The Story

met in 1995. As the plan crystallised Sarah identified that they needed a point of difference to compete in the small vineyard category. Hanmer Springs was chosen due to it’s popularity as a tourist destination and the fact that it wasn’t in an already established wine growing region. Climatic data and soil evaluation was conducted by Sarah, as part of her Diploma paper. Weather data showed that Hanmer Springs wasn’t suitable due to a higher than desirable rain fall and a low Growing Degree Day (GDD) calculation. This relatively poor weather data was attributed to the only source of weather data for the region being a forestry weather station on the cool Northern side of the basin. Previous visits to Hanmer Springs and anecdotal evidence suggested that the southern side of the basin might have better weather and be suitable for winegrowing. Not wanting to give up on the idea that Hanmer was suitable, they established relationships with local real estate agents outlining the type of property that we were after.

It took approximately 8 years of looking until the right property presented itself in 2008. It was one of five 30-acre lifestyle blocks subdivided in 1990.

We entered the viticulture business because of our love of wine, horticulture, winemaking and the winemaker lifestyle. Sarah completed a EIT Diploma in Viticulture in 2012 and has done a vintage at Gibson Valley Winery in Otago. She has also done further vintages under wine maker, Theo Coles, at Mountford Estate in Waipara.

Steve has a love of horticulture and has been a keen gardener for many years. They were both in the RNZAF as helicopter pilots where they learnt skills in project management, leadership in addition to flying. They have employed consultants in Soil management, vineyard and wine making management as they have embarked through the journey of growing and producing fine wine on a marginal site.