ALLAN SCOTT

One of the very first, back in 1975, to put a spade into stony Marlborough soils and plant grapevines, Allan Scott has very much been there, done that. As head of his eponymous vinous empire, he has, over decades, forged a reputation for exacting quality and gone on to establish a strongly family-oriented and independent enterprise that involves wife Catherine, son Josh and daughters Victoria and Sara as integral members.

Allan Scott Family Winemakers have just released their new Generations range, a collection of single vineyard wines drawn from meticulously maintained, low-yield vines within the Scott family's own estate and produced in limited quantities. The range is a nod to the strong family involvement in the business and an acknowledgement of its intergenerational aspect. One gets the feeling that we're perhaps witnessing the beginnings of a genuine winemaking dynasty.

Allan Scott

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.