In late 1990, a young couple left Auckland to re-settle in a rural pocket of Nelson, encouragingly named ‘Hope’. Swapping city for country life, Andrew and Jenny Greenhough took on a four hectare property determined to create something of their own. The vineyard had been partially established in the mid-70s by a pioneer amateur winemaker, heavy-cropping Muller Thurgau and green-edged Cabernet Sauvignon vines were removed, a property next door was purchased, and new Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc vines were planted. In 2008, Andrew and Jenny challenged themselves again, committing to organics and beginning the conversion to full BioGro NZ certification. All of the now 9 hectares are certified organic.
Nelson has a unique, sheltered climate, protected by mountain ranges to the south, east and west, with mild sea breezes from Tasman Bay to the north mitigating frosts through spring and autumn, and easing the heat in summer. Clear, cool nights preserve flavour and varietal character, letting fruit acids reduce gradually over settled autumn months; a mineral, fruit-based acidity underpins all varieties providing definition, structure and elegance. These are true wines of place, each batch an autobiography, from the sea that shaped the land to the hand that picked the grapes.
