Framingham - Giannikos Winery

With the planting of one of the first Riesling vines in 1981, Framingham winery began its quirky adventure in the Wairau Valley, located in the Marlborough wine-growing region. Framingham's philosophy is "We make wine by our own rules" and they do this by combining small quantities of grapes from different parts of the vineyard, giving the wines the taste and texture that winemaker Andrew Hedley envisions. But also by using experimental techniques and mixing options, Framingham took risks that ultimately paid off, creating the rich, characteristic and expressive wines.

The Framingham Sustainable Vineyards own 15 hectares of vines divided into small vineyards located in the towns of Conders Bens, Renwick, Dry Hills and Rapaura, among others. The grape varieties Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Montepulciano are grown in these vineyards. The Wairau Valley where the various vineyards are located, is a wide river valley that follows the Wairau River from the Spenser Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean at Cloudy Bay. The Richmond Mountains to the north separate it from the sunny Nelson region, and the Wither Hills to the south protect the valley from harsh south-east weather.