The Gimblett Gravels

Located immediately west of the city of Hastings. This area is an old riverbed of the nearby Ngaruroro River. Growing vines in the various grades of stone, gravel, silt and sand is in some respects similar to hydroponic plant production, where irrigation is the vine’s life support and medium for plant food or macro element and microelement transfer. The river stone and gravel absorbs and retains the suns heat. A warm growing environment results, proven for its ability to ripen and develop full bodied Bordeaux red varieties – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, as well as a fully ripened, intense style of Chardonnay. More recently this area has dominated New Zealand’s awards for Syrah, pioneered in Hawkes Bay by Dr Allan Limmer at Stonecroft. Syrah is being planted in increased quantity in Hawkes Bay on soils with early ripening ability. Hawkes Bay Syrah is a little different in character from the highly intense, powerful, spicy and fruit dominated Australian Syrah (or Shiraz) with which many New Zealand wine drinkers have become familiar. At its best, Hawkes Bay Syrah has been described as similar in character to the French Rhone Valley wine, combining body with a degree of elegance and an attractive balance of tannins and fruit.

Filed under: Hawkes Bay, Vineyards