The Wine Portfolio

The Wine Portfolio is a collection of distinctive New Zealand wine brands.

The journey of The Wine Portfolio started in 1995 when John M Coney, purchased the Morton Estate after he tasted the 1994 Black Label Pinot Noir from the Riverview vineyard. That Pinot was a sign for John of the potential in the company. His vision for the winery was for consistency to become a hallmark of the enterprise. Under the umbrella of “The Wine Portfolio” the new team set about developing vineyards, investing in winemaking facilities and building a set of new brands around Morton Estate. In 1996 a new crush plant was built at Riverview and the headquarters of the business was moved into a beautifully renovated historic building in Auckland.

Development and expansion of The Wine Portfolio continued throughout the late 1990’s and 2000′s, with further vineyard sites being acquired in the Hawkes Bay and Marlborough. In 2001 the Coniglio Chardonnay was introduced to the market setting a new standard for New Zealand Chardonnay by taking home the international Decanter Trophy two-years in a row. Produced only in years when the fruit achieves absolute perfection, this wine is in very limited Supply.

In 2002 the company began making its name in sparkling wine with awards like the Trophy and Gold Medal at the Air New Zealand awards, Best in Class at The London International Wine and Spirit competition and Sydney Top 100 Wine Show across their ranges. The Wine Portfolio uses similar methods to French Methode Traditionnelle – including back blending to keep the consistency of taste and quality. These successes led to the development of the two new sparkling wine lines – Mimi and IQ.

The Wine Portfolio also introduced the Nikau Point brand to their line up in 2002. Inspired by Pacific cuisine, we wanted to develop a wine range that would compliment the abundance of fresh fruit and fish for which the islands are famous for. Nikau Point has received success on both the national and international scene including Blue Gold’s at the Sydney International Wine Competition in 2007 for the Reserve Chardonnay and Reserve Merlot Cabernet.

The next four years was a flurry of development with three brands being added to the company’s portfolio, with a more casual drinker focus. In 2007 they added the Penny Lane selection, which is an elegant everyday option. Then they introduced the Southern Cross brand in 2008 – a nod to the very distinctive star constellation in the southern night sky that appears on the New Zealand flag. And in 2010 Cathedral Cove, named after one of New Zealand’s most picturesque beach settings where the naturally formed archways look like the interior of a Cathedral giving the area, and now the wine, an air of grandeur.

2011 was the year that sparkled for The Wine Portfolio team, with the launch of the flirty brand Mimi – “The New Girl in Town”, and the addition of a bubbly option to the Nikau Point range. Mimi and Mimi Pink were developed to have wide appeal as she offers a sweeter, softer palate. These fun sparkling wines have won several awards including Best Buy in the 2013 TizWine Awards.

In 2012 The Wine Portfolio commenced its export drive into Asia, most notably into China. They had success with the premium Bordeaux reds from the Hawkes Bay and then the Pinot Noir, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc. The new “Southern Dawn” brand was then introduced into China and the UK in 2013 introducing them to the distinctive flavours of the southern hemisphere’s volcanic terroir.

In 2014 The Wine Portfolio said goodbye to the Morton Estate brand in order to focus on its other existing brands and also to bring new options to the table for its customers. The development of the new brand “Leveret” is currently underway, with more ideas and innovations continually coming down the pipeline.