Welcome to Nous Wine e-cellar door

PASSION PROJECT

Labour of love

With no affordable machinery able to work the land we have had to rely on nous. We drove in every post by hand. Every plant has been measured out and planted by hand (with the help of our children Chloe & Maddie). Every wire, wire clip, irrigation dripper has been clipped by our hands. Irrigation trenches dug by hand. Every post was carried up and down the hill by hand (no need for the gym). Vines have been mulched and weeded by hand hoe. We have done it all by ourselves with the help of one or two good friends, on weekends, mornings and evenings around our day jobs. After a lot of blood, sweat and tears, we had our first harvest four years later in 2021.

ORGANICS

New Zealand's smallest Biogro certified organic vineyard

There is a common belief that it's too hard to establish a vineyard organically. From the outset we wanted our 3220 vines to never have to endure synthetic herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or fertilisers. Having never used such inputs, we are fundamentally opposed to their use.

Organics is not necessarily the easy way, but it creates a healthy environment of biodiversity and vitality within the property. It buzzes with insect life, multiple flora and birdlife. The appearance of their resident rams (Clover, Barley and Basil) move into the vineyard after harvest and through winter to help maintain the interrow and fertilise the soil.

We noticed changes in soil health immediately. The crumb structure has improved significantly, the soil is spongy and the worm population has increased dramatically. The soil is easier to cultivate and holds more carbon. 

BIODYNAMICS

A curiosity was brewing

From the outset, biodynamic principles were employed. The vines were planted on favourable days in the lunar calendar and the soil preparations have been applied by hand. The animal life has grown to include a couple of Red Devon heifers, Wiltshire sheep and poultry in an effort to minimise inputs and outputs from the farm entity.

Beyond this, has been an effort to minimise imported chemical inputs. By making our own plant teas we aim to learn more of natures own remedies, immunity elicitors and health giving properties. Whether its seaweed from the beach, or nettle to help with vine health, or willow, fennel, kawakawa, and manuka for their antimicrobial properties, the options seem endless and largely unexplored.

CLOSE PLANTED VINEYARD - HIGH DENSITY VINES

Pushing the boundaries in Wairau

The chardonnay vineyard is a north-east facing clay hill slope in Wairau (Marlborough) overlooking the Brancott Valley. Close planting aims to produce high quality fruit for wine production as the vines are in greater competition for space, nutrients and water, they are naturally devigorated. This results in smaller bunch architecture and ultimately lower crop loads as each vine produces between 100-250g/vine. These small berries create wine with intensity as a result of high skin to juice ratio. At 11,000 vines per hectare, this is one of the regions highest density plantings.