Dolphin wine

Local people picking the pinot gris grapes, Central Otago.

Message in a bottle

New Zealanders are passionate about our wine. We are also passionate about saving our endangered Hector’s dolphins. Put the two together and you have Message in a Bottle - a unique, and tasty, local initiative that serves as an inspiring example of how a community can come together to support the conservation of a species.

How did this come about? In March 2009 the wine-making community and residents of Central Otago kindly donated three tonnes of Pinot Gris grapes to WWF-New Zealand… one unusual and generous gift that set off a domino effect in the community. Local people gave their skills and expertise to turn the grapes into a limited reserve wine to benefit Hector’s dolphins.

You can watch how the story unfolded on Campbell Live.

Message in a Bottle is an important New Zealand cause, and it’s going to be a great New Zealand wine.

Gemma McGrath, WWF’s Hector’s Dolphin Community Coordinator

Far from the sea…

What makes this story even more incredible is that the community is located in the heart of Central Otago, about as far away from the coast as you can get. It really shows how New Zealanders have taken the plight of Hector’s dolphins to their hearts - where ever they live.

WWF’s Hector’s Dolphin Community Coordinator Gemma McGrath is the driving force behind the project. She says, “I’ve been amazed at the community support for this project. It has set off a domino effect. Everyone has offered what they do best – from the grape growers, to the winemaker, to the bottling company, and long-time supporter Bannockburn Hotel.

WWF thanks the following businesses for their support

Guala Closures

Carters & Associates

The bottle

The hand-harvested Pinot Gris grapes come from unique vineyards in Bannockburn and Tarras. The wine has aromas of pineapple, lychee, honey and spices - a perfect wine to enjoy with family and friends on a summer day beside dolphin taonga in turquoise seas.

Message in a Bottle is being released for sale from 21September. Hurry or you may miss out!

The message

Along with raising vital funds for WWF’s Hector’s and Maui’s dolphin conservation programme, Gemma hopes Message in a Bottle will raise people’s awareness about this important New Zealand cause. Scientists estimate 7,270 Hector’s dolphins survive today, compared to an estimated population of 30,000 dolphins in the 1970s.

The main reason for this decline is fishing with nets in their habitat. It will take considerable effort to halt and reverse their decline, but Message in a Bottle is a message from one New Zealand community that something can, and is, being done to stop their extinction. You can find out more about how you can help save New Zealand’s dolphins by visiting our dolphin campaign pages.

So how can I buy a bottle?

Olssen’s Garden Vineyard is selling the limited reserve wine on behalf of WWF for $30 per bottle. To pre-order your special bottle and support Hector’s conservation, please contact www.olssens.co.nz

Funds raised from Message in a Bottle Pinot Gris 2009 will go directly to WWF's campaign to save the endangered Hector's and Maui's dolphins. WWF gratefully acknowledges the community of Bannockburn and all of the sponsors for donating their time and services.

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