Loveblock Farm is our anchor vineyard, the one that stole our hearts. It has two distinct parts: the Hillside and Woolshed.

Hillside

This 180 acre (72 hectare) vineyard is perched on top of the hills overlooking the Awatere Valley, where we succumbed to the view. We bought a bare paddock and after some earth works the land lay dormant for three years.

The Hillside is ideal for three reasons:

1) The northerly aspect (providing the same sun radiation advantages as a southern aspect in the northern hemisphere)

2) The wind helps to keep the bug population and disease at bay

3) Unlike the valleys, the soil on the hillside is non-glacial in origin and of a consistent nature.  This assists with even ripening of the fruit.

The soil has high levels of clay giving greater moisture retention, which is essential in the harsh natural environment of this vineyard.

The site is perfect for growing premium aromatic white varietals. Due to the strong winds, the vine growth is slow and we tend to get very small berries giving high aromatic concentration in the wine.

The main vineyard area produces Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris predominantly, as well as interesting varietals we love and want to experiment with such as Pinot Blanc, Tempranillo, Gewurztraminer, Chenin Blanc and of course, Riesling.

Woolshed & Triangle

The Woolshed (Sauvignon Blanc 27 acres) and Triangle (Pinot Gris 4 acres) are at the bottom of the hill, tucked in next to the old manor house. The soil is typical of the “Valleys” i.e. silt over stone, particularly ideal for Sauvignon Blanc. It was planted in 2003 and the conversion to organics completed in 2012.

Our aim is to make wines that are elegant and restrained, expressing the terroir of the unique piece of land they are grown on.

Certified Organic: BioGro New Zealand.