It’s important to me that the grapes I work with are farmed using organic practices. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than walking down a wild, living vineyard. I’m convinced it:

  • increases the microbial diversity in ferments (more good beasties)
  • is good for the soul
  • that you can taste allll that vitality in the wines.

I’m lucky to work with some truly amazing growers who align with my values and pride themselves on producing high quality, organically farmed grapes. They either already farm their blocks organically or are down to farm my rows using organic principles.

Commitment to sustainability is in everything I do, which is why all of the vineyards I work with are also certified sustainable through Sustainable Winegrowers New Zealand (SWNZ).

Pop a wheelie

Chardonnay from the Oak Estate vineyard, which neighbors the TK vineyard, where Rush the Stage is from. It’s owned by Stefan and Nadine who are incredibly generous and completely dedicated to their vines.

“Nestled in the heart of the Bridge Pa Triangle, Oak Estate is a small family-owned vineyard founded in 2017 by Nadine and Stefan Loetscher, who set out to realise their dream of creating their own wines. Embracing organic growing and sustainable practices, Oak Estate is as much about living in harmony with the land as it is about producing exceptional wines.” – Oak Estate

Rush the stage

Syrah from the alluvial soils of the TK Vineyard, owned by Karen and Troy and managed by Bridget and Miles. They are some of the hardest working, most genuine people you’ll ever meet.

“The vineyard is located in the Bridge Pa Triangle which is widely recognised as some of the best grape growing land in the country due to it’s unique soil profile and climate. The oldest vines on the site are nearly 25 years old which provides a depth of flavour to the fruit. The site is located on an ancient riverbed left behind when the Ngaruroro River (top left of the map) changed course and diverted behind Roy’s Hill. The soils are largely made up of free draining river gravels overlaid with alluvium formed from loess, greywacke and volcanic tephra from the Central Plateau. The stony soils, known as ‘Red Metals’ due to the distinctive rusty red colour, provide ideal conditions underground for growing grapevines. The vineyard is 11 ha and is currently planted in Merlot (6ha), Syrah (4ha), Cabernet Franc (0.5ha) and Malbec (0.5ha).” – Herringbone Wine/TK Vineyard

Glow up

Pinot Gris from the certified organic Osawa vineyard, owned by Taizo Osawa. A truly unique place that feels a world apart despite being only a few miles away from the other sites.

“Drawn by the climate and beauty of the Mangatahi Valley, Mr. Osawa purchased 100 acres on an ancient river terrace in Maraekakaho in 2005. Nestled between the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges, the vineyard enjoys warm days, cool nights, and free-draining gravel soils—ideal conditions for crafting elegant, cool-climate wines.” – Osawa Wines

About Aotearoa New Zealand

First things first, Aotearoa is the Māori name for the country. The Māori were the first to discover these isles and arrived here ~800 years ago. They:

  • Came from Polynesia via waka (canoe)
  • Named the newly discovered area Aotearoa, which translates to ‘long white cloud.’
  • Are related to the same expert sailors who discovered Hawai’i

Aotearoa is used interchangeably with New Zealand here, so we’ll do the same. Aotearoa:

  • Has about the same population and is the same size of Colorado, but it’s in the South Pacific near Australia
  • Is so far away that sometimes people forget to include it on world maps. 
  • Made up of many islands but two main islands, the North and South, make up most of the country.

Wine’s been made in France longer than people have been in Aotearoa New Zealand, making it a really young and adventurous wine region. We fell in love with the wines here and decided that instead of going back to the states, we’d make wine right here amongst this stunning landscape.

Tale of two Islands

The North Island, where we live and make wine, has 75% of the population and is known for its sunshine, beaches, and geothermal activity (volcanoes and hot pools).

The South Island has more sheep than people (#truestory) and the Southern Alps run the length of this rugged island. There’s a reason film crews seek out this stunning landscape. Think waterfalls, snow capped mountains, bungee jumping, and long hikes.

The major wine regions are Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, and Central Otago. Most of our fruit comes from Hawke’s Bay in an area known as the Bridge Pa Triangle.