Our Terroir
Aspect and weather
Our small family run vineyard was established in 2002 on a gentle rise 60m above sea level facing North and West into Church Bay (Hangaura). The marine weather patterns on this site closely resemble those of the Medoc in Bordeaux.

The Geology
Our vineyard derives its name from its site on the eroded root of an ancient, severely folded mountain ridge composed of Jurassic strata which originally extended more than 3500 metres above the present day landform.
The underlying deep core greywacke rocks are fine graded sandstones, mudstones and siltstones with interbedded magnesium nodules and thin bands of cherts.

The Soil
The acidic, clay-based soil derived from these rocks is impoverished and phosphate-poor, with low organic matter, but rich in magnesium from the nodules. To make life even more difficult for both plants and planters, there is an almost impervious layer of grey volcanic ash derived from nearby Rangitoto eruptions. Pieces of Kauri gum under the vines are regular reminders of the giant trees which once leached so many important elements from the soil of this island.

Viticulture and Sustainability
Our vineyard is regularly inspected and fully accredited for sustainability because we believe in the concept that our land should be handed on to the next generation in a better shape than when we acquired it.
We are active participants in the program developed by Sustainable Vineyards of New Zealand (SWNZ). A soil improvement program guided by regular soil tests is underway and we use the latest techniques developed by Horticultural Research to reduce chemical sprays to a minimum.

Our Vines
Planting commenced in 2002, starting with the Italian red variety Montepulciano and followed by Pinot gris (Pinot grigio in Italy) Syrah and Cabernet franc - bringing the complement to date to about 4000 vines. Great wines are made in the vineyard and our aim is to produce exceptional ripe fruit using strict viticultural techniques, including intensive canopy management and restricted cropping with low yields (2.5 tonnes/acre).
We are dedicated to the highest quality, hand-crafted, varietal wines made from selected fruit, fermented in small 900 litre batches, seasoned with selected French and American oak and bottle-aged.

And Wines
Our first vintage in 2005 was favoured by prolonged dry and sunny weather and fruit of exceptional quality. The 2005 Syrah seasoned with French oak is well structured and showing a good combination of fruit and smooth tannins with pepper and spice. The 2006 vintage  which is slightly lighter, but with rich fruit and good body is currently bottling. Watch this spot for the first release.