It all started in Italy. Matt Thomson arrived in northern Italy in 1994 to work vintage, and he has returned there every year since at vintage time.

It was in Italy that he came to know David Gleave, a London-based importer of wines from around the world.

Over several years, during the many long car journeys between wineries in Italy, Matt and David discussed at length the potential for Pinot Noir in Marlborough.

When Matt found a site in 2000 that he felt was ideally suited to the production of top quality Pinot Noir, David and a couple of other people were keen to join him in the enterprise.