Butterworth

VINEYARD

On a gentle north-facing slope near Tasman Village, you’ll find Blackenbrook Vineyard, a small volume, high quality winery on a 20ha block owned by the Schwarzenbach Family. Blackenbrook Vineyard produces seven grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and the Italian red variety Montepulciano. Blackenbrook is accredited by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

It is a winery designed by a working winemaker. In this region, vines grow into Moutere clay soils and the mild maritime climate sweeps over the hillsides. The vineyard was first planted in the spring of 2001 and the first vintage was launched in 2004. Healthy soil, strong vines and sustainability are the focus of the vineyard management. Daniel, also the winemaker, strives for minimal interference with natural processes, which has resulted in pure and genuine wines. Most of Blackenbrook’s white varieties are completely unfined and vegan.

WINEMAKER

Born in Switzerland but growing up in New Zealand from the age of nine, Daniel’s first career was as a medical chemist and microbiologist both here and in the UK. But in the early ’90s he followed his heart, returning home to study viticulture and winemaking at Lincoln University in Canterbury.

With qualifications under his belt, he chose to seek out some of Europe’s finest winemakers to soak up their knowledge and generations of experience. He worked in Austria for respected Riesling producer Weingut Hirsch and Weingut Engelhof in Germany as well as Swiss winemaker Georg Fromm who has a huge reputation for Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir both in Switzerland and in their Marlborough vineyards here in New Zealand.

WINES

Born in Switzerland but growing up in New Zealand from the age of nine, Daniel’s first career was as a medical chemist and microbiologist both here and in the UK. But in the early ’90s he followed his heart, returning home to study viticulture and winemaking at Lincoln University in Canterbury.