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Wineries

• Masterton
  • Loopline Vineyard
  • Matahiwi Estate
  • Paulownia Estate
  • Wycroft Vineyard
• Gladstone
  • Blairpatrick Estate
  • Borthwick Estate
  • Cottier Estate
  • Fairmont Estate
  • Gladstone Vineyard
  • Johner Estate
  • Lynfer Estate
  • Mebus Estate
  • Schubert Wines
  • Urlar

Cottier Estate 

In 1858 a Cottier ancestor, Francois, set sail form Plouerjec, France to Lyttleton, New Zealand where he laboured as a whaler off the shores of the South Island.  Determined to be a success in his chosen land, Francois became Francis and fervently saved his pennies.  Tired of the brutality of whaling, Francois bought land in Canterbury.  He wrote to his siblings and ailing mother in France about his adventures, telling them he wished to replicate some of his homeland by planting a small vineyard. 

He urged his brother Pierre to leave France, to join him in New Zealand and to bring cuttings from French vines.  Regretfully Pierre wrote back “ I am afraid the news is most poor concerning the cuttings.  An illness has struck the vineyards of France.  We no longer have grapes and cannot enjoy the little wine they once produced.  I am sorry you will not fulfil your dream of having some of home in your new country.” (12 November 1881).  Five generations later Francis’ great, great grandson, Peter Francis Cottier, his wife Yvonne, their daughter and four sons have adopted the hardy seaman’s dream.  While Cottier estate vines were cultivated in New Zealand for the Wairarapa vineyard the spirit of France and a seaman’s dream lives on.

At Latitude 41 South, the wine growing area of Dakins Rd, Wairarapa is almost perfect for the cool climate-growing of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes.  Warm summer days and cool evenings, with just the right rainfall (800mls per year) encourage the grapes to yield their most complex and fruity flavours.  The shingly, stony soils of the river terraces also play a part, as do the vineyards minimum intervention practices.  Cottier estate produces only small quantities of handcrafted, premium wines.  The family and their team go to extraordinary lengths to ensure their final product reveals passion, attention to detail and commitment to excellence.

Opening hours by appointment.