Esk Valley
Brand Description
Esk Valley began forging a reputation for its innovative and quality wines throughout Hawkes Bay, led by its unwavering desire to create honest, quality wine with an artisanal, hands on approach to winemaking.
With styles made to elevate the everyday with the simple pleasures of wonderful food, good company and great wine, Esk Valley wines showcase the best of Hawkes Bay.
Location of Vineyard
Hawkes Bay
The region is one of New Zealand’s oldest for grape growing and the second largest, with vineyards concentrated around the urban centers of Hastings and Napier.
The region offers myriad soil types and a long, dry growing season ideal for ripening a wide range of grape varietals. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the major grape varietals planted across the region.
Marlborough
New Zealand’s largest wine region is world-famous for its crisp, fruit-driven Sauvignon Blanc. Sheltered by high country to the west, south and parts of the east, and open to the Cook Strait in the north, Marlborough experiences bright, chilly winter months followed by long, dry summers.
An extensive glacial braided river system has deposited deep, free-draining soils across the various sub-regions, creating the perfect environment to successfully grow a wide range of grape varieties.
Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy
Winemaker Gordon Russell has headed up winemaking at Esk Valley since 1993 and began breaking boundaries for new grape varieties and wine styles previously untried in Hawkes Bay.
From the original historic cellars in the north of Hawkes Bay to Esk Valley’s new purpose-built winery within the confines of the renowned Gimblett Gravels, Esk Valley continues to produce a collection of wines regarded amongst New Zealand's finest. Utilizing a very traditional and hands-off approach including concrete fermenters for the finest parcels of red grapes, Esk Valley continues to build on its reputation.
Winery Profile
Winemaker: Gordon Russell
Founded: 1986
Acclaim
— acclaim for 2021 Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc from Decanter World Wine Awards, Jun 2022
— acclaim for 2020 Esk Valley Red Blend from Planet Grape, Apr 2022
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