VarietiesVINEYARDS
Managing the vineyards of Karikari is very much a work in progress. While winegrowing is an ancient craft one of the basics of growing high quality wine is to manage each vineyard according to its own character of soils, climate, vine varieties and native biota.
At Karikari this process is a mere ten years old and we are learning as we go. All that we can be sure of after ten years is that this place will grow wine of remarkable character and of a quality that will be noted by the international fine wine community
 The first stage of the vineyard was initiated in 1998, when 8 trial varieties were planted on 4.5 hectares. These were cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, syrah, malbec, viognier, sémillon and grenache. Since then chardonnay plantings have increased, while pinotage and cabernet franc have replaced sémillon and grenache.
In total the Karikari vineyard estate covers 40 hectares on the northern slopes of the Toupiroroa range.
VARIETIES
The first stage of the vineyard was initiated in 1998, when 8 trial varieties were planted on 4.5 hectares. These were cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, syrah, malbec, viognier, sémillon and grenache. Since then chardonnay plantings have increased, while pinotage and cabernet franc have replaced sémillon and grenache.
 CHARDONNAY As one of the most site responsive varieties on earth, it is no wonder chardonnay makes distinctive wines at Karikari. It thrives in the Pacific conditions and the mean spirited soils of our vineyards. CABERNET FRANC The poet to cabernet sauvignon’s prose, the exciting aromas and flavours of Karikari grown cabernet franc are reason for our faith in the special character of Toa, our unique claret-style blend. PINOTAGE If there is one variety that captures the spirit of Karikari’s position at the edge of world winemaking it is Pinotage. A South African bred hybrid of cinsault and pinot noir, pinotage produces wines with a gruff demeanour and soft, lustrous quality that is immediately sensual. MERLOT This variety effortlessly grows wines of conviviality whose softness tempers the natural muscularity of Karikari reds, in particular cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. SYRAH Theoretically the perfect red variety for the lean soils and steady warmth of Karikari. Suited too, because it has links with the origins of New Zealand’s wine history, being a variety collected by James Busby prior to his appointment as the British representative in New Zealand in 1832. |
