- Au votre sante                                      

The Wilderness House vineyard, planted in 1995, is located barely 100 meters away from where the early French settlers planted their grapes in the 1840's.

 

The north-facing terrace overlooking Childrens Bay on the beautiful Akaroa Harbour, along with the volcanic freely draining loam soil type, makes the location ideally suited to grape growing. The Akaroa climate is typified by hot dry summers and long autumns that yield grapes of intense flavour and optimal ripeness.

 

Wines are made by a local Winery as part of the "Akaroa BYO" and are bottled under the Te Kereru label. The Back Yard Operators are a group of hobby grape growers located around the Harbour who all share a passion for wine. That is mostly drinking it, but we have been known to take an interest in vineyard practices under the careful guidance of our winemaker.

 

The vineyard is well tended by Jim & Liz who are often assisted by friends, neighbours and guests who are usually curious for a taste of the finished product.

Two grape varieties have been planted:

The newly released hand picked 2010 vintage was from a relatively wet spring with warm and sunny weather during flowering allowing a moderate yeild.  A long early summer provided ideal ripening conditions but then there was a cold spell leading up to harvest.  With the skilled help of an award winning winemaker Nicholas Brown from the acclaimed Black Estate in Waipara, the net result are wines some what lighter than normal but no  less complex.  In the end nature and hard work combined to produce wines showing great texture and a vibrancy of fruit.

PINOT NOIR  2010
A light elegant style of pinot noir to be enjoyed early. It has attractive fruit characters coupled with soft tannins to provide a well-structured lingering finish.

CHARDONNAY  2010

Shows an abundance of ripe citrus fruit flavours in a distinctive Chablis style to give it an elegant structure and smooth finish.

                                                                                                         
                                           

Both wines are offered to guests (when available) and are well suited to be savoured as an apéritif before enjoying one of Akaroa's many exceptional dining experiences.