LOCAL NEWS
Wairarapa's Gladstone Vineyard has won gold at the prestigious Concours Mondial du Sauvignon for its special reserve oaked Sauvignon Blanc, Sophie's Choice. Click here to read more.
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About the Region
The river's legacy is evident everywhere in rural Gladstone, bisecting the district's rolling countryside and cutting steep cliffs. It is most dramatic in three natural river terraces rising steeply from the stony riverbed and built up by its ebb and flow over centuries.
Regional similarities in alluvial soils and cool climatic conditions stimulated early vineyard developments in the late 1980s, and over the years subtle variations in wine tastes and wine-making have emerged to reflect the district's particular conditions. Unrestrained by town boundaries, the scale of most Gladstone vineyards is more extensive than nearby Martinborough.
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The Ruamahanga River deposited high quality loam on the lower river terraces, while flat higher terraces revel in long hours of bright sunshine and vigorous winds for healthy vines. Moderate rainfall complements fertile growing conditions as the harmonious cycle continues.