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
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The BeST Design Awards
We're finalists.
Our website is a finalist in the 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 constantly amaze us with their understanding and creativity. We'll keep you all posted, with the results announced mid-October.
Just warning you, we're gracious in neither victory nor defeat.
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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."
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A great start for Black Estate Riesling
Top score for our first Riesling
Gourmet Traveller just gave our first ever released Riesling 95 Points making it the top rated white wine in the latest June/July 2009 edition. We are so proud and excited about Riesling grown in Waipara. The review said: "The first vintage of Black Estate Riesling is a successful wine in a medium/dry style but with a pleasingly dry finish. Good mineral character is evident with citrus and orange blossom. This is a serious Riesling."
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Christchurch Casino Awards
Our 2006 Pinot takes Gold, the People's Choice Award and Industry Showcase Award
Our Pinot Noir 2006 was a smash hit at the 2009 Christchurch Casino Pinot Noir Awards last month. It was awarded Gold Medal Winner, the Pick of the Bunch’ People’s Choice Award and the Industry Showcase Award. Rod said to The Press: “It’s incredibly rewarding to be voted favourite by customers and industry peers – I’m thrilled our Pinot was such a hit. We’ve really enjoyed being part of the competition and couldn’t have asked for a better result.”
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Gourmet Traveller rates our wines!
Our wines recommended across the ditch
Gourmet Traveller Wine has recognised the quality of our white wines by awarding our 2007 Chardonnay with 90 points and our 2008 Rielsing with 95 points! Bob Campbell described our Chardonnay as "Rich, creamy and complex wine with attractive toasted nut, spicy oak and brioche characters adding extra interest to fairly concentrated grapefruit and white peach. Bog, mouthfilling wine. More restrained than previous vintages but better for it." Cheers Bob.
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Chardonnay Impresses
Our Chardonnay rated in the top 10
Warren Barton has rated our wine as one of New Zealand's top 10 Chardonnays. He called it "Rich, round and creamy, with attractive toasty, mealy characters and a refreshing, lingering finish. Impressive." Dominion, December 2008.
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
Spring 2008
The vineyard appreciated a fantastic soaking during winter leaving it in optimal shape for Spring. After a year of close observation we've refined the pruning at Black Estate: throughout the season we've observed how the vines react to the different conditions of the particular vintage. At harvest we now pick the vineyard in separate lots according to the maturity and readiness of individual areas. It just makes better wine.
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 2008
The eighth release of Black Estate Chardonnay reveals and alluring bouquet, a concentrated pallet, with the hallmark refreshing and lingering mineral finish. The mid pallet will increase in richness and complexity, and carried by its fresh persistent minerality ensure excellent cellaring potential.
Black Estate
Pinot Noir 2006
Perfumed and inviting the 2006 Black Estate Pinot Noir displays all the characters that excite us about the dense soils in Omihi Waipara. Beautifully presented fruit, silky and mouth filling palate weight, and long lingering flavour length.
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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
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 03 377 0398
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 continues to craft wine for the renowned Daniel Schuster Wines, where he has worked since 2002. He has also learned much from vintages spent in 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.
