The softly rolling Moutere Hills are formed from the weathered gravels of an ancient river system, which originally reached from St Arnaud to the coast. The gravel threaded clay soils are reknown for producing wines of richness and texture. The Pinot Noir is deeply flavoured with fine tannins and elegance. The Chardonnay is complex, multi faceted with excellent structure. Winemakers also produce excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and more recently Pinot Gris.

Torrent Bay founding family, the Drummonds hold firm to their belief that the rich fertile soils surrounding the Motueka township, coupled with balmy sea breezes and some of New Zealand's consistently highest sunshine readings are the ideal climate in which to craft their aromatic wines. Grapes from their vineyards in the nearby Moutere add a further dimension to their range of classic aromatic varieties.

Next door to the scenic adventure playground of the Abel Tasman National Park, their vineyards produce high quality Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Viognier, both for the Anchorage label and the company's export label Torrent Bay.

The first of the vines were planted by the Drummond family in the spring of 2000 in rich river loam beside the mouth of the Motueka River with expansion since then to take advantage of terroir in surrounding fertile horticultural areas, already renowned for hops, black currants, raspberries and a variety of pip and stone fruit. Vibrant, fertile river flats with loamy, sandy soils ensure vigourous growth with careful vineyard management in the Motueka and Riwaka vineyards while the heavier but no less fertile soils in the Moutere are coupled with incredibly hot temperatures, combine to produce a mouth-filling array of aromas and flavours in the resultant wines.

Pioneers in horticulture and agriculture in the region since the 1800s, the Drummonds now use their land-savvy and more than a century of local knowledge passed down from generation to generation to produce their own wine savvy.

Winery Data

Winery Location: Motueka, NZ

Winemaker: Justin Papesch

Varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris

Case Production:

Fact Sheets

Pinot Gris 2009

Chardonnay 2009

Pinot Noir 2008