Navigating Nature’s Challenges: Our winemaking journey faced nature’s tests with unpredictable spring weather, gale-force winds, and a Boxing Day hailstorm. December’s cold and humid conditions posed difficulties in pollination, resulting in smaller berry bunches. While we faced the December hailstorm, our Pinot Noir vines bore some damage.

The tides turned in January, and the sun graced us with favorable conditions throughout harvest. On March 15, we commenced picking remarkably healthy grapes, showcasing exceptional fruit concentration. Although our volumes were slightly less than desired, the quality prevailed.

Commitment to Sustainability: Our commitment to sustainable practices shines through our Home Block vineyard, exclusively sourcing fruit from 20-year-old vines in Moutere clay with a layer of sandy loam. With UCD5 & 6, 10/5, 22, 114, 115, 667, 777, and Abel clones, close planting at 3780 vines/ha ensures meticulous care with extensive manual shoot thinning and leaf plucking.

Harvested on March 20, 2021, at 22.2 Brix, our grapes undergo a precise winemaking process. Fruit is di-stemmed before fermentation on the skins, hand-plunged, gently pressed, and gravity-fed from the press area to the main winery with minimal pumping. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels in a temperature-controlled barrel room, the culmination is a 2022 vintage with 13.5% alcohol.

Embracing Sustainability: Our commitment extends to sustainable winegrowing practices, accredited by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand. The culmination of our meticulous journey is bottled on July 21, 2022, with screw capsules and light-weight bottles, reducing our carbon footprint. Experience the essence of our story, where nature’s challenges meet our unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability.