BROOKFIELD

At Glengarry, we've been stocking Brookfields wines for almost three decades, for the very good reason (apart from the fact that owner-winemaker Peter Robertson is a superbly generous and lovely man) that, year after year, regardless of vintage variables, the wines are consistently up there and always exceptional value for money.

Biochemistry graduate Peter arrived in Hawkes Bay from Otago in the early 1970s, where he proceeded to work at the McWilliams winery with the legendary Tom McDonald. In 1977, Peter purchased the Brookfields winery and redirected its focus towards producing fine table wines. Within a decade he had firmly established Brookfields as one of Hawkes Bay’s premier wineries.

The man himself puts it thus: "Our philosophy is to produce fruit-driven, balanced wines that are enjoyable in their youth, have the potential to mature and are, above all, good with food. We are currently planting new varietal clones with the aim of improving the quality of the yields, because I believe that great wines are made from superior fruit."

With no signs of taking the foot off the pedal, then, Brookfields' impressively conceived wine ranges continue to set a benchmark within Hawkes Bay's winemaking community.

Peter Robertson

By Kiwi standards – brash young country that we are – 85 years is a lengthy existence for a winery. The fact that Brookfields is still with us and turning out its inimitable offerings is mainly down to the efforts of one man, Peter Robertson, and his uncompromising vision. You can be distracted by Peter’s unassuming charm and affability and completely miss the fact that he has long been one of the Bay’s most accomplished and innovative winemakers. We’d go so far as to say that his flagship Gold Label Cabernet Merlot, a wine approaching legendary status among local wine aficionados, stands comfortably alongside our best. The fact that you can purchase it for about half the price underscores how much importance Peter places on value as well as quality. His wines are always priced in a wallet-friendly way that allows enthusiasts to constantly review his often groundbreaking forays. Not one to strut his stuff, despite the fact that he makes some of our country’s best wines, we’re confident that if you were to crack a bottle of, say, his Sun-dried Malbec, Bergman Chardonnay or Hillside Syrah, you’d soon be back for more. In a further bit of good news for the family business, Peter’s daughter, Rachael Robertson, has returned to her roots at Brookfields as Events and Restaurant Manager.