Inland Ngaruroro River

Another growing area with a distinctly cooler microclimate can be found 30 km (as the crow flies) west of Hastings, on the high terraces either side of the Ngaruroro River. The climate here is influenced by the proximity of the nearby Kaweka Mountain Range. Substantial plantings were first initiated by Morton Estate Winery (now New Zealand’s largest independent wine producer), in what is now their flagship winery, Riverview. Other major plantings have been made on the north bank of the river by Morton Estate and by Delegates Wines. In 2003 New Zealand’s largest corporate producer Montana Wines acquired 200 hectares on which substantial plantings have now been initiated. Plantings through this area are almost entirely on Takapau silt and sandy loam “red metal” soils. While a variety of grape varieties have been established the area is undoubtedly best suited to cool climate whites – Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and for Pinot Noir, – mainly for Champagne type wines. It remains to be proven whether or not, with time and as the vines mature, Hawkes Bay’s cooler climate plantings of Pinot Noir can produce premium quality still wines. Well proven however is the consistently outstanding Chardonnay produced by Morton Estate. This is evidenced by their trophy awarded for best Chardonnay in the World in 1997 at the London International Wine and Spirits Competition, as well as numerous other international and national gold medals and Industry accolades through to the present time.

Filed under: Hawkes Bay, Vineyards