Cherry Orchard Wines - History and Location

Cherry Orchard vineyard is located in Bannockburn, Central Otago at the foothills of the Cairnmuir ranges. The site is especially frosty and stony, draped across an alluvial terrace of Lime Creek Gully. It proved to be a difficult location to establish a vineyard, but the challenging nature of this terroir is the very thing that gives our wines such depth. 

Our wine label takes its name from the cherry orchard it sits beside. As with our cherries, it is the dry, hot summers and freezing cold winters that give the great qualities to our wines.  

Cherry Orchard is one of the smallest single vineyard sites in Bannockburn. We grow three varieties; Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. We produce small volume, handcrafted wines that are truly unique.

 

Bannockburn

Bannockburn has quickly established itself as one of the leading wine producing regions of New Zealand. The climate of Bannockburn epitomizes that of the Central Otago wine region and claims some of the highest temperatures and lowest rainfall in the region – perfect for growing Pinot Noir. The area is limited by geographical constraints to relatively small outputs, and most of the vineyards here boast boutique, high quality wines with typically small volumes of grapes. Bannockburn’s proximity to Queenstown is considered to be one of the contributing factors for the region's ability to have rapidly gained recognition for the quality of the wines produced here.

Several internationally renowned vineyards exist within a small radius producing wine that is distributed often to an international base. Domain Road, Akarua, Bannock Brae, Felton Road, Mt.Difficulty, Kingsmill, Terra Sancta (formerly Olssen's) and Desert Heart are among a few of the internationally known vineyards in this area.

For more information on Otago's wine regions please visit: http://www.nzwine.com/regions/central-otago/

 

Our Viticulturist - James Dicey - B.Com, LLB, Grad Dip B.V. & O.

After training and working as a chartered accountant for a decade, James retrained in viticulture at Lincoln University and has been growing grapes ever since. James owns the Inlet vineyard with his wife Odelle Morshuis whose art is featured in the Cellar Door. James is the viticulturist for Mt Difficulty Wines amongst others.

 

Our Winemaker - Brendan Seal

Brendan Seal has had extensive experience in Central Otago having worked in various wine making roles for Chard Farm, Mt Difficulty and Mt Edward since his first vintage in the region in 1999.

Overseas experience includes many vintages producing Pinot Noir in Oregon and California and aromatic white wines in Alsace. He has held head wine making roles in Cyprus and the United Kingdom.

The Writer’s Block was launched as his own label of single vineyard wines in 2009. Since 2012 he has also run the Packspur Wine Studio, a small volume winery in Central Otago that specialises in premium contract wine making services. He consults for a handful of Central Otago wine producers.

Brendan has an M.A. in history from the University of Otago. His research thesis examined the formative years of the New Zealand wine industry. He also teaches wine knowledge as part of the University of Otago Summer School paper; Introduction to Wine Business