Wine & Rugby: Moncellier
There's no doubt that for the next seven weeks the world will be watching New Zealand and each competing nation will have their eyes on glory, hoping their team lifts the Webb Ellis Cup. New Zealand is famous for its love of rugby and quality players, but the country produces more than an impressive line-up of All Blacks, we also produce outstanding wines.
The New Zealand wine industry is creative, innovative, and brimming with interesting personalities from around the world. Many of the colourful characters in the industry are as passionate about rugby as they are about wine! Here's another story that links the national sport with one of the nation's favourite drinks…
Owner Bill Spence played rugby until he took up University Studies. Because of the friends he has made over the years in rugby circles which include All Black’s and Management, he was passionate about sponsoring the NZ rugby foundation and the good work they do, providing wine for their functions for over 15 years.
Moncellier was conceived on the back of a couple of beers after a hard day’s work. For Bill it seemed like a pretty good way to start a wine company, a wine company that is relaxed and makes wine for the sheer pleasure of drinking it. This is not to say he doesn’t know what he is doing, as he has been a part of some of the best wines made in this country, and was responsible for the first plantings and production of Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand.
Moncellier literally translated means ‘my cave’ or ‘cellar’ and is represented by a set of keys, symbolic with gaining access to the cellar. Moncellier wines are the creation of Bill Spence, a true character of the New Zealand wine industry. His philosophy is to produce quality wines from select vineyards, wines to be enjoyed with family and friends.
Bill has been an innovator in many areas of the wine industry. Not only did he and his brother start Matua Valley Wines in the early 1970’s (which has become an iconic New Zealand brand), they were also the first to plant and produce Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand. He was also the founding chairman New Zealand Wine Export Guild which is now worth over one billion dollars to New Zealand’s export figures.
www.moncellierwines.co.nz