Allan Scott

A Pink and Sparkling Addition to Mother’s Day April 27, 2016/by Allan Scott

Sparkling wines the world over have been named after female family members or veuves who ran well-established wineries.

Following suit, the Allan Scott Family Winemakers (ASFW) Cecilia Rosé Méthode Traditionnelle Marlborough Brut NV playfully and lovingly nods to an exceptional member of the Scott family, Catherine Cecilia Scott, who alongside husband Allan planted the first of the family owned vineyards in Marlborough in 1975.

A subtle blush colour with warm hints of gold, son and head winemaker Josh Scott (with tongue firmly in cheek) reveals both the namesake and the Cecilia Rosé Méthode Traditionnelle Brut NV boast complex and elegant characters.

Vinted from a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, the sparkling wine is a true Méthode Traditionnelle style aged on lees and fitting for festivity. Dry yet crisp and refreshing, it has flavours of wild summer fruits such as ripe strawberries and raspberries with bubbles that enhance the aromas on the palate.

Josh knows better than to comment on his mother’s traits, instead highlighting that the three children (himself and his two sisters Victoria and Sara) now tasked with leading operations at the winery have forever credited the drop as the instigator of good times.

“Cecilia Rosé definitely has a place in our hearts that will always be connected to moments where we are able to gather as a family. It’s the bottle that has been present at family weddings, birthdays and anniversaries – and of course it would be rude not to get involved for Mother’s Day too,” says Josh.

Gifting a bottle of Cecilia Rosé will definitely have your mum feeling the love, but why not go the extra mile and serve alongside a home cooked meal? This wine would pair beautifully with a fresh Marlborough salmon risotto and a decadent berry dessert.

As one of the first independent wineries to be establish in Marlborough in 1990, Allan Scott Family Winemakers have made a name for themselves in this highly competitive industry.

Allan has nearly 40 years in the wine business, which makes him one of the most experienced people in Marlborough when it comes to growing, making and marketing wine. When Allan and his wife Catherine decided to settle here in 1973, (Cathy is a fifth generation Marlburian) Allan took a job with Montana working in their new vineyards.

In 1980 he was head-hunted by Corbans to oversee the establishment of their Marlborough vineyards.  He soon became their Senior Viticultural Manager, which not only gave him responsibility for the company’s entire national grape intake, but led him to become part of the winemaking team.

All this stood him in good stead for the family’s foray into winemaking.  Back then, there weren’t any boutique wineries to speak of in Marlborough.  In 1975 Allan and Catherine purchased a block of land and got into contract growing.  Then, when the first independent winemakers started to emerge in Marlborough, Allan and Catherine were in a position to become a part of this new era in New Zealand’s wine industry.

In 1990, they launched Allan Scott Wines. Allan remembers it well.  “We were one of a small number who made up the first wave of the independents.”  The Allan Scott winery has seen some changes since then.  Over the 25 years since its inception, the winery has evolved to keep ahead of the changing demands from the market.

Perhaps the biggest change for the business has been its evolution into a true family business. Allan and Cathy’s three children have grown up to become valuable members of the business.

Elder daughter Victoria is responsible for Marketing, while their son Josh is Chief winemaker, taking responsibility for the variety of wines the winery produces. Younger daughter Sara has also trained as a winemaker, but works mostly in the vineyard. She has followed her father’s specialty as a viticulturalist and, according to Allan, has an almost instinctual approach to the industry.

Along with the core range of Allan Scott Estate wines, there is a single vineyard selection of prestige wines which uses the best grapes and careful cellaring to produce a limited volume of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir, with names like Hounds and Wallops to depict their origin.  In 1999, the winery also released a Methode Traditionnelle range which now includes five bubbles all of which are produced on site and the most recent addition to the family holdings is their Scott Base Vineyard in Central Otago.

With its distinctive combination of cool nights, sunny days and young soils, Marlborough is recognised as one of the world’s greatest wine regions. Within Marlborough, the Rapaura area along the northern edge of the Wairau Valley has become particularly prized. This is where we established the family’s vineyards, all in close proximity to the winery.

We can take advantage of the individual characteristic of each particular vineyard using specific viticultural practices designed for each site to maximise their potential. With different soil types and vine age, we can obtain a range of typical Marlborough herbaceousness to very ripe tropical flavours. Each vine gets special attention as the team make every effort to produce the best wine possible with each and every vintage.

The Moorlands Vineyard

Established 1980

This vineyard adjoins the winery. Established in 1980 with Riesling vines, this vineyard was the first in the district to be planted on grafted stock. Subsequent redevelopment has re-established the varietal mix of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

The Hounds Vineyard

Established 1982

Bordering the Wallops vineyard, the Hounds became part of the Allan Scott Family Winemakers in 2004. It is mainly planted in Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This site is comprised of old river bed, silt and clay loam which provides great structure to our wines and supplies the exceptional quality  Pinot Noir fruit for our namesake premium Pinot Noir The Hounds.

The Wallops Vineyard

Established 1985

Across Jacksons Road from the winery, the Wallops is the homestead block that was originally planted by Allan and Catherine as contract growers for neighbouring winery, Cloudy Bay. The vineyard provides a major component of Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc and features a small area of Chardonnay. This is also where the family has our nursery for grafting rootstock and budwood.

Omaka Vineyard

Established 2000

This prime vineyard land was planted in apples when we acquired it in 2000. It is now planted predominantly in Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir with small areas of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Merlot. Being on part of the original bed of the Omaka River, the soils are gravelly and free-draining, with a slight variation to clay loams on the eastern side.