Battle of the grapes

Marlborough wine producers plan to use an international conference in Wellington next year on wines produced from pinot grapes to recover the region's reputation for pinot noir production.

Wine Marlborough chief executive Michelle Beckett said the January conference would be used to showcase the region to influential wine writers, pinot producers and importers.

The region's pinot producers would have the perfect opportunity to prove Otago was not the pinnacle of New Zealand pinot noir, she said.

"Otago has captured the marketing label, but Marlborough produces the most pinot in the country."