Earthsong is a New Zealand wine project created by the team behind Thistledown Wines in South Australia, with a passion for expressing Marlborough's distinctive vineyards.

Rather than focusing on the region's familiar house style, Earthsong explores individual sites across Dillons Point and the Southern Valleys, celebrating the diversity of soils, climate and grape varieties.

Sustainability is central to the philosophy, with careful vineyard management, low yields and a commitment to healthy soils and biodiversity.

The Southern Valleys Pinot Noir comes from organically farmed, mature vines on clay-rich slopes, where contrasting vineyard aspects encourage both concentration and freshness.

In the cellar, gentle extraction, partial whole-bunch fermentation and restrained oak maturation preserve the wine's natural character, creating an elegant expression of Marlborough Pinot Noir.

Marlborough is New Zealand’s most prominent and internationally recognised wine region, accounting for around two-thirds of the country’s total wine production. Located at the northeastern tip of the South Island, Marlborough has built a global reputation, particularly for its vibrant and intensely aromatic Sauvignon Blanc.

The region benefits from a cool maritime climate, with long sunshine hours, warm days, and cool nights. This significant diurnal temperature variation helps preserve acidity and enhance aromatic development in the grapes. Low rainfall during the growing season and free-draining alluvial soils contribute to healthy, concentrated fruit and reliable ripening conditions.

Marlborough is divided into several key sub-regions, including the Wairau Valley, known for its classic tropical-fruited Sauvignon Blanc; the Awatere Valley, which tends to produce more herbaceous, structured styles; and the Southern Valleys, which are slightly cooler and gaining recognition for Pinot Noir.

While Sauvignon Blanc dominates, other varieties are increasingly important. Pinot Noir is the leading red, used for both still and sparkling wines, offering bright red fruit and subtle earthiness. Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Riesling are also planted, producing fresh, expressive wines with excellent balance.

Marlborough’s clean, fruit-driven style and consistent quality have made it the cornerstone of New Zealand’s wine industry on the global stage.

Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most celebrated and challenging grape varieties, renowned for producing elegant, complex wines. Believed to have originated in Burgundy, France, over 1,000 years ago, it thrives in cooler climates where its thin skin and early ripening nature are best suited. Viticulturally, Pinot Noir is notoriously difficult to grow: it is susceptible to rot, mildew, and pests, and requires precise canopy management to balance ripening with acidity retention.

Pinot Noir is planted across the globe, with notable expressions found in Burgundy, Champagne, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, California’s Sonoma Coast, New Zealand’s Central Otago, and Germany’s Baden and Pfalz regions. In Champagne, it is a key component of sparkling wines, typically blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The wine's diverse geographical range means that you might also find it labelled as Red Burgundy, Pinot Nero, Blauburgunder, or Spätburgunder.

The grape produces wines of delicate colour but remarkable aromatic depth. Typical flavour profiles include red fruits such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, often layered with floral notes, earthy undertones, and hints of spice or forest floor as the wines mature. Styles range from light and silky to more structured and age-worthy, depending on climate and winemaking choices. Pinot Noir’s ability to express terroir with precision makes it a favourite among wine lovers, despite — or perhaps because of — its demanding nature in the vineyard.