The Heartbeat of Prophet’s Rock

Home Vineyard

The Home Vineyard sits on a north-facing terrace high above the Bendigo Station Homestead. With the altitude comes exceptional views, panoramic vistas of the sprawling landscapes beyond the vines, the river terraces of the Cromwell Basin and the stoic mountains of the Pisa Range, shaped by the glaciers that once stood here.

The region’s history looms close. A roofless stone hut sits on the site, a reminder of the gold rush that gripped the region 150 years ago. Steep slopes, rising from 320 metres to almost 400 metres, capture maximum sun, while the elevation delivers cool nights, encouraging deepened flavour development and freshness in the wines.

The vineyard hosts a rare mix of soils. Schist and quartz mingle with clay and, notably, a lens of chalk running through the site roughly one metre deep in the soil profile. The alkaline chalk influences nutrient uptake in the vines, while the clay retains water, ideal for keeping the sometimes-ornery Pinot grape on side in this cool dry climate.

The Home Vineyard was established with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, with Chardonnay, Muscat and Gewurztraminer coming into production soon thereafter.

Rocky Point Vineyard

At the rugged southern end of Bendigo, the Rocky Point Vineyard is a striking site with some of the steepest slopes in Central Otago. The vineyard rises from 226 meters to 351 meters, offering breathtaking views of Lake Dunstan and the surrounding landscapes.

The steep slopes of Rocky Point intercept the sun, while the rough ground – stony free-draining soil littered with shiny broken schist – stores the heat, releasing it overnight when the air temperature drops.

Rocky Point is planted in Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Gris. Rocky Point’s shallow soils offer the vines they host a coarse welcome. Vegetation works hard to grow here, but there is reward in the concentrated, deeply rich fruit this struggle produces. Full ripening equals full expression, resulting in wines that know, and show, where they come from.

Kopuwai Delta Vineyard

Bounded on one side by New Zealand’s largest volume river, the Kopuwai Delta Vineyard is named after its taniwha (water spirit/essence/strength) – Kopuwai – and its place looking down on the Delta.  The Maori legend for Kopuwai is one of power, and sometimes menace that one would do well to respect given the impressive force of this river.

Nestled on a terrace overlooking the Clutha River, this vineyard is surrounded by towering mountains that provide natural protection. This picturesque vineyard is situated at a narrow point in the valley between the Pisa and Bendigo ranges, and lies at 225m elevation

Kopuwai Delta features low-vigor, free-draining soils composed of schist, loess, alluvium, and rounded river stones. These soils, combined with the vineyard’s unique location, contribute to the production of fruit with exceptional purity and flavor.

Kopuwai Delta is planted in Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Two different clones of Pinot Gris, four clones of Pinot Noir, and two clones of Chardonnay make up the plantings on the vineyard. The proximity to the Clutha River and the influence of the surrounding mountains create a microclimate that is perfect for cultivating high-quality grapes.