Wine is very much a product of the natural world in which it is created, influenced by the people who work the vineyard and craft the wine. We speak of terroir and when we drink wine we taste the terroir. At DUNBAR ESTATES we are very conscious of our role as kaitiaki (guardians) of our land and are working hard to enhance the health of the land and environment. We are encouraging native forest regeneration alongside the grapes at the Ngatimoti property. In 2021 we have installed sculptures to remind us of the interconnections between all parts of the land and the natural world. These depict the story of Tane, the God of the forest, nourished by Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother beneath his feet, holding aloft Ranginui, the sky father. In achieving this separation, light was able to flood the world and allow living things to flourish. <\/span><\/p>
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The DUNBAR ESTATES property at Ngatimoti occupies a beautiful, peaceful rural location adjacent to the eastern bank of the Motueka River. The vineyard itself occupies a terrace sloping gently towards the river, catching the sun and allowing cold air to drain away. Frost is not a problem here, nor is water. The vines have at their back a native forest cloaked hill from which arises sufficient underground water to avoid necessity for irrigation, even in dry years. This is in marked contrast to Shine Basin.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The DUNBAR ESTATES property at Ngatimoti occupies a beautiful, peaceful rural location adjacent to the eastern bank of the Motueka River. The vineyard itself occupies a terrace sloping gently towards the river, catching the sun and allowing cold air to drain away. Frost is not a problem here, nor is water. The vines have at their back a native forest cloaked hill from which arises sufficient underground water to avoid necessity for irrigation, even in dry years. This is in marked contrast to Shine Basin.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
The Ngatimoti vineyard had originally been planted with a wide variety of grapes, including the Italian varieties Montepulciano and Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. However, not all were suited to the terroir and since taking over in 2017, John and Jennifer have made several changes.<\/p>
Their Ngatimoti vineyard now produces Pinot Gris, Riesling and we are planting tall-stem vines of shiraz bailey (Syrah ) in the late spring of 2021, as an alternative red and a new challenge. Most of this is grown for our DUNBAR ESTATES label though some Pinot Gris is purchased by Kahurangi Estate and Neudorf.<\/p>
All DUNBAR ESTATES wines are available for tasting and purchase at the Ngatimoti Cellar Door, or shop online.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t