Craggy Range is a family-owned winery nestled beneath the majestic Te Mata Peak in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Guided by a philosophy of quality, innovation, and stewardship, we craft iconic wines from our estate vineyards in Hawke’s Bay and Martinborough.
A FAMILY LEGACY
Founded in 1998, Craggy Range is the embodiment of a dream, a commitment and a legacy. This is the story of Terry and Mary Peabody’s family and their unwavering dedication to the future.
The family aspired to create an exceptional wine estate that would sit comfortably alongside the world’s great wine producers. The desire was to produce wine and craft an enduring legacy that would stand the test of time. This vision was anchored by the establishment of a 1000-year trust; a commitment to their long-term thinking.
The family and founding team were not afraid to make sacrifices; forsaking entire vintages if it meant maintaining the unparalleled quality that defined Craggy Range wines.
With three generations of family working together in the business, our founding vision continues today as it was the day we first broke ground.
Taking risks is a necessary part of the winemaking process and our culture. We push boundaries, explore new methods and continually strive for excellence. This adventurous spirit established Craggy Range as a force in the industry.
From the raw, gravelly soils of Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay to the layered terraces of Te Muna, Martinborough, Craggy Range has carved a legacy producing world-class wines that capture the spirit of these unique terroirs. Wines that grace the tables of the finest restaurants around the world, and earn accolades from industry experts and enthusiasts alike.
A search for the perfect location across top winegrowing regions of the world led them to New Zealand. Here, Terry saw potential not seen elsewhere – an exceptional cool climate region, an emerging wine industry and a unique terroir with the potential to create benchmark wines.
OUR ESTATE VINEYARDS
Latitude: 39.5°
Altitude: 30m above sea level
Seasonal Rainfall: 390mm on average
Purchased and First Planted: 1998
Total Area Planted: 85ha
Varietals Planted: Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Over 150 years ago, the Ngaruroro River shaped the land where our vineyards now thrive, making Gimblett Gravels a young wine region in geological terms. Unlike the aged soils of many traditional wine regions, our gravelly, free-draining soil is raw and untamed, influencing every aspect of our vines. Here, we don’t just cultivate vines – we cultivate the very soil, watching it evolve as the vineyard grows, gradually breaking down and developing its unique character.
Nestled inland, protected from cooling sea breezes, Gimblett Gravels enjoys a warm, consistent microclimate. The soils, a mix of greywacke stones and layers of silt and sand, stretch at least 40 meters deep. This low-fertility, free-draining terrain presents both a challenge and a gift, forcing the vines to dig deep for nutrients, resulting in wines of intense character and complexity.
Though classified as a temperate maritime climate, the heat-absorbing stones create a warmer environment than other parts of Hawke’s Bay. This warmth enhances ripening and flavour development, producing fresh, aromatic grapes that yield full-bodied wines with remarkable depth and structure.
From the beginning, we embraced high-density planting in narrow rows to reduce crop load and maximise quality. This approach, while labour intensive, results in smaller, more concentrated berries that produce exceptional wines – proving that every bit of extra effort is well worth the reward.
Latitude: 41.2°
Altitude: 92m above sea level
Seasonal Rainfall: 439mm on average
Purchased and First Planted: 1999
Total Area Planted: 250ha
Varietals Planted: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris
Nestled in a secluded valley, our Craggy Range Te Muna estate is a hidden gem of the wine world. Established in 1999, Te Muna is seven kilometres outside 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.
“The art of farming grapes involves finding the best blocks of land within the estate for each varietal, then making footprints in the vineyard, vigilantly managing and nurturing the vines to maximise their potential”
Jonothan Hamlet | National Vineyards Manager
OUR WINES
Prestige | Our icon wines represent the pinnacle of our terroir and winemaking, meticulously crafted from select blocks of our single vineyard estates. With limited case production, these sought-after wines are allocated each vintage.
Estate | Single estate wines focused on complexity and showcasing the truest expression of our vineyard’s terroir.
Appellation | Expressive wines that are synonymous with Craggy Range the world over. They are sourced from the two regions where we have focused our grape-growing expertise: Hawke’s Bay and Martinborough.
Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc is a masterpiece of complexity and elegance; a mature expression that transcends the typical vibrancy of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This wine captures the essence of Te Muna’s unique terroir, 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 the aromatic profile and backbone of our Sauvignon Blanc, contributing to its remarkable intensity and freshness.
The cultivation of Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of tradition and innovation. Unlike the vigorous, leafy canopies typical of Sauvignon Blanc, Te Muna’s harsher climate combined with diligent vineyard management, results in smaller, more open canopies that allow for dappled light and good fruit exposure. This ensures the vine’s energy is directed towards the fruit instead of the canopy, resulting in lower yields and higher-quality grapes. Handpicking a portion of the Sauvignon Blanc allows for whole bunch pressing and barrel fermentation, techniques that add layers of complexity to the wine.
The winemaking process for Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc is an intricate art. Each parcel of fruit from select blocks is managed and harvested individually, reflecting its specific growing conditions and characteristics. The majority of parcels are fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks and large format French oak barrels, with a small amount of sandstone tanks or Austrian oak foudres incorporated too. These diverse fermentation and aging techniques contribute to the wine’s depth and complexity.
By blending these various components, over fifty parcels that have been picked, processed and fermented differently, Craggy Range crafts a Sauvignon Blanc that is greater than the sum of its parts, and the purest reflection of Te Muna’s terroir. It is a Sauvignon Blanc of refined aromatics, mineral salinity and sophisticated complexity.
Despite its small size, Martinborough consistently produces some of New Zealand’s most highly regarded Pinot Noirs. In prestigious wine reviews, Martinborough dominates the top rankings, showcasing the region’s ability to produce world-class wines that punch well above their weight. This success is a testament to the region’s unique geology, meticulous winemaking practices and the dedication of its small, passionate producers.
Our Te Muna Pinot Noir is a story of refined complexity and depth; a wine that embodies the unique terroir of Martinborough. Our Pinot Noir blocks are 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.
Vine by vine we individually manipulate our shoot, leaf and fruit densities to create perfect balance. At shoot thinning only the best growing positions are kept for an optimal canopy. We leaf pluck one-by-one to create airflow and maintain dappled sunlight, and crop thin throughout the growing season, keeping only the best and most consistent clusters of fruit.
Pinot Noir, as a varietal, is very expressive of its terroir. We are fortunate to have such a large and diverse site at Te Muna, which creates many different microclimates throughout the vineyard. We have numerous blocks farmed and harvested separately to bring out the best in each site, and the clonal selection is a large part of what sets each of them apart. When we first planted Te Muna, we trialled almost every clone available to find the best match for our unique site.
Over the years, we have refined our selection to ten key clonal varieties that perform best, with three offering truly exceptional parcels of fruit from three particular blocks:
Block 19: Abel
Block 16: Dijon Clone 667
Block 9: Dijon Clone 114
Ultimately, the best wine is often a sum of its parts, and the ability to farm so many blocks gives us the flexibility to blend these components together for a layered, elegant, and expressive wine.
Our Syrah is synonymous with the Gimblett Gravels. The synergy between site and grape variety is unparalleled. The unique terroir allows Syrah to reach an optimal level of ripeness and plushness, while the cool nights allow the fruit to maintin its aromatic intensity and vibrant flavour.
Our style is defined by several unique factors. After extensive clonal trials over the years, we now predominantly farm two clones – MS and All Saints. These clones give us intense aromatics with rich, fine tannins and an acid balance that is hard to replicate. Our low-vigour site, high density planting, temperate climate and close proximity to the riverbed, create optimal growing conditions. Our tried-and-true clonal selection and meticulous farming practices ensure the highest quality grapes that best reflect our unique Gimblett Gravels location. We focus on low vigour and low cropping to concentrate flavours, employing hands-on management techniques to optimise the canopy and fruit exposure.
Our Syrah clones are known for their wild growth habit, which requires individual shoot positioning to create the desired canopy structure. We aim for natural exposure with dappled light, removing only the lateral growth in the fruit zone. This labour-intensive process fosters ideal conditions for aromatic development without overexposing the fruit.
During veraison, we meticulously thin the crop further by removing bunches that lag in ripeness. This process involves multiple passes through the vineyard but has huge pay off; allowing every bunch to reach its full potential.
Over half the vines are from original plantings. Today, we are privileged to inherit and continue this legacy, crafting Syrah that embodies the unique essence of the Gimblett Gravels and the meticulous quality that defines Craggy Range.
In 2022, Craggy Range achieved a milestone as the first New Zealand winery to join the prestigious Bordeaux Negotiant Network, La Place de Bordeaux, realising the founders’ dream of standing among the world’s elite estates.
KEY ACCOLADES
2014 Wine Enthusiast, New World Winery of the Year
2019-2023 Listed in the World’s Best Vineyards Ranking
2019-2024 Drinks International, World’s Most Admired Brands
2023 The Real Review, Winery of the Year – New Zealand
INNOVATION IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
From the outset, Craggy Range embraced a mindset of thinking differently. Our founders were not afraid to experiment with their viticulture and winemaking; knowing this approach would lead to significant successes and learning experiences that were critical in shaping our winery’s character.
Craggy Range is governed by a 1000-year family trust. This trust instils a long-term perspective in everything we do, from soil to wine. It fuels our motivation to cultivate for today and the future.
A commitment to leaving the world in a better place is a cornerstone of our ethos and operations. This is woven through our vineyard management and winemaking processes, driving us to innovate and implement sustainable practices that honour and protect the environment for future generations.
Precision viticulture helps us uncover and harness the nuances of our terroir, allowing us to fine-tune our viticultural techniques to bring out the best in every vine. Over the past five years, we’ve intensified our commitment to innovation, continuously investing in new advancements. These tools don’t replace our intuition and hands-on experience but complement them, providing objective data that enhances our traditional practices. Using new and emerging technology, we gain detailed data and insights into vine health, water stress and soil composition. This enables us to precisely tailor our farming practices row-by-row and vine-by-vine.
This practice also informs our picking decisions by accurately identifying grape ripeness and flavour profiles.
Monitoring the water needs of each individual block has the benefit of reducing our water consumption, as we can accurately target our irrigation usage. Some of the cutting-edge technologies we use day-to-day in our vineyards include:
Athena probes – Accurately measures water stress at the vine level, allowing us to implement targeted irrigation to enhance wine quality and conserve water.
Multi spectral drone imaging – Measures the vigour variability across a block so we can tailor our management to optimise vine health and quality.
VPA Self-steering tractor – Performs multiple tasks in a single pass such as trimming, spraying and weed control.
Our commitment to organic farming is two-fold – preserving our land and resources for generations to come – and enhancing vineyard ecology by eliminating unnatural inputs to ensure the purest expression of terroir. Each vineyard block tells its own story and we recognise this shapes our approach to transitioning to organic practices. We embrace the challenge of converting blocks with their own distinct attributes – whether it’s rocky terrain or other complexities – by thinking creatively.
In 2020, we appointed one of New Zealand’s leading specialists in organic viticulture, Jonathan Hamlet, as National Vineyards Manager. Jonathan is the past chair of Organic Winegrowers New Zealand and has been on their Executive Committee since 2008.
We are transitioning to fully organic farming through a carefully planned, staged approach, ensuring the successful implementation of sustainable practices across every block of our 335 hectares of estate-grown vineyards.
We aim to balance the drive to farm organically with a desire to execute the transition flawlessly, ensuring we maintain the wine quality for which we are globally recognised.
Over the past two years, we have partnered with Toitu Envirocare to embark on our journey toward carbon and environmental certification. By identifying key areas for improvement, we have committed to a significant reduction in our company’s overall carbon emissions. We have made substantial investments in new, fuel-efficient equipment and machinery capable of performing multiple functions in a single pass through the vines, thereby minimising carbon usage.
In the spring of 2024, we will trial our aerial drone spraying programme to reduce the use of diesel-fuelled machinery in the vineyard. In our winery, we have an electric boiler as opposed to the more standard diesel model.
Starting with the 2023 vintage, all our wines will be packaged in lighter-weight glass bottles. This change will reduce the average bottle weight across our entire range by 22%.
Biodiversity is the lifeblood of a thriving ecosystem, and the presence of native plants and bird life significantly enhances the unique terroir of our vineyard sites. At Te Muna, areas within our river terraces that are unsuitable for vines are perfect for cultivating native plants.
We have actively planted over 25 hectares of natives to enrich the ecosystem and attract indigenous birds that help displace non-native, grape-eating birds and contribute to natural pest control. Across all our estates, we plant diverse cover crops to protect the soil, suppress weeds and provide essential nutrients, all while fostering biodiversity among the vines.
“We don’t grow in isolation, and neither do we want to.
Improving biodiversity recognises the value and strength of the wider ecosystem, creating a diverse growing environment that is more robust and resilient.”
Jonothan Hamlet | National Vineyards Manager
