© 2009 Ryack Holdings Ltd
Made by Serif
Our grapes are usually picked about March or April in the Far North. So that is the time we invite our friends around for breafast, and then put them to work! It is a fun time and the more hands the easier the job!
Though we may be losing many friends by doing this !!
Waitapu Estate was founded in the year 2000. The first grapes planted were Chambourcin which we had lovingly grown from cuttings, and Cabernet Sauvignon which we transplanted from a nearby vineyard. In subseqent years we uprooted both of these and planted Pinotage (Pinot Noir/Cinsault) and Syrah, more recently Tempranillo along with Sangiovase.
We have three soil types, the main one being the "Kauri Sands" in which the grapes struggle and produce wines with excellent flavours and colour. Then we have an area of clay which produces a better crop but not quite the same intensity of flavours. The last is rocky volcanic rubble and there we find the best grapes for wine production, the free draining and rocky soil of this north facing slope has produced some fantastic fruit for our wines.
Our family purchased the property in 1999 and started planting native trees immediately
for shelter and bio-
From our property there are wonderful views of the famous 90 mile beach and Ahipara, a beautiful holiday area in the summer. We overlook "Reef Point" one of Aotearoa/New Zealand's better know surfing spots. Hence we have Reef Point as a label for our wine.
It is our intention to develop some accomodation on the property in the near future. At the moment we have only facilities for small weddings and similar sized functions. Plus of course visitors to our vineyard to taste our wines.
We have a white wine coming this year. It is a Chardonnay Viogner blend. The Viogner will give it the fruitiness we want and the Chardonnay which has been lightly oaked will give it some body. We are looking forward to promoting that in the near future.