landscape felt familiar but the Pinot Noir growing conditions were fascinating. The climate conditions were perfect and there was a booming spirit.
“The wines have great depth, structure and elegance – representing our European roots combined with the intense fruit characteristics made possible by the New Zealand terroir.”