NESTLED IN A SECLUDED VALLEY, OUR CRAGGY RANGE TE MUNA ESTATE IS A HIDDEN GEM OF THE WINE WORLD.
“The combination of stony soils and cool sunny days gives us distinctive minerality, along with the brisk howling winds that thicken the grapes’ skin, resulting in an unparalleled depth of flavour.”
David T. Peabody | Executive Director
This wine captures the essence of Te Muna, characterised by its refined aromatics, mineral-driven profile, and sophisticated structure. Unlike the overt tropical fruit and fresh herbaceous notes Marlborough has become known for, Te Muna’s Sauvignon Blanc is marked by ripe citrus and dried herb aromas. The aromatics are elevated, pure, and salivating, providing a mineral-driven complexity. This distinct profile is a result of the valley’s unique terroir. The significant diurnal temperature variation intensifies our Sauvignon Blanc’s aromatic profile and backbone, contributing to its remarkable intensity and freshness.
Multiple French clones of Pinot Gris from Te Muna Road Vineyard are hand-harvested together for the freshness of flavour and carefully pressed to extract the purest juice and lovely spicy notes from this fragrant cultivar’s skins. Slow but warm fermentations then create a lovely round palate feel to counter the vibrancy of fruit, which is a hallmark of our Te Muna Road Vineyard.
Produced from a small planting of Riesling, planted on the higher terrace of the Te Muna Road Vineyard, this wine exhibits a juicy texture that is distinctly Martinborough. These grapes were hand-picked, and whole bunch pressed, then fermented cool and left on lees for some four months after vintage resulting in a deeply expressive wine with poise and elegance.
Te Muna Pinot Noir offers a story of refined complexity and depth, a wine that embodies the unique terroir of Martinborough. Our Pinot Noir blocks are located on the top terrace in our estate vineyard, with soil consisting of fine silty loam overlaying gravely river stones and ancient volcanic ash. The unique soil composition, temperate climate, high winds, and large diurnal temperature swings create the perfect terroir to produce Pinot Noir that exudes savoury elegance, complex aromatics, and a sophisticated structure.
Established in 1999, Te Muna is seven kilometres east of the Martinborough township and 50 metres higher in elevation, delaying harvest by up to ten days. The soils have some of the oldest surviving loess deposits in New Zealand, dating back 350,000 to 400,000 years. The unique soil composition, temperate climate, high winds and large diurnal temperature swings create the perfect terroir to produce wines of exceptional character.
The river terraces carved by the local Huangarua river have deposited a diverse mix of rocks and minerals, contributing to the complexity of our wines. Our vineyard is the only one in Martinborough to span the three terraces. Each represents different stages in the river’s evolution, providing a rich tapestry of soil types and microclimates.
The specific area of river terrace where our estate vineyard is located is perfectly suited for viticulture; prime land that cannot be replicated or expanded. This exclusivity ensures the distinctiveness of our Te Muna wines. Our vineyard’s strategic location across all three terraces allows us to harness the best qualities of each. Pinot Noir thrives on the older, top terraces, with soil consisting of fine silty loam overlaying gravely river stones and ancient volcanic ash. Sauvignon Blanc flourishes on the lower terraces made up of young, gravely, free-draining soils.
Martinborough’s climate has a harsh edge to it. The cold bites with spring frosts and chilly winters, while the wind stresses the vines, controlling their vigour. Yet this harshness is a blessing. The stress on the vines results in thicker skins and more concentrated flavours. The hot, dry summers create ideal ripening conditions, allowing the grapes to fully develop and retain their vibrant character.
At Te Muna, we embrace the challenge of harnessing a temperamental climate to produce exceptional wines. Our meticulous viticultural practices ensure each vine is cultivated to perform at its best. Low cropping and precise canopy management underscore our commitment to producing wines that truly represent the essence of Te Muna.
