Company Information
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About Us
Tiritiri Estate is probably New Zealand's smallest vineyard covering just 0.3ha. Grapes are grown using strict organic methods of production. We are certified organic under the OrganicFarmNZ scheme. We planted our first 250 plants in 1994 as an experiment. Following the enormous success with our first vintage in 1998 we planted a further 250 vines in 1999. We still remain at this level. Our wines have won many golds, silvers and bronzes. We do not pick in years where we think we our grapes are not good enough to make a good quality wine that we aspire to. We run the vineyard on our own, and do not employ staff. everything is hand-picked and whole bunch pressed. Our wine is made in the best French Oak barriques. It is barrel-aged and left on the lees for 10 months before bottling. Nothing is added to our wine except bentonite clay for fining, and tiny amounts of sulphur dioxide. Bottle -aged for a further 10 months before release. Very rare wine!!
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Our Area
Our vineyard is in the ranges 25km from Gisborne. Away from the intensive horticultural area on Gisborne we are safe from pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Our season is later than that found on the Gisborne flats. We get a lot more rain and fight severe frosts in the late spring. The vineyard is in a natural amphitheatre and tends to be much hotter than Gisborne and has much colder nights. This wide diurnal variation intensifies the flavours of our grapes to give us beautiful chardonnays. Our wines have found their way to the cellars of HRH Prince Charles and also the Duchess of Bedford (she said it was the best chardonnay she'd had in her life!) The prestigious Huka Lodge near Taupo, rated one of the top Lodges in the world, has had our wine in their cellars. As do many top restaurants in Auckland, including The French Cafe. We have won many medals (Gold Silver and Bronze) in both international and national wine competitions. After 15 years, we have built a great reputation for our wines. We have quite a following and almost sell out even before we release some of our vintages. We do export our wines, but prefer to sell to the local New Zealand market. We have a cellar door area for tastings and love to give people a tour around our farm and vineyard. We also grow other things on our 23 acre block including olives, pecans, hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts and many fruit trees. We also have a small lake and native tree areas which we has encouraged and wide range of wildlife back onto what was once a very barren piece of land. Do visit us when you can!
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Our Winemaker
Judy makes our wine. She is also the cidermaker for Bulmer Harvest cider here in New Zealand!
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Grape Varieties
100% Chardonnay (50:50 Mendoza and Clone 15) 500 vines in total. Mendoza grown for it's incredible flavours. CL15 as a suitable blend to add interest.
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Our Brands
Tiritiri Organic Reserve, Tiritiri Organic Estate
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Awards
Bragato - Golds for our 2002 & 2004 Tiritiri Reserve chardonnays
IWSC - Silver & Best in Class - 2004 Tiritiri Reserve
San Francisco Wine Comp - Silver - 2004 Tiritiri Reserve
International Chardonnay Challenge - Silvers for our 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004 Tiritiri Reserves
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GI Region
NZ - Gisborne
Cellar Door
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Cellar Door Hours
Open Wednesday to Sunday. Hours 10am to 5pm, but please ring us first to see if we are in! We could be on the vineyard or in town and we do live a pleasant 20 minute drive from Gisborne city itself.
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Address
1646, Waimata Valley Road
Gisborne
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Phone
+64-(6)-8670372
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Additional Details
ALWAYS RING US FIRST!! Follow the Back Ormond Road out of Gisborne for about 7km. Waimata Valley Road is on the right just before "Gray's Bush" reserve. Travel 16.5km up this road and we are on the right just before Waimata Valley School.
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