This is the first in a series of posts profiling our contracted vineyards. Georges Road Vineyard is in Waipara, which is about 45 minutes north of Christchurch. The Waipara Valley region is one of the countries fastest growing viticultural areas and has the climate and soils well suited to quality Riesling and Pinot Noir. There are around 80 vineyards in the region.
The Georges Road Vineyard is located on the western side of the valley where the soils are light, free draining and largely of gravel and loam. The photo above shows the Riesling block. There are 12000 vines here, planted in two stages in 2006 and 2007. Largely frost free due to the vineyard sloping away towards the Waipara River. Planted in the Geisenheim clones are 198 and 239 on 101-14 and 3309 rootstock. Row spacing is 2m and vine spacing is 1.5m with 10% of the vineyard at 1.0m. North-South row orientation and trained to VSP trellis.
This is our newest vineyard and we will be harvesting for the first time here next year. For all our vineyards the fruit is hand harvested into small 10kg bins and transported to our winery here in West Melton.
Riesling is a naturally vigorous and high cropping grape. In order to get the best out of it I believe it needs to be afforded the same attention and care that we give Pinot Noir - ie: intensive vine management and lower crop levels. Its also the ultimate in terroir grapes , in expressing where it comes from, so more wineries in this country should be encouraged to make more single vineyard wines. It can only be good for everyone.
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