Marlborough in Seoul

Head winemaker at Jackson Estate Mike Paterson was recently in Seoul promoting the winery and hosting a wine-tasting event at the hotel W Seoul, which was interested in matching their food with Jackson wines. Rather than strong-flavored wines, Jackson Estate, according to Paterson, focuses on making wines that compliment food and fit in as a part of an occasion rather than dominate one. It also aims to bring out a natural taste while building depth of texture and balance, he said. “Jackson wines are very balanced. As a chef, this is good. Too much of one kind of taste is difficult to match food to,” said W Seoul’s cuisine director Ciaran Hickey. Seoul’s leading hotels, restaurants and wine bars, which used to be dominated by French and Italian selections, are now showing a growing presence of New Zealand wines.