Gallery
Since 1999
Grown, Made, Owned - 100% New Zealand
Jane's story
Jane fell in love with Central Otago during a high school geography trip; the clarity of light, its smell, the big skies, its magnificent landscapes, and knew that one day she would live there.
Estate
Our most recent property borders the Bannockburn Bridge to the East (the gateway to the “Heart of the Desert”), the sculpted Mt. Difficulty and the Kawarau Gorge to the West, the Kawarau River to the North, and the historic Gold Sluicings to the South, ensures the dream journey continues.
Denny's story
Denny, energised by the allure of this land of extraordinary contrasts & grandeur, and recognising the area is on the edge for growing grapes, embraced the challenge with a passion that endures.
Our vineyards
Our grapes are grown on vineyards selected to display the bright fruit characteristics of Central Otago grown Pinot Noir and used to create a wine that is a true reflection of that and the people who care for them. Our Renaissance Vineyard with Cellar Door and Cellar Door Cafe continues our adventure and love affair with the area. The land offers the quintessential ‘Heart of the Desert’ experience in the timeless and immense landscape. Sweeping vistas of the mountains, river and gold sluicing add to the dramatic panorama.
Our Terroir (the complete environment in which a particular wine is produced – including soil, topography and climate) is totally unique and is reflected in the flavour and aroma of our wines.
The vineyards are managed by Denny who embraces the philosophy of organics and permaculture to ensure the land is used in a stable, sustainable way while maintaining the natural order of our physical environment.
She engages in practices that sustain the health of the soil and the ecosystem – both above and below the ground. Organic viticulture relies on ecological procedures, biodiversity and cycles modified to the Bannockburn conditions. This provides healthy vines, healthy grapes and (in theory) remarkable wines.
To do this we use a diversity of clones with an emphasis on quality and then the pruning, shoot positioning, leaf plucking, bunch thinning and harvesting are completed by hand to ensure optimum quality grapes. Grapes are handpicked by clone, kept separate and hand sorted to manage quality.