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The official name for the New Zealand winegrowing region that is also referred to as Wairarapa or Martinborough. It’s located at the southern end of the North Island close to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city. Martinborough, the primary town in the region, is a little over 50 miles west of Wellington. Vines were first planted here in the 1880s, but it wasn’t until a century later that Wellington began to be noted on the world wine stage. The Tararua Mountains, which lie west of the vineyards between Wellington and Martin-borough, block much of the wet weather that blows across most of the North Island’s south end. This drier environment plus the cool winds blowing off Cook’s Strait (which is between the North and South Islands) provides a climate many feel is similar to Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest growing region. The Wellington region, with just over a thousand acres, was New Zealand’s seventh largest growing area in 2002. Pinot Noir has established the region’s reputation and is its most planted variety. However, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling can also be very successful. And, although not planted on a large scale, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are have produced distinguished wines.