the not serious Pen Naish & Nicholas Brown

For this chat, Pete and I had the distinct pleasure of sitting across the table from wine folk Pen Naish and Nicholas Brown of Black Estate. The monochrome cool of black and white might underpin this winery but colour oozes from every corner. Neither of these two started out destined for a job in wine but, like most vignerons in Aotearoa, wine found them. When Pen’s Dad stood in a paddock in North Canterbury, the vibes felt right and a deep, honest discussion ensued around establishing a vineyard, winery and, as it happens, a restaurant. Ambitious? Yes. Achievable? Clearly. A considered black building, designed by architect Richard Naish – also a relative - stands stark on the rolling hills of a wine region known for being sometimes just a bit tricky. It acts as an anchor and it’s fair to say this whanau are now well rooted to this special spot. Kids were raised here. Summers have been spent with secateurs in one hand and a barbecue tong in the other. Steve, the chocolate Labrador guar

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