Sue and Carl Thompson and their sons Quinn and Oscar of TOSQ produced their first pinot noir in 2009, after developing a bare block on the Wanaka-Cromwell road in the late 1990s and the Remarkables Market gives them the opportunity to introduce their wines to people from all over the world.

Estate grown TOSQ wines are organically certified which Sue says has been an important step.

“Our key principle is to respect and treat the soil as a living organism, to enable it to grow the vines and allow the natural interaction of soil, plant and environment.  We support the system with large scale composting, seaweed, fish and compost teas and we aim for balance. After all healthy soil leads to healthy plants.”

She says their wines are on the dry end of the wine spectrum and all made with specific food matches in mind.

“Our pinot noirs are distinctive and individual reflecting both season and site.  They are structured wines with firm fine tannins, fine acid lines, freshness and vitality. The rosé represents summer red berry fruits, mint & watermelon – great with salamis and antipasto. Our pinot gris is aromatic and well suited to Asian cuisine and the Flora ‘Entwined’ is complex and natural with mandarin, pink grapefruit and subtle spice.”

TOSC wines are sold at Remarkables Market each weekend and are equally popular. “Our Flora ‘Entwined’ is the most unique and developing a following by the adventurous but the pinot noir is the flagship with an ability to develop and age gracefully,” says Sue. “I personally love rosé for the new season – it captures the scents of summer.”