Puriri Hills - Clevedon

Owned by Judy Fowler, Puriri Hills Vineyard makes red wines inspired by the Bordeaux greats of Pomerol and St. Emilion. Viticultural advice in 1996 indicated that about 15 acres of the 93 acre property were well suited to traditional Bordeaux varieties, particularly Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

In 1997, the first four acres were planted with both varieties. The following year a further half acre was planted in Malbec. In 2000 half an acre of Cabernet Sauvignon was added to balance out the blend, and 2001 saw the addition of another half acre of Cabernet Franc.

The newer Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc plantings are top Bordeaux clones and were one of the first commercial plantings in New Zealand.

The vines are hand tended and hand picked. Sustainable viticultural practices are followed as closely as possible. The wine is fermented in open topped fermenters, hand plunged and aged in 60-80% new French oak barrels. The wines are barrel aged for 18-22 months and further bottle aged for at least six months before release.

‘Puriri Hills is one of the top five, new, New Zealand wineries in the country’
Joelle Thomson, NZ Herald (May 2006)

Puriri Hills 2005 Reserve, The Number One Bordeaux style wine in the country
Bob Campbell, MW, Gourmet Traveler Wine Magazine (August 2007)

For any Puriri Hills wine in stock please click here.