OPIHI CELEBRATES THE STRATHALLAN

Opihi Vineyard celebrates the arrival of the Strathallan and the birth of Timaru 150 years ago. Opihi Vineyard’s pioneering venture into grapes started in 1991/92, when we planted five grape varieties on their farmland in the Opihi district. Opihi has long been known by the Maori to be an area of optimum growth. The translation of the Maori name ‘Opihi’ is ‘place of good growth’.

At the time of planting these vines - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Muller Thurgau and Pinot Gris - we did not know whether the venture would succeed or not, we were the first commercial vineyard to be established in South Canterbury. By 1998 the vines were in full production and Pinot Gris, in its first vintage, was awarded a Gold medal at the 1999 Liquorland Royal Easter Wine Show. This really put Opihi vineyard on the map. There was some surprise among the wine community at our success. Since 1998 we have won numerous medals for our wine and our Pinot Gris in particular has earned a strong reputation throughout the country and overseas.

Fine wine is primarily made in the vineyard: it is how the grapes grow and mature that influences what ends up in the bottle. We do not look for quantity in our production but quality instead Our philosophy in the vineyard is to take every step necessary to produce premium wine. Our regime includes keeping an open canopy, hand removal of excess shoots and laterals and hand harvesting. We limit the yield of crop by dropping excess fruit; this takes discipline.

We have an extremely desirable cool climate which slows down the ripening of the crop, and this extended ripening combined with the unique characteristics of our clay soils, enhances the flavours of the grapes,and hence the wines. This is our “terroir,” a French term for the special characteristics that a specific geographic area bestows on the wines.
We aim for excellence. Each year there is a limited supply and there is the unique taste of South Canterbury in each bottle of Opihi wine.”.

- Published in the Timaru Herald January 2009 - Celebrating the Strathallan Supplement