Facts and Figures

• Longitude: 176deg 45min
• Latitude: 39deg 37min 
• Elevation: average 30metres above sea level
• The region was first planted in grapes in 1981, with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay;
• Prior to 1991, only 20ha of the region was planted in grapes – growing to over 200ha by 1997 with a further 400ha being planted since 1998;
• 80% of the land is planted in red grape varieties – 44% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 6% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc and very small pockets of Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Petit Verdot, Gamay Noir, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Tempranillo.
• The remaining 20% is planted in Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and small pockets of aromatic varietals, Arneis, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Viognier.
• The first Syrah was planted in 1993;

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