Established in 1980 by six wine enthusiasts, Martinborough Vineyards was the first estate in the region to plant Pinot Noir. The first commercial vintage was 1984 and the founders soon realized they needed to appoint a well-qualified winemaker to allow the special qualities of the site to be realized. Larry McKenna became the first winemaker and helped establish Martinborough Vineyards as a premium wine estate. Today winemaking is carried out by Paul Mason. A philosophy of sustainable viticulture, low yields and minimal intervention winemaking allows the wines to speak of their site. Predominantly a Pinot Noir specialist, Martinborough Vineyards produces several ranges of wines from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.