........

Diversity is paramount here in the summer dry east coast so we are always searching for things that will add strength to our farming operation. And with farm succession in mind a development plan was implemented that started with a water right and the construction of our 124,000 cubic meter water storage dam.

With the security of water we were able to fund our initial 60 acre vineyard development, Marlborough is fast becoming recognised as a world leading wine region particularlly well for the style of Sauvignon Blanc it can produce. We think of our vineyard as another form of farming and treat it no differently than any other enterprise and managing it ourselves along with staff and the use of contractors.

The vineyard was established in the winter/spring of 2004 and planning was critical, our first harvest followed 18months later where we harvested over 6 tonnes per hectare at 23.5 brix in March 2006, these young vines have continued to preform extremely well. Our second harvest was not so kind with many vineyards around the area being badly frosted and although we escaped any frost damage, the coldest December on record did affect our flowering and subsequent fruit set. We harvested 8.2 tonne per hectare in 2007 with a brix of 24.1 in early April. Our vines have continued to exceed our expectations producing quality fruit with good balance and character.

We have long term supply contracts with one of the fastest growing wine brands in the world today, our Sauvignon Blanc grapes have been supplied to the Oyster Bay wine brand from the start and they continue to be well recieved, but as with all our produce we will endeavour to add value and would like to develop our own wine label in the future.

We are extremely pleased with our vineyard developments, the way in which they complement our pastoral operations, adding diversity and varied emploement opportunities for family that would not be present under a strictly pastoral system.