Vineyards

The vineyards are situated in four locations in the Manutuke and Matawhero districts. Traditional viticulture is practised in all vineyards, all are dry-farmed. No insecticide, herbicide, systemic fungicide or soluble fertilisers are used in the vineyard, with The Millton Vineyard being New Zealand's first commercial fully certified organic winegrowers. In 2009 the vineyards were certified biodynamic by Demeter New Zealand.

                                                         
Following the indications given by Dr. Rudolf Steiner, Biodynamic techniques are used in all areas of the production. It is important to realise that these philosophies have been adopted "as a sense of responsibility for the land on which we work". It is considered that this approach must be sustainable in the environment and therefore lessen the need to rely on manufactured chemicals. It is desired that these activities will leave the land in an improved state for future generations.

 

Riverpoint Vineyard

Chardonnay and Viognier are grown on the original banks of the Waipaoa River Bank. The old riverbed is now a wildlife reserve hosting many different species of birds and animals, mostly friendly. This vineyard is only 5 kilometres from the sea and enjoys a cooling sea breeze in the late morning and early afternoon during the long hot summer. Over the seasons this has proven very beneficial in assisting with the preservation of subtle fruit flavours and acidity of the ripening grapes.

Opou Vineyard

Originally planted in the times when the New Zealand wine industry started expanding into table wine production. It is now planted with Chardonnay and Riesling.
Interestingly we have planted a hedge way in the middle of this vineyard of Navel Oranges. Done primarily to give us fruit to eat while working in the vineyard during the season, we find also that when these citrus trees start flowering in November they evoke a beautiful aroma of citrus blossom right across the vineyard.

We believe that our Riesling wine possesses some similar aromas to this citrus blossom. As the grapevines flower at the same time as the citrus, we think there is a compatibility here. The biodynamic expression is “the sharing of astrality”.

Te Arai Vineyard

Te Arai Vineyard is bounded on 3 sides by the Te Arai River, originating in the hills of the Waingake Valley. It has cut a deep chasm in the ground that makes up the valley floor. A rut so deep that, in former times, it proved to be impassable to the native Maori people when they would journey from the mountains to the sea to gather seafood. Quite an amazing piece of ground really, almost sacred.

Through the middle of this vineyard the nature habitat is a planting of gravillias and other bottlebrush trees. The hedgerow attracts nectar-eating birds, in particular the native Tui. It is also where we house our beehives.

These two special vineyards are situated on a lower river plain at either end of the Te Arai Vineyard. The soils are incredibly high in silica and silt.












Naboth's Vineyard

The Naboths Vineyard is a small very steep hillside planting and came into production for the 1993 vintage. This vineyard enjoys a commanding view of the Poverty Bay valley and, due to its aspect, must be one of the first vineyards in the world to see the light of the new day. It is worked mostly by hand. Reference is made to the Old Testament (1 Kings ch. 21) from where the name of this vineyard is derived. This vineyard is dry farmed and the fruit from this site includes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.