Business Beat: Roots gin triumphs at international awards

Elemental Distillers, the Rapaura-based company behind Roots Gin, have been strutting their stuff on the international stage and returned with two gold medals, one silver and two prestigious trophies.

This year’s Spirits Guide Awards saw hundreds of drinks samples from around three dozen countries delivered for blind tasting to the competition judges in England.

Roots Marlborough Dry Gin won gold along with the title Best in Australasia which added an eye-catching cut glass trophy; there was also gold for the Rosso Pinot Noir flavoured gin and a silver in the low-alcohol category for Roots Marlborough Light.

That overall performance saw Roots named Distillery of the Year and bring back to their Vines Village headquarters a second cut-glass trophy made by the renowned Glencairn Crystal company.

Meanwhile, Kaikoura’s Mt Fyffe Distillery has also been among the medals. At this year’s New Zealand Spirits Awards, held recently in Auckland, Mt Fyffe’s Woolshed won silver and the Shearwater a bronze in the contemporary gin class.

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English couple Neil and Angela Grigg, who previously ran an antiques business in Devon, have sold up, moved to Picton and opened Marlborough Antiques, on London Quay.

In England they specialised in military antiques though their Picton shop and web site offer a much broader range of antiques and collectables, from fine art and jewellery to silverware and vintage toys.

The couple also have what they consider a unique YouTube channel showing educational videos in which they share their knowledge of history and historical items using examples from their shop to illustrate the talks.

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Raise a glass (of water, naturally) to the team at Think Water Marlborough which has won the 2026 New Zealand Franchisee of the Year title. In addition, the Think Water Kaikoura branch won best new store of the year, beating rivals from this country and across Australia.

Both businesses, owned by Greg Somerville, offer a wide range of products and services concerning all things water … from large scale irrigation and water systems to fully stocked retail stores.

Somerville says the focus is mainly on agricultural and vineyard irrigation, stock water systems and pumping, along with water treatment and filtration. Think Water offers a full suite of services including design, installation, maintenance and technical support.

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The Vape City is coming to Blenheim, at least according to the signage at the Scott Street premises previously home to the Tabletop Café. An online search shows this will be the fourth Vape City in the South Island and, coincidentally, also the fourth vape shop in Blenheim.

Vape shops are a permitted activity in Blenheim’s commercial zone and there is no limit on the number allowed in the town. However, Ministry of Health requirements mean they must be at least 300m from any school or marae, and 100m from any early childhood learning centre. Those distances do not apply to general retailers such as dairies, supermarkets or service stations selling a limited range of vapes.

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