Located on the 45th Parallel South, the Waitaki Valley vineyards stretch along a 75 kilometre strip from the limestone escarpments above the village of Duntroon, up the south bank of the Waitaki River inland to the township of Omarama.

Flanked by the cool south Pacific Ocean to the east and the high peaks of the Southern Alps to the west, the Waitaki River is one of New Zealand’s largest, draining the waters of our highest Mountain Aoraki-Mount Cook.

Local Maori call the river Te Waitaki o Aoraki – the tears of their ancestor Aoraki.

This unique terroir combines the coastal breezes of the South Pacific with the dry, rain shadow cast by the Southern Alps.

Typically the region enjoys hot, dry summers, cold winters and long dry autumns.

These climatic characteristics overlay the complex geology of the Waitakian Limestones to produce distinctive wines highly reflective of their origin.

Signature varieties from the area include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer.

These wines are highly distinctive of their terroir and are rapidly growing a reputation for their quality, individuality and authenticity.