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The three vineyard properties are all in Marlborough's central Wairau Valley and are close to each other, which allows for efficient vineyard operations.

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OVERVIEW OYSTER BAY
STATE HIGHWAY 63
OYSTER BAY
FAULT LAKE
OYSTER BAY
WAIRAU RIVER



Oyster Bay State Highway 63 Vineyard

At 301 hectares (258 planted), the Oyster Bay State Highway 63 vineyard, on the central Wairau Plains about 15 minutes drive from Blenheim, is the largest Oyster Bay vineyard and is also one of the largest individual vineyards in New Zealand.

It's a unique site with three distinct terraces, each with slightly different soils. The soils on the top terrace are medium to bony and they generally become slightly heavier as we move down to the lower terrace. The mix of soil profiles provide grapes that possess interesting and subtle flavour differences - ideal for producing elegant and assertive Oyster Bay wines.

The 258 hectares planted represent over 85% of the total vineyard area and the mix of plantings of classic Marlborough varieties is sauvignon blanc 59%; chardonnay 33% and pinot noir 8%. The vines are planted with a row width of 2.5 metres and vine spacing of 1.8 metres, which has proven to be ideal for growing balanced vines and premium quality grapes.

The picturesque vineyard is backed by the Richmond Ranges with the Wairau River only about 500 metres away from the vines on the bottom terrace. Gibsons Creek flows through the vineyard all year round and is an obvious feature of the bottom terrace. It comes from the Wairau River and loops back into it. There is also a well managed natural wetland area along the base of the lower terrace and it's fed from springs in the terrace face.

Beautifully clear water for irrigation comes from an aquifer fed year round by the Wairau River. The water is sourced from irrigation bores with a static water level of approximately 4 metres. The irrigation pump on the bottom terrace can pump up to 150 cubic metres of water an hour and it takes about 30 minutes for the water to reach the furthermost point of the vineyard on the top terrace.

Tucked into the top terrace, the modern Operations and Administration centre was completed in 2003. It is the nerve centre for the Oyster Bay SH63 vineyard and also for the nearly adjacent Oyster Bay Wairau River vineyard development. There is also close operations liaison and equipment sharing with the nearby Oyster Bay Fault Lake vineyard.

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