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Domaine Thomson gets organic certification
Central Otago’s Domaine Thomson has just gained organic certification for its entire estate from Biogro NZ.
The property, which comprises 14 hectares of Pinot Noir vineyards in Lowburn, Central Otago, was bought by David Hall-Jones and his wife, Pui Mun – referred to as PM – in 2000, and started converting to organics in 2010 and then biodynamics in 2012.
According to PM, the approach, which does away with synthetic herbicides, fungicides or fertilisers, has “brought a lot of life” to the Domaine Thomson vineyards, which are now “humming with bees and other insects”.
She also said that the producer has now installed hives to make its own organic honey.
Domaine Thomson creates all its own biodynamic preparations on site and has three cows – Artemis, Mimolette and Matilda.
However, it shares the cattle and preparations with nearby Domaine Rewa and Tosq.
Currently, around 6% of New Zealand’s vineyards are certified organic or biodynamic, but the country’s aim is to increase that to 20% by 2020.
Although Marlborough has renowned biodynamic brand Seresin, it is down in the far south of the country, in Central Otago, that farming without synthetic herbicides, fungicides or fertilisers is really taking hold. In fact, this region is already approaching the country’s target, with the proportion of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards in Central Otago currently over 16%, according to Blair Walter, winemaker at Felton Road – which became fully biodynamic in 2005.
Other notable biodynamic producers in the region include Quartz Reef, Rippon, Carrick and Burn Cottage.
Domaine Thomson produced their first vintage in 2003, which was released in 2005 under the Surveyor Thomson label, named in honour of David’s great-great-grandfather John Thomson, who had surveyed much of the area in the nineteenth century – and was New Zealand’s first Surveyor General.
Domaine Thomson has vineyards in Central Otago and Burgundy
Then, in 2008, they added the Explorer label, made with Pinot from the same region.
In April 2015, however, the operation was rebranded as Domaine Thomson to include Surveyor Thomson and Explorer Pinot Noir from Central Otago, as well as a Pinot Noir from a half-hectare plot called Les Evocelles in Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy.
The latter vineyard was bought by David Hall-Jones and his wife in February 2013, marking the first New Zealand ownership of land in Burgundy.
Although a native New Zealander, David Hall-Jones spends much of him time in Hong Kong, where he is a managing partner at an international law firm.
BioGro is New Zealand’s largest certifier for organic produce and products.
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