CopperLake Vineyard is absolute coastal… it must be the closest vineyard to the sea in New Zealand. The vines are planted in ancient sand dunes.

The climate here in Golden Bay is unique, but particularly on this property.

Although we have very hard frosts in winter, even with frost on the driftwood, and ice on the lake, we are able to grow avocados and citrus.

A `rain shadow’ extends over this part of the coast, and the rainfall is more akin to the Moutere region, over `The Hill’.
Our summers extend into April, and because the vineyard is shaped like a bowl, it captures and intensifies, every ray of sun.

The grape vines have had to struggle to grow, as their roots are in sand, and they’re exposed to hard frosts, little irrigation, coastal winds and salt spray.  Consequently, the intensity and complexity of the flavours in the fruit, including our grapes, are amazing.

The winds help provide air drainage around the vines, and the rows are aligned to encourage this.

We’ve created a small lake behind the dunes, where the water table is very high. The lake is fed from fresh water springs, that continually bubble up through the ground, even in droughts. We believe that the spring water may originate from the world renowned Te Waikoropupu Springs, which emerge from the seabed off the shores of CopperLake vineyard.

The water in our lake has a coppery colour, like the tannin-coloured streams of the beech forests of the South Island.
This inspired us to name our vineyard `CopperLake’.

In winter the snow capped mountains are reflected in the lake, and throughout the year it is home to a myriad of birds… including the rare white heron (kotuku), pukekos, paradise ducks, larks, swallows and grey ducks.

Every spring, when the flowering cherry trees are in blossom on the main island in our `copper lake,’ we row the dinghy over, and have a picnic under the cherry blossoms. This is a special, magical experience, which we feel privileged to enjoy.