Heaphy Estate is an established winery and 9.8ha vineyard on the rolling slopes of Upper Moutere, high above the port city of Nelson. We are delighted to be working directly with the team at Heaphy and thrilled for them that their Sauvignon Blanc and their Riesling have both been recognised with Gold Medals for their quality. We certainly love them and we hope you do too!
A region of broad bays, indigenous forest, and mountains under an intense purity of light, Nelson Tasman is blessed with the country’s most sunlight hours, something which over the decades has drawn a community of artists and makers to the region, recognised now as the country’s artistic capital. This vibe continues today; wild landscapes for the restless alongside a laid-back beach vibe for those who prefer to rest. We were hugely struck by the quality of the ever-changing light in Nelson, its hills and indigenous jungles heaving with abundant flora and fauna. It is an absolute breath of fresh air and joy to experience. Even Heaphy’s physical address, 4 Sunrise Road, fills the mind with a sense of renewal in this long-established wine country. Hermann Siefreid planted what were to become Heaphy’s blocks on Moutere’s rich, clay soils in the early 1970s. Indeed our Moutere Old Vine Riesling 2023 celebrates its 50th harvest, putting it amongst the oldest working vines in New Zealand.
The vineyard itself is dry-grown, allowing for the roots to fully delve into this ward’s unique Moutere Clays and Mapua Sandy Loams, shaping the resulting body and texture, whilst our proximity to the vast Tasman Bay brings salinity to all the wines. Today, the farm’s 9.8ha focuses on its long-established blocks of Mendoza-clone Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. We continue the existing grower relationships, built over years with neighbouring farms to augment Heaphy’s own vineyard.
