Our vineyards
Tohu wines are produced from grapes grown in three of New Zealand's premier wine-producing regions: Marlborough and Nelson. Our winemaking philosophy is to create a style of wine we believe best reflects the region and in particular our vineyards.
Marlborough
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Without question, Marlborough has put New Zealand on the world winemaking map. Our star varietal, Sauvignon Blanc tastes and smells like no other. Whether it takes on the guise of tropical or herbaceous, one thing is guaranteed, it is pure Marlborough in a glass.
As the region has evolved, Marlborough has discovered it can produce many other varieties at the same outstanding quality as Sauvignon Blanc. Other classic French varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive here, and aromatic varieties such as Pinot Gris and Riesling are simply outstanding.
Tohu predominantly sources fruit from two of its owned and operated Marlborough vineyards, located in the Awatere and Waihopai Valleys.
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Awatere Valley Vineyard – Situated in the upper valley at an altitude of 200m above sea level, this vineyard has Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku as a backdrop and the Awatere River flowing on the western boundary.
While the breath taking beauty makes our Awatere Valley vineyard a very noble site, a series of river terraces, stony with alluvial gravels and wind blown loess provide the foundations for growing vines that produce outstanding fruit.
Being cooler and drier than other local sub-regions, the growing season is longer and ripening slower. Special attention is given to vine management, vine monitoring, crop levels and yields, allowing the winemaking team to select parcels of fruit to harvest at the optimum time, thus capturing the very essence of this vineyard.
As well as growing superb vines, Marlborough is recognised as having some significant New Zealand native plant species. Tohu has from the outset retained and protected existing plants. We’re also involved in ongoing plantings on an annual basis. The practice of nurturing and giving back to the land is paramount to the company’s and its shareholders’ beliefs and culture.
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Blanc are the varieties grown.
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 Click here for a detailed map
of our Awatere Vineyard
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Waihopai Valley Vineyard – Glacial movement and outwash have formed the location of this site. Originally used for agriculture, the stony gravels interspersed with high levels of clays are better suited for farming vines.
Located at the lower end of the Waihopai Valley, this site is exposed to cold air from nearby mountains drifting down the valley. This influences a slightly cooler climate and later ripening than areas further down on the plains.
Direct and close vine-to-wine management and control results in slightly lower yields than could be achieved commercially, but ensures that fruit quality and vine sustainability standards are met.
Covering approximately half the planted area of the Awatere, this site produces above itself and offers an extremely worthy contribution to the Tohu range of wines with its own sub-region influences.
Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are the varieties grown.
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Nelson
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Whenua Matua Vineyard – Whenua Matua translates to significant land, and significant it is. The vineyard is situated on tribal land traditionally owned by shareholders of Wakatu Incorporation. Needless to say, this vineyard is extremely special to those associated with Tohu.
The Moutere Hills region is composed of gentle rolling country with clay soils laced with layers of gravel. The climate here is warm with high sunshine hours.
The Whenua Matua vineyard is located on sloping country, predominately facing north. These slopes experience excellent airflow during frost prone periods of the growing season. Due to the vineyard’s elevation, it is exposed to breezes, which assist in drying the canopy and reducing disease pressure. Soils found on some areas of the Whenua Matua vineyard are heavier and composed of clay, which is ideal for producing Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.
The vineyard has spectacular views of the mountains in Kahurangi National Park including Mt Pukeone, the ancestral mountain of the Motueka Iwi.
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Click here for a detailed map
of our Whenua Matua Vineyard
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