Graham Norton is in Aotearoa for the first time ever and was snapped enjoying a beautiful vineyard visit in Marlborough.
He wasted no time soaking up the best of NZ wine-making, rolling up his sleeves and getting involved with Invivo Wines' cofounders, Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron, in the Awatere Valley.
Graham got stuck into grape picking, sampling fresh juice, and assessing fruit quality - all the steps that go into making his popular GN Sauvignon Blanc.
“New Zealand produces some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc, in my opinion,” Graham said.
“It’s incredible to think that what began as a small, limited-edition run of GN New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has grown into a global brand. Now, here we are harvesting grapes in Marlborough for our twelfth vintage,” he added.
I don’t just put my name to the wines - I’m involved in the process, which makes being here in this stunning region for harvest all the more special.
Graham’s working relationship with Invivo began back in 2014 with just one wine, and now there’s a good ten to choose from in his range.
He’s won over a whopping 300 awards and has seen incredible success as a top-seller around the world, including New Zealand, of course, but also the UK, Ireland, USA and Japan.
“Graham has always been hands-on - he tastes, blends, and signs off on every vintage with us,” said Invivo’s Rob Cameron. “Him experiencing Marlborough firsthand was a real highlight.”
His trip wrapped up with a winemaker’s lunch at Harvest Restaurant in Rapaura, where he was treated to a proper Kiwi welcome from local growers, the Mayor of Marlborough, and plenty of top-notch vino from the region.
During the event, Mayor Nadine Taylor presented Graham with the first-of-its-kind 'Grape Ambassador' Award, recognising his long-term advocacy for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
I think it’s safe to say New Zealand might become a regular holiday spot for the talk show host.
