The vineyard is managed on best sustainable practises, with the view to becoming an organically certified enterprise.

Our horticultural backgrounds have proven invaluable, in developing the vineyard, and in re-assessing and refining the wine-growing techniques.

We gave careful consideration to the structure of the vineyard.

We definitely did not want to place timber treated with a cocktail of chemicals into our fragile soils.

Therefore, we researched a variety of alternatives, and eventually managed to source, hardwood timber from the West and East coasts of the South Island, grown in sustainably managed forests.

This was milled locally, and now huge natural timber posts of Macrocarpa, and Lawson Cypress, proudly stand at each end of our rows.

We’re prepared for them to eventually rot, and need replacing, but hope that’s a good 15 years away.
Local ceramic artist, Hennie Pemberton, made the ceramic row number tiles that grace each of these hefty timber posts.

We’ve also used galvanised metal `intermediate ‘ posts within the rows, which will not deteriorate, and are impervious to any salt-laden winds.

Roses and daylillies are planted at the ends of each row, which are used as soil moisture indicators, and in pest control.

When the roses start drooping, we know the vines need irrigating!

Surrounding the vineyard we have a mix of native plant species, and exotics, with stands of native bush to the north and south.

This diversity of flora, attracts many beneficial insects to the plantings, including bees at pollination time. The vast range of birds we’ve observed on the property, feed on pest insects, slugs, etc, and as the grapes ripen, we tightly net all the vines, so that the birds are unable to eat the grapes!

A mechanical weeder is planned to gradually eliminate the use of herbicide sprays, which are now kept to a minimum.

We use irrigation sparingly and only when necessary. The irrigation lines double as a fertigation system, and we put fish fertiliser and worm juice through the system regularly.

We predominantly use BioGro certified products for fungal and insect control, and sparingly supplement these if necessary.

Trace elements, lime, gypsum and dolomite are spread annually around the vines, to increase the health of the vines…a healthy plant is less likely to succumb to pests or fungal disease.

Canopy management has proved to be critical in achieving a healthy crop of grapes.

The vines are painstakingly hand worked at every stage of their growth.

This involves hours of shoot thinning, bud-rubbing, pruning, trimming, leaf-plucking, bunch thinning, plant inspections, leaf and soil testing, and of course, harvesting.

The grass between the rows is regularly mowed throughout spring and summer, to reduce humidity. The mowings are spread, as a mulch, to increase the organic content of the soil.

Soil health is a priority, and we’ve endeavoured to gradually build up the soil, from pure sand, to a rich black sandy loam, with plenty of microbiota and worms.