The Te Arai vineyard is five kilometres from the sea. Te Arai roughly translates to “the place where you pause before going on towards the land of eternal sunshine.” Quite appropriate for this wine, I thought. This maritime proximity underlies the wine’s unique South Pacific style. The silt soils give fragrance while the occasional incidence of botrytis, generated by the autumnal mists from the Te Arai stream, give complex texture, body and a sense of sweetness to the wine. In the Loire Valley of France, Chenin Blanc produces powerful wines of a similar character, which we refer to as our touchstone.

Notes from the Winemaker: Over the years our determination to produce one of the world’s best wines from this variety is a seasonal challenge and a bottled fantasy. Up to four selections are made in the vineyard when we hand harvest the grapes. On the crush pad the stems are discarded as these grapes give up their juice very easily during the short pressing cycle. The juice is collected together and allowed to settle for only a short time as we want to keep the fine sediments, for it is here that all the nutrients lie which satisfy a well behaved fermentation. The fermentation and maturation take place in demi-muids (large 600 litre oak barrels) and stainless steel tanks. The wine matures in these vessels over time, and without the obtrusion of oak tannins, which would otherwise disrespect the subtle fruit aromas.

Final clarity has been added with the use of organic trim milk. I’ve never seen a trace remaining. Serve about 12ºC and allow to breathe for as long as you think best. Ageing potential is at least 10 years from date of release.

Wine from Certified Organic and Biodynamic Grapes. Estate Bottled.

Total acidity: 7.6g/l. pH: 3.52
Alcohol: 12.5% Vol. Residual Sugar: 8 g/l
Harvest dates: 9th April – 29th April 2010
Bottled on: 22nd September 2011
Released on: 1st March 2012


"Full straw-yellow colour, this is quite delicate on bouquet with attractive exotic white florals along with rainwater and wet-stone aromas, lifted by fragrant herbal elements. Dryis to taste, the palate is delicate and linear with subtle white floral flavours. Texturally very refined, the lacy acidity provides good tension to the palate line. The finish is ling, lingering and racy. A more delicate and very elegant Chenin Blanc with clarity to keep 3-4+ years." 17.5+/20 - Raymond Chan, highly respected wine advisor, Oct 2012