Kaikoura Winery - Our Story

The Kaikoura Winery opened 29 October 1999 for tours and tastings.
The company was founded by a direct descendant of Luke and Anne
Abraham, the first Europeans to settle on the Kaikoura flat. The winery is
situated on the limestone bluff just south of Kaikoura Township.

The winery offers magnificent views of snow-capped mountain ranges and
the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, as well as provides an informative
tour of the vineyard, winery and underground cellar. Established in 1998, the
company has seven shareholders, some growing grapes for the company and one who designed the label. Kaikoura Winery has an
unmistakably Kaikoura identity with its label reflecting the natural beauty of
the Kaikoura region, where the mountains meet the sea. The grapes for the
current vintage were grown both in Kaikoura and Marlborough, where free-draining soilcombined with favourable climate produces wines of unique character and distinction.

		Four hectares of vineyard have been planted immediately surrounding the winery and sales area, with the main varieties being Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer. A trial block of Sauvignon Blanc has also been established.

The winery is small and boutique with only about 3000 cases produced a year. The "terroir" is unique to New Zealand with a limestone seam, similar to some Californian vineyards, running through the length of the property. Further contract growers have been established on the inland stony, free-draining soils of the Kaikoura flats as well as grapes from shareholders in the Wairau Valley.

With a stable temperature of around 12°C, the wine cellar provides an excellent environment for barrel aging the Pinot Noir, as well as offer guests a unique setting for tasting and experiencing the flavours of the home label.

The natural limestone caves of Kaikoura provided the initial concept for the
underground cellar. The sales area is perched near the edge of the bluff
overlooking South Bay, where dolphins can often be seen frolicking in the
blue green Pacific.

		Take time to stop a while and enjoy the magnificent views whilst sipping on a glass of "sunshine"