The home vineyard is situated in Marlborough’s Rapaura district. This premium site consists of free draining alluvial silts and undulating stony nature, close to the Wairau River and is well in the lee of the Richmond Range.
The Wairau plains were formed originally by glacial action. The ranges which define the valley and contain the course of the Wairau River, lead to a diverse range of soils. As a rule of thumb the vineyards close to the river have a large level of stones and alluvials silts. Through the centre of the valley and towards the Wither Hills the soils become richer and as you approach the slopes of the hills there is a higher proportion of clay.
Marlborough is on the east coast at 41.5 ° latitude. Average monthly temperature ranges from 7° C in winter to 18° C in summer. Winter nights often drop below freezing, with the maximum about –5° C. Usually after a frost, the day will be clear and sunny. Summers are characterised by many days upwards of 30°C. Summer nights are cool and responsible for the low average monthly temperatures and for the intensity of fruit flavours due to the slow ripening. This creates a large diurnal temperature which is very beneficial for grape growing. The average rainfall is around 650mm per year evenly spread through the year.
