I launched my own wine label in 2000 in memory of Alexia, my maternal grandmother. I always remember her as very stylish and these wines have been made to capture her spirit – gracious and full of vitality, with a dash of indulgence. My lasting memories are of her beautiful clothes and accessories – hats, gloves, shoes, scarves. The Alexia label is a tribute to her and my lovely mother, who inherited a similar zest for life.
I use fruit from two grape-growing regions in the North Island of New Zealand – Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from the Wairarapa and Chardonnay, Rosé and Merlot from Hawke’s Bay.
It is important to me that Alexia wines reflect the qualities of the vineyards where the grapes are grown and I like to allow the purity of fruit flavours to shine through. Other prime considerations are palate length and texture and, to this end, I practise minimal intervention in the winery.
The excellent quality of Alexia was endorsed with our first gold medal for this range at the 2009 Bragato Wine Awards to Alexia Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2008. The same wine is in the New World Top 50 and won a silver medal at the New World Wine Awards 2009.
Perfect partners for food, Alexia wines are equally at home in informal social settings. A good wine enhances any social occasion and is even better when enjoyed with good friends. Every now and then we all need to relax, forget about the stresses of everyday life and, in the above words of British wine legend Hugh Johnson, banish a little care.
Borthwick Vineyard is nestled on an old stony river terrace encircled by spectacular views and unruffled tranquility in Wairarapa, New Zealand.
After a century dedicated to the International meat trade, the founder's great grandson, Paddy has established the Borthwick family vineyard.
Leaving nature untouched in the vineyard and winery allows us to create a range of premium, finely crafted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling wine styles. All the wines are produced and bottled exclusively using grapes grown from the unique soils in our vineyard.
Fairmont Estate is a family owned vineyard and winery based around time honoured traditional winemaking techniques and
a passion to strive for handcrafted excellence.
The Gladstone terraces lie on free draining alluvial Ruamahunga river gravel, a unique terrior which coupled with a climate of warm days and cool nights produce low yielding, rich, concentrated grapes of finesse and complexity.
A perfect location with a hillside facing north-west where the soil is identical to Burgundy, home of the world’s most famous Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. There is a high content of limestone and a small top layer of clay. All these conditions are rare and unique in New Zealand.
In 2012, the perfect spot was finally found in the hills of Maungahina Stud north-east of Masterton, after many years of trying to find the perfect location in the Wairarapa. This was the start of Lime Hill Vineyard.
In the Spring of 2013 the planting of 1.3 hectares of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir started with the vineyard work having minimal interaction.
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The winemaking is done in the most gentle way to guarantee a natural product where all the excellence of the terroir comes into its own.
Lime Hill vineyard is currently a joint venture between Karl Heinz Johner and Raphael Burki.
We are located in the very heart of the Wairarapa and we pride ourselves on being an award-winning family-owned winery Sheltered by the Tararuas mountain range, we enjoy a long and dry growing season with balmy warm days and pleasantly cool nights. The climate and the exposed stony sub-soils make the area ideal for growing grapes! Planting started in 1999 with a focus on Pinot Noir due to the owner Alastair Scott's passion for the variety. We also produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris across three tiers.
Porters vineyard was first planted by Annabel and John Porter in 1992 with our first vintage in 1995. Our vineyard is on Kitchener Street, the main road into Martinborough. The vineyard is tiny - just five acres - and we grow Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Yields are low. Our emphasis is on producing grapes of the best quality every vintage. Our winemaking methods are gentle, resulting in wines which truly reflect the terroir and vintage conditions. Great wine, after all, is made in the vineyard.
