OPAWA
(or "Ōpaoa" meaning
"Smoky River" in Maori).
The Opawa River formed the stony vineyard soils which are responsible for the delicious aromas and flavours in Opawa wines. Today the Opawa River is the habitat for various endangered and endemic NZ birdlife and we are committed to preserving this wetland ecosystem and its inhabitants. Opawa wines are crafted with minimal intervention.
THE LAND
The Opawa vineyard is located on the historic river bed of the old Opawa river. The Opawa river was fed from the Wairau river until the Wairau plains were developed for agriculture and flood protection measures were put in place, changing the course of the river and leaving part of the old river bed dry. The stony soils are ideally suited for grape vines but not much else! Water drains freely, which grapevines like, and heat is absorbed from the bright Marlborough sunshine during the day, to be radiated back onto the grapes at night.
The vineyard was developed by Nautilus Estate who purchased the land in two parcels in 2001 and 2003. The combined plot is 25 hectares of very stony soil which was wild scrub land before grapevines were planted in surrounding area in the mid 1990s. The vineyard is in a warm, frost free site that ripens early in the season and produces an intensely fruity and fragrant style of wine, with a soft, juicy texture and great overall balance.
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Soil type: Stony silt loam
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Elevation: 40m above sea level
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Predominant wind direction: NW
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Rainfall: 647 mm per year (long term average)
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Sunshine hours: 2457 hrs. per year (long term average)
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Sourced: Wine Marlborough 2012
We also secure fruit from other Marlborough vineyards to compliment the flavours of our own Opawa vineyard.
DISTRIBUTORS
Cambodia
Fine Star
14 Bis Street 430
Sangkat Phsar Doeum Thkove, Khan Chamkarmom, Phnom Penh
T: +855 0 23 996 182
Canada
Pacific Wines & Spirits
British Columbia
Alberta
B & W
1179 King Street West, Suite 016
Toronto, Ontario, M6K 3C5 Canada
T: +1 416 531 5553 F: +1 416 531 1320
Denmark
Johs M Klein Distribution A/S
Priorparken 845, Postbox 839, 2605 Brondby
T: +45 70 23 1211
E: info@jmk.dk
Ireland
Cassidy Wines Ltd
Magna Drive,Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24
T: +353 1466 8900
Norway
Vinarius Independent Wine & Spirits
Vollsveien 13H, Lysaker, N-1366
T: +47 6677 6010
New Zealand
Negociants New Zealand
Unit 2D, 95 Ascot Avenue, Greenlane, Remuera
Auckland, New Zealand
T: +64 9 531 5222 F: +64 9 531 5205
South Africa
Winery of Good Hope
Postnet Suite 124, Private Bag X15,
Sommerset West, 7129 Cape South Africa
T: +27 21 855 5528
United Kingdom
Vietnam
The Warehouse
36/26 Phuong 25, Duong D2
Quan Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
T: +84 8 512 6400 F: +84 8 512 6401
Thailand
Bangkok Beer & Beverages Co., Ltd.
809 Soi Pattanakarn 30, Suanluang, Bangkok 10250, Thailand
T: +66 2 136 8500
F: +66 2 136 8540