
The Ara Wines vineyards in the upper reaches of the Waihopi Valley are close-planted with 4,500 to 5,000 vines per hectare in the European style, to reduce yields. The vines require intensive management as the Ara vineyard can be considered a cool site, this year experiencing 18 frost events. The benefit is the long growing season with extended hang time resulting in heightened aromatics and excellent concentration. These are the building blocks that provide the potential for top quality wine that seems to be realised now. To showcase the quality, Jeff Clarke and Natalie Walsh of Ara Wines hosted a ‘Single Source Seafood Luncheon’ for invited trade and media at Martin Bosley’s in Wellington where their wines were matched to food courses.
