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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Yvonne Lorkin reviews our new Chardonnay
First release of our Omihi Series Chardonnay 2010 & it tastes like crumpets
If this is the standard of chardonnay Waipara is capable of then that makes me a very excited girl indeed. I love the way it smells like fresh peach and pineapple spread on a buttered crumpet. In the mouth it’s vibrant, concentrated and creamy, with silky length of flavour and as it’s clearly built for the long haul I can’t wait to see how well it does in the cellar. Yvonne Lorkin
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Decanter World Wine Awards
Pinot Noir 2009 - Gold!
Our Pinot Noir 2009 has just won a Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London. Double fist pump! We thought this vintage would produce a special wine, and to receive such an accolade after our Pinot Noir 2007 winning the IWSC trophy confirms again, how special our site at Black Estate is.
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"Captain Fantastic"
Proud to support Wayne Youle's "!?" ... :) exhibition at {Suite Gallery}
Wayne Youle (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Whakeeke, Ngāti Pākehā) is one of New Zealand's pre-eminent Maori artists. Youle, based in Amberley, just south of Waipara Valley, has a new exhibition titled "!?" ... :) which opens on 1 June at {Suite} Gallery, Cuba Street, Wellington. Black Estate wines will be there in proud support. Captain Fantastic will be there too, along with a wooden camera and tripod, two rings (one 24 ct gold plated) & a DNA puzzle.
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All hands on deck
It's harvest time at Black Estate
Our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is picked and fermenting in the winery. We had a solid sunny summer & then saw a bit of rain at the start of harvest which our grapes withstood beautifully (we're proud of them). This year Nicholas propagated yeast from the vineyard to start our ferments. All systems are a go in the winery - a fresh earthy smell lifts from the Pinot fermenters, Chardonnay is now in barrel. Our Riesling fruit hangs out on the vines in stunning still weather. There's many a late night plunging Pinot Noir with feet, many a cheese scone, many an ipod playlist, many a cleaned barrel...
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Christchurch Earthquake
Support us & we dontate to the Red Cross
While our team are safe, we are heartbroken by the loss of life and livelihoods in our city after the extraordinary Christchurch earthquake. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones, or lost or suffered damage to their homes or their businesses.
Purchase any case of wine from us on-line or by phone and we will dontate $50 of the purchase price to Red Cross. For 6 packs, we will donate $25. Freight is free in NZ. If you want a mixed case give us a call or email or please check out our Christchurch stockists and support them. All of us value your support.
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Randomness
The Blog
Our grape grower (and man who does everything), Alistair is posting things he likes at the new Black Estate Tumblr.
Come along for the ride.
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
- 2010
- Black Estate 2007 Pinot Noir wins IWSC Trophy
The Season Report
Harvest 2011
We're winding down after a very busy vintage at Black Estate. Our fruit is now wine and wintering over in the winery. To begin, our vines experienced a wet winter giving our dense soils a good soaking, and then dodged a few frosts successfully coming into spring. The onset of an early spring meant good establishment of canopy. The good canopy at flowering teamed up with sunny hot weather gave us a fruit set we were all happy with. We had a warm hot summer with intermittent rain so reached target crop levels. Harvest was during (mostly) stunning, still weather and we were able to pick when we chose. The fruit showed a beautiful balance of ripeness, concentration and acidity. So should the wines.
Wines
Our wines are made 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 2010
A crisp and fresh bouquet of cool river stones. Emerging nectarine, white peach, mandarin and lime draw you into the glass where rich stone fruits coat dense and textural phenolics. The wine advances giving great length by the salivating acidity. A wine that captures the place and the season.
Black Estate Omihi
Chardonnay 2010
A single vineyard wine, from vines grown organically on clay-limestone soils in Omihi, Waipara Valley. The bouquet is pretty and open with spice, white floral notes, ripe grapefruit and walnut. This Chardonnay has a rich opulent juiciness, finishing with a persistent freshness and a touch of sea spray.
Black Estate Omihi
Pinot Noir 2010
A single vineyard wine with a brambly bouquet of dark fruits, exotic spice, fresh earth and broken chalk. It's supple, dense, elastic, velvet like. Chalky soils emerge by way of a crisp and freshening mineral finish. True to its sandstone/limestone soils.
order
Stockists
Perhaps Sir or Madam would like to try the Black Estate?
Christchurch
- Vino Fino
- Ballantynes
- Provence Fine Foods Akaroa
- Traiteur Merivale
- Liquorland Riccarton
- Liquorland Rangiora
- Super Liquor Papanui
- Super Liquor Edgeware
- Super Liquor Halswell
- Super Liquor Barrington
- Rare Fare
- The Village Grape Sumner
- Decant
- Pukeko Junction
- Peter Timbs Meats
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)
Central North Island
- Advintage
- Scenic Cellars
- Hillsdene Wines
South Island
- Henry's Liquor Timaru
Australia
- Vranken-Pommery Australia
United Kingdom
- Lea & Sandeman
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 & 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.
Penelope Naish
Marketing
Penelope manages the marketing, exporting and general business at Black Estate. She is Rod's daughter, Nicholas' wife and mum to Arthur and Sylvia. Before Black Estate, Penelope practiced corporate law in Christchurch, Auckland and The Netherlands.
Alistair Blair
Vineyard & 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.
