Stanley Estates Ltd - Our vineyards

We started work the day we arrived on our new block of bare land in the Awatere Valley in June 2003, planting 7 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and 3 hectares of Pinot Noir with Dijon clones in our stony Dashwood loam soils. Two years later we bought a neighbouring small block called “Little Oasis”, which was already planted with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. This block has really stony riverbed soils. In 2006 we transformed another bare land block, just opposite us across the southern side of the Stafford Creek, into Sauvignon Blanc. This we call the SECC block.

We now have the following planted

• 12.5 ha Sauvignon Blanc
• 3.0 ha Pinot Noir
• 2.2 ha Pinot Gris
• 1.2 ha Albarino
• 1.0 ha Lagrein
• 0.3 ha Chardonnay

Steve runs the vineyard with the help of a succession of international backpackers.  We take great care and meticulous attention to detail tending the vines to get the right fruit to canopy balance which varies with the soil types of each block. The vines are grown on a vertical shoot positioning trellis with two and three lifting wires.  Leaf-plucking improves airflow around the fruit and minimises disease pressure whilst the Pinot Noir simply needs more exposure to the sun. Harvest time is mid March to mid April.

Our team is complemented by viticulturalist, Jeremy Hyland, and noted winemaker Eveline Fraser whose expertise and experience guide us to pick each block at optimal maturity and flavour profile

Awatere Climate; Awatere Flavours

The vineyard is nestled under Mount Tapuae-O-Uenuku (Maori" "Footprint of the Rainbow"). At the top of the Southern Alps, it strongly influences the climate, with its rain shadow bestowing low rainfall and low humidity upon the Awatere Valley. Along with sunny days and cool nights this creates perfect conditions for slow steady ripening and flavour development. Awatere grapes have a distinctive fruity yet steely and herbaceous flavour quite different to those produced elswehere in Marlborough.

Links:

Brief overview of Awatere Valley from wine-searcher.com