For renowned New Zealand chef Al Brown, crafting Tipping Point Wines with CBNZ “has been about creating a wine that celebrates all of the things that are close to my heart – our regions, our land, and bringing people we love together for a bite of something delicious to eat washed down with a decent drop”. 

His involvement in every vintage, the distinctive bottle shape, and convivial labels all reflect his love for informality and authenticity.

“There is a strange formality around drinking wine and selecting the perfect bottle. I wanted to remove this completely from Tipping Point. Anyone can drink these wines, any time. At the end of the day, it’s just that, a very drinkable drop and each varietal fits well with our relaxed Kiwi spirit.”

But it’s more than just a good drop. Each varietal also donates annually to a different charity. 

• The Opportunist Shiraz supports the Kea Conservation Trust, helping to protect the endangered kea, a native parrot of New Zealand.
• Winging It Prosecco donates to the Southern Seabirds Trust, which protects New Zealand’s seabirds, including the albatross.
• Working Bee Chardonnay is linked to the NZ Bumblebee Conservation Trust, supporting the conservation of essential pollinators.
• The Woodsman Pinot Noir contributes to the Mackenzie Basin Wilding Tree Trust, working to remove invasive wilding trees and restore native vegetation.
• The Beachcomber Rosé supports Sea Cleaners, an organisation dedicated to removing plastic and other debris from New Zealand’s waterways and coastlines.

The Southern Seabirds Trust recently celebrated its biennial Seabird Smart Awards, an initiative that publicises commercial and recreational fishers who have shown outstanding leadership and commitment to looking after New Zealand seabirds. This year, the awards were supported and sponsored by Tipping Point Wines, among other organisations. 

One of the standout moments from the awards was the recognition of Greg Summerton of Okains Bay Seafood. Greg received a national award for eliminating captures of albatrosses and other seabirds in his fishing operations. He spent four years perfecting a potting fishing method that replaces hooks and lines, resulting in zero risk to seabirds. Greg’s innovative approach has already been adopted by seven other boats, making a significant impact on seabird conservation.

“Greg is an environmental champion, New Zealand is the breeding ground for a third of the world’s seabird species, and many of these birds are caught by other countries’ fleets outside our waters. Greg’s pots could make a huge difference.” says Bill Mansfield, Chair of The Southern Seabirds Trust. 

• Visit tippingpointwines.co.nz for more information.