oaskOak Estate is the Hawke’s Bay wine venture of Stefan and Nadine Loetscher, who purchased the former Salvare operation on Ngatarawa Road. The Loetschers were restaurateurs previously, owning ‘Pure’ in Herne Bay, Auckland, and their decision to create a more family-oriented lifestyle brought them to Hawke’s Bay. They opened their new business in September this year and their point of difference besides winegrowing is serving good food and selling artisan food products at the cellar door and kitchen. There are plans to build a full kitchen within the next 12 months.
The 3.5 ha vineyard is planted to clone 15 Chardonnay, and the Loetschers will plant another 1 ha of Chardonnay in 2018. There is another hectare available and the intention is to add more white varieties. The Loetscher family are all hands-on in the vineyard, the 6 y.o. daughter working with the vines, and the 9 y.o. son also working in the cellar door. For their first release, they have 2017 Rosé, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, the latter from the ‘Home’ block, and a 2015 Merlot and Syrah, the other wines made from fruit or the wine sourced from nearby vineyards. This arrangement will continue for the immediate future. Ant Mackenzie is the contracted winemaker, making the wines at the Askerne facility. Here, I review the first Oak Estate releases. For more information, email: [email protected]
