Shepherds Ridge Vineyard

The Shepherds Ridge Property The Vineyard Rarangi, in the north-eastern corner of the Wairau Valley, where the Shepherds Ridge vineyard is located, captures the first of the sun’s rays from the early morning, through to the late afternoon. Nestled under the Richmond Range, adjacent to the Pacific coast, it has a unique climate – sunny, dry and sheltered. The Shepherds Ridge site is a total of 263 hectares (650 acres), with 73 hectares (180 acres) currently under vine. Free draining “pea gravels” laid down 2000 years ago by the tidal action of the Pacific Ocean, form a strata 30m deep.The top soil gravels are bound together by a 300mm layer of organic material, creating an outstanding environment for vine growth. A feature of the warm morning sun on the heat-absorbing “pea gravels” creates early bud-burst, while wonderful cool easterly coastal breezes flowing across the vineyard in the early afternoon, result in long, slow ripening of the fruit. The distinctively different soil and climatic combination provide pure, concentrated flavours, structure and texture. Our integrated viticultural management philosophy, whereby the environment is carefully considered, has lead us to set aside more than 101 hectares (250 acres) as a nature reserve. – Description from AlexJelena    (hide)