Coney Wines - Coney Wines Dry River Road

What had been envisaged as a gentle descent into middle age retirement has turned into a thriving 24/7 bustle of vinetending, winemaking, marketing and restaurateuring - each operation undertaken in the hallowed, self-flagellating Martinborough tradition - by manual labour.

Be it leaf-plucking or bunch thinning by hand in the vineyard to ensure umblemished, perfectly ripe fruit, or the sheer tastiness of Margaret’s cuisine which derives from the traditional “homemade” quality of every ingredient served to appreciative diners - the Coney aim is to pay keen attention to detail.

And so the old-fashioned notion that small is beautiful, that honest sweat produces happiness turns out to be our guiding principle. In the modern world, a small vineyard/winery represents one of the few remaining occupations where a bloke can go from planting to bottle, get out of the house/office and enjoy the sun on his back to music.

The brand name Coney has special traction in New Zealand and Australia due to the public affection for younger cricketing brother Jeremy who captained New Zealand in the early eighties and continues to commentate on radio, SKY TV and the BBC.

Our logo, the treble clef, with grape bunch delicately appended, comes from the family’s love of music - it is also a nice metaphor for the harmony experienced in a lovely wine. Headphones are mandatory in the vineyard, and many a passing local has marvelled at the gangly Coney legs in gyration to an Eagles, LRB or Beatles number. Scientific tests also confirm that grapes respond positively to a diet of 1970’s music!

The wines themselves have harmonious names - Rallentando Riesling, Ragtime Riesling, Ramblin’ Rose and Pizzicato Pinot Noir. Also joined by tiny quantities of Piccolo Pinot Gris and Que Sera Syrah. For the unitiated, an explanation of these terms can be obtained from the man behind the tasting bar.

Visiting groups have sometimes been startled to hear Coney burst into spontaneous song to illustrate their meaning. This service attracts no additional fee.