Terroir

... but just as beautiful

The Wellington Wine Region includes the Wairarapa Valley, North-east of Wellington.

It is a one and half hour drive from Wellington Airport or one hour by a scenic train ride to Featherston. A bus links with the train to take you to Martinborough.

The town used to service the farming community and was in decline in the 1970’s as townspeople traveled to larger towns nearby to do business. The setting up of new vineyards in the early 1980’s revitalized Martinborough. One of the main reasons for this change was the discovery that the soils in this area, along the Huangarua River, were similar to the Rhone Valley. The climate was hot and dry in summer and cool in winters. After some initial experimentation the growers concentrated on Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc and to a smaller extent on Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The limiting factor is the strong equinox winds that blow across this valley in October and November and often affect the flower set on the vines.

The soils are a mixture of alluvial grits, river silts, with a high mineral content, including calcium and iron. A nearby prehistoric lime reef also influences the local soils. There are localized clay pans running across the valley in parts.

A photograph from a helicopter shows the topography of Blue Rock Vineyard. The hilly terrain behind it is geographically young land pushed up out of the sea by plate movement.

The circular land form is an ancient upwelling. The Blue Rock Vineyard is planted on the north facing slop of it. The lighter colour block right at the rear is now fully planted with Pinot Gris, Syrah and Pinot Noir. New Zealand is an earthquake prone country and here at Blue Rock several sudden jolts have been experienced over the last eight years.