Clevedon Hills Estate covers forty acres on the southern slopes of the Clevedon Valley, facing northwest. It is situated in a microclimate that traps the heat, between hills to the east and native bush to the west.
The first vines were planted on August 8 1998. While nine varieties found their way into forty rows, some were purely on an experimental basis. That number has reduced to five. The exciting result was that the Shiraz, or Syrah as we have called it, immediately proved compatible and has already produced exceptional fruit.
The year 2000 saw some of the best weather in the Auckland region for many years and our first wine reflects this.
In 2001 some older Syrah vines were transplanted and these contributed to the 2003 production, doubling the 2000 quantity and adding to its quality.
The first crop of Merlot was from 2002 and we continue to experiment with Barbera, Pinot Noir and Arneis with promising results.
The second vineyard was established in 2003 and further plantings are likely to follow.
Clevedon Hills is not so much a dream as a vision that took fifteen years to eventuate. Here's to the next fifteen!
Leighton Smith
