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Vineyards

At Collaboration Wines our growers and the vineyards we collaborate with are at the heart of every wine we craft. Having winegrower and winemaker aligned allows for the potential of each site, each varietal and the Hawke’s Bay climate to be realised.

It is for this very reason that Julianne has built strong long-term relationships with people who share her passion, commitment and dedication to high quality winegrowing and winemaking. We are fortunate to work alongside the following independently owned vineyards and the people who meticulously work them.

White Vineyards

The Chardonnay Vineyards situated near the coast, rivers and surrounding mountains produce grapes, which retain beautiful acidity, elegance and purity of fruit.

Kokako Vineyard, Ohiti Valley, Hawke’s Bay
Managed by Bruce Nimon and his team at Kokako Farms.

Kokako vineyard lies in the Ohiti Valley, uniquely positioned next to the Ngaruroro River and surrounding mountain ranges. The valley experiences very warm days and cool night time temperatures. This diurnal shift in temperature produces grapes with naturally high acidity and intense citrus flavours. Formerly an old riverbed the soil consists of silt loam over river gravels. Resulting wines typically show a flinty minerality, with intense citrus notes and a beautiful fine acid backbone.

Varietal / Clone / Rootstock:

Chardonnay/15/10114

Vine Age:

Planted 2001

Soil:

Silt loam over river gravels

Vineyard & Canopy management:

2 cane, arch cane pruned / Vertical shoot positioning / Leaf plucked morning sun side
Under-vine grass is encouraged, no herbicides
No Irrigation

Ascot Vineyard, Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay
Managed by Neil Watson and his team.

High in the hills of Havelock North on a steep north-facing slope approximately 80m above sea level is the small vineyard Ascot Heights. High density planting on a hillside are a unique aspect of this site, creating competition and reducing vine vigor and providing small concentrated berries. Riper stonefruit characters.

Varietal / Clone / Rootstock:

Chardonnay /Mendoza

Vine Age:

Planted 2018

Soil:

Havelock North Clay Pan

Vineyard & Canopy management:

Vertical Shoot Positioning / cane pruned
Minimal irrigation

Askerne Vineyard, Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay
Owned and managed by the Askerne Family.

Askerne vineyard is forward of both the Haumoana and Havelock North hills, close to the Te Awanga coast and Tuki Tuki river. The vineyard is classed as plains and benefits from the cooling winds in all directions resulting in wines with naturally high acidity and purity of fruit and elegance. The soil consists of clay, silt and loam. The wines show a beautiful backbone of acidity with citrus and lemon notes.

Varietal / Clone / Rootstock:

Chardonnay/ Mendoza

Vine Age:

Young vines and 25 year old vines

Soil:

Clay, silt and loam

Vineyard & Canopy management:

Scott Henry Trellising / Very open canopy

Red Vineyards

The Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are situated inland where former riverbeds once flowed resulting in grapes with intense concentration, colour and depth of flavor and structure.

Apex Vineyard, Bridge Pa, Hawke’s Bay
Managed by Bridget Wilton, Miles Leicester

Apex Vineyard borders both the Gravels and Bridge Pa grape growing districts. Formerly old riverbeds the resulting soil is predominately silt overlying gravels. The gravels provide a heat trap and the silt aids in producing wines that have real depth and richness. This vineyard is the major component to our Bordeaux Reds. The narrow rows and high density plantings are a unique aspect of this site, creating competition and reducing vine vigor and providing small concentrated berries.

Varietal / Clone / Rootstock:

Merlot /181:  Cabernet Franc/Lyons: Cabernet Sauvignon/338

Vine Age:

Planted 2007

Soil:

Silt over river gravels

Vineyard & Canopy management:

VSP / Single Cane pruned
Minimal irrigation

Fernhill Vineyard, Fernhill, Hawke’s Bay
Managed by Bridget Wilton, Miles Leicester

This vineyard is a little gem planted solely in Cabernet Sauvignon positioned next to a Quarry. The combination of old vine Cabernet Sauvignon planted on river gravels where once the Ngaruroro river flowed is the ideal heat trap for Cabernet Sauvignon to thrive in. The result is well balanced vines resulting in small concentrated berries. The wines typically exhibit dark black fruits, iodine, earth and savoury notes with firm structured tannins.

Varietal / Clone / Rootstock:

Cabernet Sauvignon/338

Vine Age:

Planted 1995

Soil:

Gravels and light silt

Vineyard & Canopy management:

Vertical Shoot pruned / spur pruned
Minimal irrigation