Producer >
Elephant Hill is a stunning and innovative winery estate located on the idyllic Te Awanga coast in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Established in 2003 by a Reydan and Roger Weiss who moved to Te Awanga from Germany, their son Andreas and his family have now taken over the reins and continued in the pursuit of quality in this renowned part of New Zealand. With plots in three of the most renowned sub regions of Hawkes Bay - Te Awanga Costal, Gimblett and the Bridge Pa Triangle region there is a focus on soils and their expression in the glass. Though Harriet originally sought out the Syrah from this estate. The Chardonnays stole the show. In the words of Jancis Robinson MW 'Hawke’s Bay has the country’s most important plantings of Chardonnay, and to my mind it’s a crime that the wines are not better known.'
Viticulture >
Elephant Hill has three vineyards in the renowned sub-regions of Hawke’s Bay. The coastal Te Awanga Vineyard, the inland Gimblett Vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers District and The Triangle Vineyard in the Bridge Pa Triangle region.
SOIL AND CLIMATE
Our vineyards have a variety of soil types and micro climates which give us the ability to capture the different elements and nuances of each particular site to make wines of complexity and character. Each grape variety has been carefully matched to the varying soil types, ranging from shingle to clay to very old, stony river beds producing a range of flavour profiles in the wines. This gives us extensive blending options or the opportunity to make terroir based, site specific, single vineyard wines.
Winemaking >
Established in 2003, Elephant Hill is located within a stone’s throw of the Pacific Ocean on the idyllic Te Awanga coast of Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island.
The winemaking at Elephant Hill is driven by tradition while not losing sight of what innovation can bring to the blend. Our aim is to make wines that are balanced and elegant and a true expression of the vineyards they come from.
The technology associated with winemaking is always improving, as is the knowledge and understanding of the science of wine. Important as these factors are, to preserve the varietal integrity of the fruit from our vineyard is key. In the winery we ferment our grapes in many small, separate batches. This allows for the nuances and character of each separate fermentation to come to the fore and be considered when blending for our Estate, Reserve or Icon wines.
The perfect vintage is warm and dry throughout autumn; the climate so benign of threats that we can pick the fruit when it is truly flavour-ripe for the style of wine desired. The perfect vintage, of course, does not exist. In crafting wine one learns to deal with the weather nature hands you, and gradually to enjoy the variation from year to year. Great wine should reflect the site and the climate of where it is grown. One of the most rewarding challenges in making wine is to craft a wine that best represents the vintage in which it was grown, that plays to the strengths of the harvest and mitigates the challenges that were faced.
Chardonnay
14
NEW ZEALAND
12
Screw Cap
Elephant Hill
Vegan
Vegetarian 
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