TERROIR
'Marlborough, one of the worlds most perfect wine regions'
In 1994, Hans discovered a piece of land in Marlborough, known for its sunny and arid climate. The sandy and gravelly soils, situated on the right bank of the Wairau River, immediately evoked memories of the Médoc region in Bordeaux. These soils, ideal for late-ripening Cabernets', perfectly aligned with his vision to craft a Bordeaux blend capable of international acclaim. Enhanced by the river's influence, this microclimate, combined with the free-draining soils, established the vineyard as one of Marlborough's warmest and most coveted blocks.
Exceptional sunshine hours, extended dry and mild autumns, coupled with Hans' meticulous vineyard management and remarkably low yields, enable even late-ripening varieties to reach ideal physiological ripeness.
The substantial diurnal temperature variations, with nights often more than 10ºC cooler than the sunny days, preserve natural acidity in the grapes and yield extraordinarily intense varietal character. These vibrant, succulent ripe fruit flavours not only establish this region as one of the world's finest but also provide Hans all the elements for pioneering new grape varieties.
SOIL COMPOSITION & MICROCLIMATE
Transported by the Wairau River, minerals eroded from its catchment rocks form exceptional, free-draining layers of stony alluvial soils. With deep layers of shingle and low clay content, these soils, akin to those in Bordeaux's Médoc region, retain and reflect the sun's heat. Variability in deposits allows for precise matching of grape varieties with their ideal soil types, ensuring optimal vineyard conditions. Our predominantly gravel-based
vineyard benefits from well-drained, nutrient-poor soils that foster concentrated flavours in the grapes. Gravel's heat retention and light reflection aid grape ripening. Additionally, our soils contain varying proportions of sand, clay, and stones, enriching our terroir and accommodating both early and late ripening grape varieties.
During the ripening period of the grapes, the stones and gravel in the mostly dry riverbed soak up the sun’s heat, which the hot prevailing north-westerly wind already pushes directly onto the vineyard. This warms up not only the grapes, but the stones in the vineyard, which slowly radiates heat onto the vines during the cool nights. This extra heat helps to achieve the perfect physiological ripeness, even for our late ripening grape varieties. In spring, the higher water levels warm the air around the vineyard and naturally protect from frost. Our remarkable location and the nearby geographical phenomena contributes to our unique microclimate perfect for growing grapes.
