Le Grá is Gaelic for with love, and is the new name for the old vineyard and winery, Loopline in Opaki, Masterton. It encapsulates everything about this new venture for Irishman Brian and Nicky, a local girl coming home. By Walt Dickson. Photos by Sarah Watkins.

One of the best things about Martinborough Wine Village – New Zealand’s only wine village – is that you can explore the vineyards on foot. Hosted by Martinborough Wine Merchants, Martinborough Wine Walks delivers a fun and informative behind-the-scenes, wine-tasting experience like no other, allowing you to get close to those most involved in the region’s vibrant wine scene.

It was a bold move 15 years ago to appoint Gerry Rotman as Ata Rangi’s Vineyard Manager – he had never worked in a vineyard before. But he loved growing things.

Fifty years ago Paddy Borthwick’s grandfather planted potatoes on an old river flat above the Ruamahanga River near Gladstone. He would never have imagined that thirty years later his grandson Paddy would plant that same stony soil to produce the region’s flagship pinot noir grapes.