Late last year Lincoln University held a Vineyard Soils Day at Black Estate in Waipara, where they unveiled an in-depth report into the soils of the Waipara wine region.

This welcome work allows current producers to gain even more understanding about their surroundings. And it may well help with future plantings, siting vineyards in the best spots and planting the appropriate varieties. More generally it can only do good in further establishing our credentials as a world-class wine region.

Our two vineyards are located in two different zones of the region, The Home Block (and the River Terrace) is on Glasnevin...

The Bellbird Spring lineup contains wines that are made to be drunk with a wide range of food. Even our recent Sous Voile proved adaptable – and was delicious with Japanese twice cooked pork. Our new product is perhaps more focused for after the meal, to be drunk as a digestif, though the first time I encountered such a product was when the vineyard workers in Soave in Italy used to pour some into their morning coffee to warm up!