The Dry River Story

Dry River was established in 1979 by Dr Neil and Dawn McCallum and was one of Martinborough’s first wineries. Named for one of South Wairarapa’s earliest sheep stations, Dry River rests on the very arid, gravelly, free-draining soils near the Ruamahunga River, an area known as the Martinborough Terrace.

The Martinborough Terrace Terroir

Named for one of South Wairarapa’s earliest sheep stations, Dry River rests on the arid, gravelly, free-draining soils of the Martinborough Terrace. Our founder, Dr Neil McCallum and his friend, soil scientist Dr Derek Milne, discovered the area – just 5km in radius – had everything their favourite wines needed: a temperate climate, low rainfall, and free-draining gravelly soils.

Derek himself went on to found Martinborough Vineyard, one of the first five Martinborough wineries alongside Dry River, Ata Rangi, Chifney and Te Kairanga. These five created the Martinborough Terrace appellation, a crescent-shaped area formed by the Ruamahunga and Huangarua rivers aeons ago.

By 2002, around 25 wine brands called the tiny Martinborough Terrace home. The number, variety and quality of wines from this tiny area continue to be a marvel.

The Dry River Vineyards

Since our inception, Dry River has taken the road less travelled to achieve optimal concentration and quality in the vineyard. We’ve embraced a philosophy of dry farming, meticulous canopy management, and selective crop thinning, all of which work in harmony to produce grapes of exceptional quality, regardless of the season.

Our small, dedicated team takes a hands-on approach, treating each vine as an individual through every season. Regenerative farming is our forward-thinking path, protecting our legacy while ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

The fruit for Dry River wines is sourced from three unique blocks: Dry River Estate, Craighall, and Lovat.

Our heritage site, Dry River Estate, planted in 1979, remains the backbone of our Pinot Noir. As of 2024, we have begun tagging individual vines to track their progress and gain a clearer understanding of our land.

Craighall, first planted in 1983, is our coldest, windiest, and stoniest site, contributing linear structure and vibrant acidity to the wines produced here.

Lovat, planted in 1992, is our warmest site, shaped by seasonal winds and large rocks from the ancient terrace. Situated just 33m above sea level, it is responsible for the accentuated fruit characters in our wines.