Berridge Spencer’s Waiheke, South Island wines served at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands

Berridge Spencer (left), owner of Waiheke Island’s Man O’ War Vineyards, with Duncan McTavish, viticulture and winemaking general manager, at the debut of Man O’ War Wines at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Photo / Instagram of Waku Ghin

Both wines are now being served at Waku Ghin.

In the video, sockless Spencer explains how wines made at Man O’ War were handcrafted.

Grapes were handpicked and fermented “on an individual basis so that it’s really a very unique, a very small-batch, an exciting way of winemaking that Duncan’s perfected over the years”.

Man O’ War and Swiftsure wines are produced on Waiheke Island and in the South Island.

The Instagram post said the two men were invited for “an intimate session of stories and craftsmanship”.

New Zealand chef Craig Martin served a six-course meal at the ticketed reserved-seat events on June 9 and 10.

Akaroa King Salmon was one of the items on the menu.

“Paired with chef Craig’s collaborative menu, the wines unfolded with depth and character. Man O’ War Wines are now available across selected Marina Bay Sands restaurants, subject to availability,” the video said.

Berridge Spencer, owner of Waiheke Island’s Man O’ War Vineyards, at the debut of Man O’ War Wines at the Michelin Star Japanese restaurant Waku Ghin, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, in June. Photo / Instagram Waku Ghin

Man O’ War’s Ironclad Bordeaux blend and Dreadnought Syrah were served.

Grapes for those wines are grown at Waiheke Island’s eastern end at Man O’ War Bay, named by Captain James Cook on his first voyage to New Zealand in 1769.

McTavish has been quoted in other media saying the vineyard wanted to introduce its wines to Singapore through an exclusive partnership with Marina Bay Sands.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, where the New Zealand wines are served in restaurants.

That would help grow the export market and share the wine with a wider audience, he said.

The partnership is understood to be set for six months.

Last September, the Herald reported how Spencer had opened a much-acclaimed new South Island restaurant.

That also reported how he had bought two vineyards.

Arrowtown restaurant and bar Swiftsure by Man O’ War. Photo / Swiftsure

Swiftsure by Man O’ War restaurant opened last year in Arrowtown.

That serves wines from vineyards Spencer has on Waiheke Island, as well as two southern vineyards.

Those two South Island vineyards are Birch Hill in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley and Bannockburn in Central Otago.

Birch Hill in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough, is one of the Swiftsure vineyards owned by Berridge Spencer. Photo / Swiftsure Vineyards on Instagram

In May, the Department of Conservation announced it had awarded the lease for Waiheke Island’s Stony Batter to a company owned by Spencer, which will work with iwi to bring more tourists to the attraction.

Man O’ War wine tasting areas are on the waterfront by a sheltered bay on Waiheke Island.

The department’s Auckland operations director, Alex Rogers, said the 10-year lease had been won by Man O’ War Vineyards and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki.

The Stony Batter Historic Reserve is known for its World War II tunnels and gun emplacements.

Spencer is also planning a big Devonport project.

Fast-track consent is being sought for the redevelopment of almost a block of the waterfront village, with five buildings proposed to rise above restored, strengthened Edwardian and Victorian heritage-protected structures.

Eighty to 90 apartments, a hotel of 46 to 50 rooms, a third of a hectare of retail, a quarter of a hectare of commercial space and 80 to 200 car parks are proposed for the main street.

Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.

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