Our Vineyards

 

From a single hectare planted in the mid-1970s, our home vineyards have grown to almost nine. Prized parcels of original vines planted in 1976 remain as some of the oldest in the region. The nearby Morison Vineyard, established in 2000, adds a further four hectares. Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are our mainstays, with small blocks of Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer providing colour.

Organics

In 2008 we began to manage our vineyards organically and move beyond the industry sustainable practices we had followed until then. We were motivated to commit entirely to the use of non-systemic options, to eliminate all herbicides and to create a more environmentally friendly place to live and work in. We wanted to adopt a management plan that required more intimate engagement with our vineyards and tom challenge and refine our previous practices. We have become more adept at managing our stony soils, refined pruning systems to promote vine strength and adapted canopy management.

Improved soil health through the application of compost produced from our grape residue, cultivation of natural and selectively planted inter-row swards and the complete exclusion of chemical herbicides has become key to. Above all, organics was the logical next step in our continued quest for wine quality and expression of personality.

Site and Soil

The vineyards rest on an inland terrace of the Waimea Plains, beneath the Barnicoat and Richmond ranges. Sitting at a gentle 35-40 meters elevation, we are touched both by cooler southerly and warmer northerly sea breezes. These alluvial terraces, now so peaceful, were formed by turbulent processes around 20 millennia ago, when a period of brutal cold led to erosion on the eastern ranges. The loosened mountain gravels were seized and deposited by repeated flash-flooding of the Wairoa River, forming the productive ground we know today.

Our distinctive inland soil type includes a finer clay loam within its upper profile distinguishing it from many of the stony terraces across the wider plain. This denser clay fraction holds moisture more readily while the looser gravels beneath allow roots to descend and spread. Irrigation is needed to foster new plantings and supplements rainfall over the driest periods of summer.

Vines are cane or spur pruned to a single fruiting wire and trained to a simple canopy of vertically positioned shoots (VSP). This is the first step towards balancing the crop and creating an open canopy suffused with sunlight. The careful tasks of canopy management follow throughout the season, many of these by hand. Over the years vine density has been increased and clonal material assessed and refined.

Our craft revolves around a cycle of growth and fermentation. It is a process always in flux and naturally, practices evolve as instincts are honed and understanding deepens.

 

           Greenhough Hope Vineyard – BioGro Certified

Image

Pinot Noir
Clones
4.7 hectares planted 1976 – 2007
UCD 22 on their own roots, planted 1976, 1984 vines / ha
UCD5 on 5BB and RPG, planted 1993-2005, 1984-2976 vines / ha
AM10/5 on 5BB, planted 1993, 1984 vines / ha
Dijon 667, 777, 115, on RPG, 101-14 and 3309, planted 1998-99, 3788 vines / ha
Abel on RPG planted 2007, 5050 vines / ha
Riesling
Clones
0.6 hectares planted 1976 – 1996
Unknown on own roots planted 1976, 1984 vines / ha
GM 110 & 18-198 on 101-14, planted 1996, 3788 vines / ha
Chardonnay
Clones
1.0 hectares planted 1993 – 2005
UCD15 on 125AA and 3309, planted 1993, 1984 vines / ha
Mendoza on 3309 and RPG, planted 1996-2010, 3788 vines / ha
Sauvignon Blanc
Clones
2.7 hectares planted 2006-2010
Mass Selection on RPG and Schwarzmann, planted 2006, 2525 vines / ha
Pinot Blanc Gewurztraminer 0.6 hectares planted 1976 – 2006

              Morison Vineyard, Hope – BioGro Certified

Sauvignon Blanc
Clone
2.6 hectares planted 2000
MS on 3309, 2415 vines / ha
Chardonnay
Clone
0.6 hectares planted 2000
Dijon B95 on 3309, 2898 vines / ha
Pinot Noir
Clones
1.0 hectares planted 2000
Dijon 114 and 667 on 101-14 and 3309,
2898 vines / ha

Footer 2