“Organic wine grapes allow the vineyard’s unique characters to be expressed due to less outside influences such as sprays and fertilizers. Depth of flavour and mouthfeel improves as the vines become more self sufficient and naturally balanced which also results in a wider nuance of complexity” Nigal Sowman, Viticulturist First planted in 1996 the Walnut Block vineyard lies in the world-renowned Wairau Valley in Marlborough. Marlborough’s unique winegrowing conditions reflect a combination of alluvial soils, deposited over thousands of years from an ancient river bed that flowed between the mountainous borders of this valley, the region’s high sunshine hours and the temperate New Zealand climate. Our decision to farm organically reflected our belief that we could grow grapes with a higher quality than those grown using conventional methods. As the vines have become more self-sufficient and naturally balanced we have seen a greater depth of flavour and improved mouthfeel in the wines. The vines themselves can adapt to seasonal variations, which result in consistently healthy, and well balanced grapes. Since 2002 Nigel Sowman, Walnut Block’s viticulturist, has studied and practised organics and has become a recognised authority on organic viticulture. Nigel is proud of the exceptional quality of fruit being produced using only organic practices.