Hi, here at Mt Adde we are a family farming enterprise, now in our third generation of farming here in Marlborough, Mt Adde is currently 800 hectares and runs from alluvial flats on the banks of the Awatere river to golden tussock covered tops and regenerating native bush and scrub at up to 600 meters altitude. 90% of the propierty is classified as hill country, roughly 5% flat and 5% rolling contour.

Our objective here is to improve the land and our farming methods while running a diverse, sustainable and economic operation. We are continually learning form observation, research and our mistakes. Science and technological advances help us to speed up these processes and become more efficient and competitive producers.   

We have always run a diverse operation and Corriedale sheep and Angus cattle were here from the start 60 years ago, and are still prominent today. In the past we have cropped grain mainly barley, peas and some small seeds such as clovers and lucerne generations ago. Now only forage crop production is continued to support our livestock operation and some smalll seed production for our own use in ongoing farm development. We also have many tree crops here with shelterbelts, forestry, regenerating native bush and our own fruit and nut orchards.

Traditionally wool was a big earner for us, and it's decline in value is something we would like to reverse. With much effort going into maintaining quality fleece wool that can be value added, and promoted as the healthy natural sustainable fibre it is.

The tradtional lamb and beef production is now intergrated with the development of two stud operations:

-With the Angus cattle the ambition has always been the same to produce a truely maternal and efficient cow that has an ability to put on condition with a calf at foot, get in calf again, all while maintaining feed quality at times consumimg less than desirable feed that other stock can not utilise, making us money.

-With the Corriedale sheep the same princials apply we are looking for an animal that suits our environment and our farming system. The Corriedale ewe must be maternal and efficient, producing plenty of good quality lamb, sold prime off Mum by Christmas.

My grandfather was one of the first to irrigate from the Awatere river over 50 years ago. We now have 2 irrigation pumps, one drawing from an infiltration gallery in the Awatere river bed, feeding 20 hectares of low pressure Kline pastoral irrigation system. The second is a pontoon pump sitting on our 124 000 cubic meter water storage reservoir that is filled via a stream on the property.

In 2004 we planted our first sauvignon blanc vines, now mature these vines have done particularly well. Mount Adde Sauvignon Blanc is contract grown for the Oyster Bay label, one of the strongest and fastest growing wine brands in the world today. We have recently developed our vineyard further and hope to have 31 hectares producing for the 2010 harvest.    

Contact Greg Harris:

Phone: 03 5757182    

Mobile: 0277226927

Fax: 03 5757181

Email: enquiries@mountadde.co.nz    

Web: www.mountadde.co.nz

Mount Adde, RD4, Blenheim  (306 Awatere Valley Road) 7274