The History of Our Nelson Tasman Wine Region
Renowned for its bountiful crops and orchards, Nelson's vines arrived in the mid-1800s, when German settlers planted the areas first grapes to produce wine.
Pioneering 1970s producers established the modern wine industry – with iconic names such as Seifried and Neudorf still going strong.
1841-44
Initial NZ Company settlers arrive from Europe including the first German immigrant group at Upper Moutere and Ranzau.
1868
F H M Ellis & Sons produce "substantial volumes" of wine from grapes and other fruit at Motupipi in Golden Bay for a continuous 70 years, closing in 1939.
1870
Christopher and Peter Frank produce well regarded Golden Chasselas wine in Nelson through the 1880s.
1872
Government Viticulturist Romeo Bragato finds Nelson "admirably suited to cultivation of vines and fruit trees" and "has no hesitation in advising the residents to plant vines on a large scale."
1967-76
Viggo du Fresne produces wine from his stony vineyard at Ruby Bay from Seibel and Italian varietals and becomes the second grape wine licensee in the South Island. His multi-tiered winery spilled down the hill with the grapes hauled in at the top and wine racked from barrel to barrel down to bottling and sales at the bottom.
1972
Rod Neill produces Pinot Noir (Bachtobel) along with Breidecker, Seibel 5455 and Cabernet Sauvignon under the Victory label in Stoke.
1973
Hermann and Agnes Seifried buy orchard land in Upper Moutere. A Weinsburg graduate, Hermann is the first trained winemaker in the region. Grape cuttings were sourced from Ruakura research station and Massey University (rootstock and scion wood) for grafting, varieties included Pinot Chardonnay, Riesling, Grey Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sylvaner, Gewürztraminer, Golden Chasselas, Pinot Blanc, Gamay Beaujolais, Pinot Noir (Bachtobel) and Refosco. The rootstocks available were 1202 and Rupestris St George.
1974
Seifried Estate plant first five-acre vineyard with grafted plants.
1976
Seifried harvest their first crop. The wines were released for sale from Cellar Door/Mail order and to a very limited number of restaurants and wine retailers at Labour Weekend 1976. By the end of summer all wines had sold out.
Craig and Jane Gass establish Korepo Winery at Ruby Bay growing Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
1978
Tim and Judy Finn (Neudorf Vineyards) plant a range of vinifera varieties including Pinot Noir at Neudorf in Upper Moutere. First vintage was 1981 with Chardonnay and later Pinot Noir as the major varieties.
1980
Ranzau Vineyards established by Trevor Lewis planting Riesling Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir.
Pomona Vineyard established by Andy du Fresne above Ruby Bay; plants the first 10/5 Pinot Noir in the region.
1982
Seifried purchase 18ha in Redwood Valley and extend planting of mainly Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir
Neudorf establish the first licensed vineyard wine bar in the South Island.
1983
Seifried export first wines to the UK.
1984
Glover's Winery established by Dave and Penny Glover in Upper Moutere.
1987
Seifried export first shipment to Germany.
1989
Dave Heraud establishes Waiwera Estate below the limestone cliffs at Clifton in Golden Bay, 120 years after the pioneering Ellis Bros.
1990
Greenhough Vineyard is established by Jenny Wheeler and Andrew Greenhough at the old Ranzau winery site.
1991
Himmelsfeld (meaning ‘Heavens’ field’) was planted by Beth Eggers in the Moutere with an acre each of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines.
1991-94
Nelson Region hosts the initial Southern Pinot Noir workshops at Lake Rotoiti.
1992-93
Seifried Estate build their Vineyard Restaurant, Conference and Cellar door complex.
In 1993 Gary and Valley Neale plant their Brightwater Vineyards home vineyard with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Merlot.
1993-95
Trevor and Robyn Bolitho establish Waimea Estates with their first vineyards (Annabrook, Hunter, The Hill). The first vintage is in 1997.
1994
Spencer Hill Estate produce their first vintage of wines and in the following year are awarded Champion White Wine of the Show in the Liquorland Top 100 1995.
Seifried Estate awarded Silverado Trophy for the Best Sauvignon Blanc at 25th International Wine & Spirit competition in UK for their 1993 Sauvignon Blanc.
1995-96
Seifried Estate build a new winery and relocate to Appleby.
Rimu Grove Winery established by Patrick Stowe on the coast in the Moutere Hills.
Kaimira Estate pull out kiwifruit vines and plant grapes at River Terrace Road, joining the Sustainable Winegrowing NZ pilot programme.
1997
Spencer Hill Estate win Champion Chardonnay Worldwide Mission Hill Trophy at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, London.
Middle-Earth plant vines on their Brightwater property.
1998
Waimea Estates first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc (1997) wins a Trophy at Winestate Magazine's Wine of the Year Awards.
Greg and Amanda Day establish Kahurangi Estate at the original Seifried site in Upper Moutere.
1999
Waimea Estates on-site winery in operation, and Hope Vineyard sold to McCashin's.
Brightwater Vineyards release their first vintage of wines.
2000-02
Daniel and Ursula Schwarzenbach establish Blackenbrook Vineyard with 4ha grapes and first vintage in 2004. Gravity-fed, eco-friendly winery, finished in 2006.
Woollaston Estates plant Mahana Vineyard (PNPG Riesling) and Burkes Bank Vineyard (SB, PG, Riesling)
Spencer Hill Chardonnay wins Champion Wine of the Show,at the International Chardonnay Challenge in 2000 and 2002
2000-07
Seifried Estate purchase property in Brightwater, build 200,000 m3 irrigation dam, plant 60ha including Austrian varieties Grüner Veltliner and Zweigelt.
2002-05
Wakatu Inc regain and clear reserve land in Upper Moutere, construct dam and plant first vines (Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir). This later becomes Tohu Wines.
2004-05
Kina Cliffs Vineyard planted on the Kina Peninsula.
Greenhough Vineyard’s 2002 Hope Vineyard Pinot Noir wins Decanter World Wine Awards Trophy for Best New World Pinot Noir.
Waimea Estates Hope Vineyard repurchased from McCashins.
Kaimira Estate purchase Woollaston's first vineyard (Wai-iti River) in Waimea West as the site for a new winery.
2006
Woollaston Estates winery officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark
Kaimira Estates achieve carbon zero certification for all wines under the internationally-accredited programme administered by Land Care Research carboNZerocert.
2007-08
Kaimira Estates open a new winery designed for sustainability including solar panels, wastewater treatment and recycling, computer-assisted temperature control for tanks, and full insulation for the barrel room.
The Independent Newspaper UK list Brightwater Vineyards 2007 Sauvignon Blanc as one of the "Top Ten White Wines from the New World".
Tohu Wines plant 17ha Pinot Noir and have their first commercial vintage of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir
Flaxmore Vineyard planted in the Moutere Hills.
2009
Woollaston Estates start managing a trial block organically.
2011
Woollaston Estates harvest first vintage of fully certified organic grapes.
The Middle-Earth brand established.
2012
Kaimira Estates named Sustainable Business of the Year for the Southern/Central region (Sustainable Business Network awards)
Royal Easter Show Wine Awards: Brightwater Vineyards 2009 Lord Rutherford Barrique Chardonnay awarded Champion Wine of the Show and winemaker Tony Southgate is named “New Zealand Winemaker of the Year”.
2014
Waimea Estates Classic Nelson Riesling 2013 is trophy winner at the New Zealand International Wine Show with Gold Medals awarded to Brightwater Vineyards Lord Rutherford Barrique Chardonnay 2012, Brightwater Vineyards Nelson Pinot Gris 2014, Waimea Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Waimea Classic Riesling 2013, Aronui Nelson Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2014, Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2014 and Sea Level Home Block Pinot Gris 2014.
Air New Zealand Wine Awards Pure Gold medals awarded to Waimea Estate Pinot Gris 2014, Sea Level Pinot Gris 2014, Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2013 and Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014.
2015
Aronui Wines awarded the Champion Pinot Gris trophy at the Royal Easter Wine Show Awards. The Aronui Single Vineyard Nelson Pinot Gris 2014 has received five gGold Medals since its release, and has become Winemaker Bruce Taylor’s most-awarded wine of his career.
Kaimira Estate win title of Sustainable Vineyard of the Year at the NZ Organic Wine Awards along with Gold Medals for Richmond Plains and Sunset Valley Vineyard.
Seifried Estate & Woollaston Estates Winery win Gold Medals with Winemakers Collection Sweet Agnes Riesling 2014 and Pinot Noir 2012 at International decanter.com awards.
Seifried Estate win four Gold Medals at Berliner Wein Trophy Awards in Germany for three new vintage Sauvignon Blanc and a Late Harvest Riesling.
Blackenbrook Vineyard win a Gold Medal and the Champion Trophy for Best Gewurztraminer at Bragato Awards and Brightwater Vineyards win the Pure Gold Medal for the 2014 Nelson Pinot Noir.
Three wines receive trophies at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards held in Nelson: Brightwater Vineyards win Champion Trophy Pinot Noir for the Brightwater Vineyards Pinot Noir Nelson 2014; Waimea Estate win Champion Other White Styles for the Waimea Family Estate Albariño Nelson 2015; and Seifried Estate win Champion Sweet Wine for the Seifried Winemakers Collection Sweet Agnes Riesling Nelson 2015.
2016
Falcon Ridge Estate win Alan Limmer Trophy for the 2015 Syrah at the Bragato Wine Awards and a Gold Medal for the 2015 Pinot Noir at the NZ International Wine Show.
2017
Falcon Ridge Estate awarded Trophy Champion Exhibition Red Wine for their 2016 Syrah at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards; the Master Trophy for 2015 Sauvignon Blanc at the Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters; Gold Medals for their 2015 Pinot Noir at the Global Pinot Noir Masters and their 2015 Syrah at the Global Syrah Masters in London.
2018
Falcon Ridge Estate awarded Regional Trophy for the 2017 Pinot Noir at the New Zealand Wine of the Year Awards and Gold Medals for the 2016 Pinot Noir at the Global Pinot Noir Masters and the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc at Harpers NZ Wine Stars in London.
2019
Blackenbrook Vineyard’s first-ever vintage of Pinot Blanc is awarded the Champion Trophy Medal at the New Zealand Aromatic Wine Competition.
Brightwater Vineyards awarded Gold Medal for Lord Rutherford Pinot Noir 2017 at the NZ International Wine Show, their 12th Gold Medal for Pinot Noir.
Kahurangi Estate awarded Blue-Gold Medal for Mt Arthur Reserve Riesling 2017 at Sydney International Wine Competition and Colin Harrison Memorial Trophy for Mt Arthur Chardonnay 2018.
Kono - Nelson wins Gold at Melbourne International Wine Competition for 2019 Pinot Gris.
Neudorf Vineyards and Moutere Hills Vineyards make the Real Review Top Wineries 2019 list. Also 5 gold stars awarded for four of their wines by The Real Review.
Seifried Estate Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2019 crowned NZ Champion White Wine at The New Zealand Wine of the Year™ 2019 Awards. They also received Champion Sauvignon Blanc and Best Wine: Nelson (plus Gold), a Gold for Aotea Sauvignon Blanc 2019, and Silvers for Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2019 and Seifried Nelson Gewurztraminer 2019.
Seifried Winemakers Collection Nelson Sweet Agnes Riesling 2018 awarded Best Dessert Wine trophy at the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Seifried Estate also awarded Best of Show New Zealand White at the 25th Grand International Wine Award Mundus Vini for 2019 Aotea Nelson Sauvignon Blanc and Golds for that and 2019 Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc. AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge: Golds for Aotea Sauvignon Blanc 2019 and Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2019. NZ International Wine Show: Golds for Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2019 and Seifried Winemakers Collection Nelson 'Sweet Agnes' Riesling 2019.
Waimea Estates wins Blue-Gold for Sauvignon Blanc 2017 at Sydney International Wine Competition.
Winelord win Gold Medals for Brightwater Gravels Sauvignon Blanc 2019 and Middle-Earth Pinot Meunier Rosé 2019 at NZ International Wine Show. Gold medal for Middle-Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2019 at New World Wine Awards.