Omihi Waipara
New Zealand Wine
Black Estate
Black Estate is a remarkable
place for wine.
A family owned vineyard on the warm, sunny slopes of the Waipara Valley, where the vines grow through clay and limestone soils to produce intense wines completely expressive of this site.
Our wines are hand crafted using artisan techniques and a dedication to creating exceptional Waipara Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.
Vineyard
Omihi, Waipara. New Zealand.
Latest News
-
Decanter World Wine Awards
Decanter Medal Winners
Black Estate's donning two silver medals, awarded for our Riesling 2009 and Pinot Noir 2007 in the prestigious 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards. We are delighted to receive this international recognition and to wear these medals in such esteemed company.
-
Jo calls it Stunning.
Jo Burzynska has made some very pretty notes about our new release Riesling 2009
"A stunning second riesling release from a Waipara winery to watch. It juxtoposes pretty notes of lemon blossom and white peach with an undercurrent of mineral salts and a soft sweetness that's beautifully balanced by its grapefruit acidity." (Viva, NZ Herald). Thanks Jo.
-
Suite Opening
Black Estate is pleased to support Fiona Pardington and Charles F. Goldie opening at Suite
We are delighted to support Eros & Agape by Fiona Pardington and Charles F. Goldie opening at Suite in Wellington on April 23. The exhibition features several new works shot by Fiona Pardington in Paris, a rare photograph by Goldie of one of his favourite subjects and a previously unseen painting that was acquired by the vendor's grandmother directly from Goldie in 1911.
-
Our 2007 Pinot Noir
Reviews are coming in.
We have just released our 2007 Pinot Noir and the early feedback has been pleasingly positive. We were chuffed to hear from Pete Saunders, wine writer and author of The New Zealand Wine Guide. He describes the wine as:
"A very stylish expression of this variety in Waipara; looks good, tastes well now but not a wine in any hurry. Texture, balance and some ripe fruit without oak distractions leave us with something of a beauty"We're very excited about this particlular vintage.
-
The BeST Design Awards
We're golden.
In October our website won a Gold award in the 2009 Designers Institute BeST Awards, the annual event recognising the best graphic, product and spatial design in New Zealand.
A toast to our friends at Sons & Co. who created the site and celebrated with a bottle of 2006 Pinot smuggled into the award ceremony.
You know, whenever talk turns to award ceremonies we think of Gwyneth. What a speech.
-
Superb Riesling
Geoff Kelly rates our Rielsing as one of the best
Geoff Kelly's latest comments about our 2008 Riesling are inspiring for us. He said: "Bouquet is simply sensational middle-Mosel riesling...White florals abound, going as far as freesia notes, with holygrass...citric and vanillin qualities plus surely some botrytis to achieve such complexity, just beautiful. Palate is full, lovely pale stonefruits, spatlese sweetness confirmed, fine-grained acid, long, elegant, pure. This is superb riesling, by either German or New Zealand standards, one of the best ever made in this country."
Planted in 1993, Black Estate Vineyard consists of eight hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines rooted in soil uniquely characteristic of the region.
Waipara has a long and dry autumn, ideal for ripening fruit. The cool nights retain freshness, whilst warm days build concentration.
Waipara has a long and dry autumn, ideal for ripening fruit.
The vineyard is carefully handled through the change of each season by Vineyard Manager Alistair Blair. Alistair is eagerly assisted by the rest of the family who almost always do exactly as they are told. A detailed focus is on thoughtful winter pruning, maximising soil health and restricting yields using sustainable practices.
Read more about Black Estate Vineyard
A Brief History of Wine
- 0008
AD. - Site of Black Estate formed during mid-Holocene period
- 1993
- Black Estate planted by Russell and Kumiko Black
- 1999
- First Black Estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Vintages released
- 2007
- Black Estate purchased by the Naish Family
- 2008
- First Black Estate Riesling released
The Season Report
Autumn/Winter 2010
Black Estate's autumn was a classic North Canterbury Indian summer. Despite summer going awol, sunny warm days in early autumn led us to one of the most relaxed harvest experiences ever. The perfect weather meant no disease pressure, so no pressure to pick. The wines achieved a beautiful balance of ripeness, concentration and acidity. Following the perfect harvest, rain fell and replenished the vineyard with a deep soaking and we're spending winter doing two of favourite activities: shoveling compost and pruning vines - happiness.
Wines
Our wines are made in one of Waipara's most modern cellars using traditional techniques. Under the direction of winemaker, Nicholas Brown, all fruit is hand picked and sorted. Nicholas firmly believes the best wines are made in the vineyard and that the winemaker merely guides the grapes into unique wine completely expressive of its site.
More on Nicholas' winemaking philosophy.
Black Estate Omihi
Riesling 2009
Fruit was sourced from a neighbouring vineyard with similar clay and limestone rich soils. A broad spectrum of wild yeast Riesling characters introduce the wine. Ripe integrated acidity is followed by rich and dense phenolics on the pallet. A crisp and unctuous finish provokes contemplation.
Black Estate
Chardonnay 2009
The ninth release of the Black Estate Chardonnay from a very special vintgae reveals grapefruit, nectarine, white peach, walnut vanilla, crushed oyster shell aromas. The pallet is dense and expansive, transparent of the clay soils from which it originates. A powerful wine with salivating mineral persistence.
Black Estate
Pinot Noir 2007
This wine is rich, with ripe dark fruits, spice and licorice which are all elegantly married to soft tannins. The exotic bouquet, good mid pallet density and satisfying mineral length are all characteristics of the Black Estate site.
order
Stockists
Perhaps Sir or Madam would like to try the Black Estate?
Christchurch
- Eadie Fye's
- Hemmingway Fine Wines
- Vino Fino
- Ballantynes
- Provence Fine Foods Akaroa
- Traiteur Merivale
- Liquorland Riccarton
- Super Liquor Papanui
- Rare Fare
- The Village Grape Sumner
- Decant
- Pukeko Junction
- City Winery
- The Bicycle Thief
- Rotherhams of Riccarton
- Chinwag
- Barcelona
- The Millennium
- No 4 Merivale
- Vangionis Akaroa
- Annies Wine Bar
- Tiffanys
- Holy Smoke
- Taste Riccarton
Distributed in Australia by www.kiwinz.com.au
Wellington
- Regional Wines and Spirits
- Floriditas
- Matterhorn
- The Whitehouse
- Arbitrageur
- The Tasting Room
- The General Practitioner
- Trade Kitchen
Auckland
- The French Cafe
- Caros Wine Merchants
- Tabou Kingsland
- The Village Winery (Mt Eden)
Wine Making
Let's talk grapes
Nicholas Brown
- Winemaking & Viticulture Consultant
Ever since the first release of Black Estate the potential of the site could be tasted in the rich and expressive wines produced. Now after fifteen years the vines at Black Estate have developed root systems that penetrate deep into the earth, exploring further the complex soils beneath them. The vines' discoveries are amplified at harvest in the form of rich and concentrated fruit with a depth of aroma and flavour that can only come from mature vines allowed to speak of their special surroundings.
With this in mind the role of the winemaker is truly gentle and guiding.
More on Nicholas' winemaking philosophy.
For a winemaker, working with wine grown from a site like Black Estate is a pure joy. We hope you enjoy drinking the wines as much as we have enjoyed making them.
Row 57, between 56 and 58, is a quiet achiever.
Pssst, join the Black List
At Black Estate we like to look after our friends. Get yourself 'Blacklisted' and receive updates about the wine, vineyard and seasonal special offers.
Contact
Telephone 03 310 6930
614 Omihi Road, Waipara
PO Box 13280
Christchurch 8141
New Zealand
If we seem friendly and obliging,
that's the wine talking.
Rod Naish
Director
Rod and Stacey, and their family, are the proprietors of Black Estate. Rod has 40 years experience in professional horticulture and business management. He is also a proud father-in-law to Nicholas and Alistair.
Nicholas Brown
Winemaker & Viticulture Consultant
Along with his role at Black Estate, Nicholas crafts wine for selected wineries and vineyards in Waipara Valley, where he has worked since 2002. Nicholas was winemaker at Daniel Schuster Wines between 2006 and 2009 and has learnt much from vintages spent in Marlborough, Chianti, Barolo, Napa and Oregon.
Alistair Blair
Vineyard and Sales
Alistair has worked with organic produce and is now a viticulture specialist after several years working with vines in Waipara. Alistair is also the local salesman for Black Estate wines.
The kind of place a man can really get some thinking done.
The region,
Omihi Waipara, New Zealand
Black Estate vineyard lies on the idyllic, sunny, limestone and clay slopes of Omihi in the picturesque Waipara Valley, 45 minutes from Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island.
Waipara Wine & Food District is one of the 5 main wine districts of New Zealand. It is renowned for the production of cool climate varieties especially, distinctive Rieslings, Pinot Noir, and fine Chardonnay. This is a fast growing Wine District, offering an exciting diversity of limestone and clay slopes and soils on gravel plains.
