Domaine Thomson Wines To Open An Historically Inspired Wine Tasting Facility
A long-term vision will be achieved by high profile Central Otago winery Domaine Thomson, when it opens a wine tasting facility this summer, underlining the company’s ongoing commitment to the industry.
Designed by prominent Auckland architects Noel Lane and Tom Rowe and tendered to Breen Construction of Alexandra, construction of the complex in Clarks Road, opposite Pisa Moorings in the Cromwell Basin, housing a tasting room, entertaining spaces, a cellar and office is currently underway.
Domaine Thomson Wines owners, David and PM Hall-Jones, are excited about the development and the role the new facility will have in their winery operation.
“It will be an absolute representation of everything we’re about, bringing people together to enjoy great wine in a relaxed environment.”
The Domaine Thomson label honours David Hall-Jones’ great-great-grandfather John Turnbull Thomson, the first surveyor to explore most of Otago and Southland in the 1850s in his capacity as chief surveyor of Otago. He was later appointed Surveyor-General of New Zealand from 1876-1879.
“He named many well-known landmarks including Mt Aspiring, Mt Earnslaw, Lindis Pass and the Pisa Range,” says David. “Having our buildings nestled beneath the Pisa Range, on our biodynamically managed 14-hectare Pinot Noir vineyard, is very meaningful to us because of the pivotal part Thomson played in the history of the area.”
The new tasting complex will not only showcase Domaine Thomson’s Central Otago award-winning wines but will also provide a backdrop for labels produced by the Hall-Jones’s in the renowned Burgundy region in France.
“Along with our original parcel of vines in Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte de Nuits, we were fortunate to acquire some small holdings in the Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise last year and wines from each of these vineyards will be available at our new cellar door,” says PM. “To be able to present our entire portfolio of wines from both Central Otago and Burgundy in the one location is significant for us, because of the important links between the two distinctive wine growing terroirs in two hemispheres.”
Domaine Thomson Wines operations manager, Kate Barnett, who has vast experience in the Central Otago wine industry, having established the pioneering Felton Road Wines in Bannockburn with her father Stewart Elms, and later managing the cellar door at Central Otago’s Mt Difficulty Wines, is upbeat about the development.
“The new facility has been a dream of the entire Domaine Thomson team and it is wonderful to see it coming together. I have the greatest respect for Central Otago as a world-class wine region and after working with Domaine Thomson for nearly ten years, it is brilliant to now see this outstanding complex come to fruition. Organic and biodynamic education is an important part of our story and we look forward to sharing our history along with our award-winning wines with visitors to the new facility this summer.”
“The many wines we offer from both Central Otago and France will be ideally suited to the new cellar door setting and as a long-time fan of champagne, I am delighted that we will also have our own Crémant de Bourgogne available,’ she says. “This is a cheeky Burgundian bubbly that will be perfect to sample on a hot summer day in Central Otago.”
Domaine Thomson Central Otago wines are available in New Zealand from the company’s website www.domainethomsonwines.com , from Maison Vauron in Auckland and from leading restaurants and bottle stores throughout the country.
For more information contact Kate Barnett, Operations Manager: kate@domainethomsonwines.com