Our Lindis River vineyard is located in the Ardgour Valley, near the township of Tarras, in the heart of Central Otago. What used to be part of a historic high country merino station was planted with Pinot Noir vines in the year 2000. The vineyard was the first to be established in the Tarras area. The Bendigo grape growing subregion is located nearby to the south. As with many mountainous wine growing locations, the Ardgour Valley also has its own microclimate. Annual rainfall is at the lowest end of the scale for New Zealand, a true continental climate. Sunrays are captured by the north to north west oriented slopes that reach a 30 degree gradient in the steepest parts. While this provides optimal ripening conditions at the end of summer just before harvest, the hillside also ensures cold air drainage in the spring to avert frost damage to the budding vines. The vineyard has been managed organically since 2005. All vine work is done by hand as is harvesting every year in April. 3.5 (9 acres) hectares of the 22 hectare (55 acre) property are planted in three different clones of own rooted Pinot Noir vines. The topography of the land allowed us to divide this up into three smaller blocks, thereby again taking advantage of subtle microclimatic conditions. Planting density is high (up to four times higher than average for the region and New Zealand) and irrigation low, which intensifies flavour development and aids mineral uptake from the ground through deep rooting. The distinct Lindis River style is thereby guaranteed. 

 

Pinot Noir clones - UCD 5 & 6, 115; own rooted

Soils - alluvial, loess, gravel

Row orientation - north east, north and north west

Pruning and Training - Cane pruning with VSP

Plant density - 6,000 to 10,000 per ha (2,400 to 4,000 per acre)

 

Latitude 44.89 º South - Longitude 169.38 º East