The Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District enjoys a unique interaction of climatic and soil type factors that are shared with no other locality of the Hawke's Bay region. It is a classic interaction of above ground and below ground environmental factors, that if one was present without the other the beneficial attributes of either would be negated entirely. In the views of the members it is this unique interaction that gives the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District its potential to become an internationally respected consistent producer of high quality red wines specifically from the 'Bordeaux' varieties and Syrah.
Mother Nature has given the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District some potential, however it is the manipulation of these "environmental terroir attributes" that will release the district's full potential. Viticultural techniques in particular play a big part in maximising the vines potential. The environment is such that without significant human intervention not a single vine would produce grapes within the majority of the region.
The Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District embraces the holistic view of terroir, it is not just the environment but, to borrow a term of Matt Kramer's, of Wine Spectator Magazine, there is certainly a " mental aspect". The human heart and hand plays a significant part in releasing the potential of our environment in the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District, as it does in all the great winegrowing terroirs of the world. We have talked about potential, time will tell whether we earn a place in amongst the respected elite of the world of wine.