Mt Difficulty - A reflection of place

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A REFLECTION OF PLACE



The unique microclimate of the Bannockburn area is partially created by the presence of Mount Difficulty which overlooks the southern Cromwell basin, and is the namesake of Mt Difficulty Wines


MT DIFFICULTY

OUR STORY

Mt Difficulty Estate is comprised of six vineyards; Templars Hill, Pipeclay Terrace, Menzies Terrace, Mansons Farm, Target Gully and Long Gully – total plantings of 40 hectares protected by the rain shadow of Mount Difficulty in Bannockburn, Central Otago. The region provides New Zealand’s only “continental” style climate combined with unique soils ideally suited for growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.

Molyneux, Mansons Farm, Verboeket Estate and Full Circle until 2004 when Mt Difficulty Wines Ltd was formed, and the majority of the individual vineyards passed into the ownership of the company.

It all began in the early 1990’s, when the owners of five newly-planted vineyards in Bannockburn shook hands and decided to work together to produce wine under one label, Mt Difficulty. The agreement between the original “Gang of Four” was bound only by a gentlemen’s handshake,

As a result, Mt Difficulty Wines Ltd now owns some of the oldest vineyards in the Bannockburn sub-region of Central Otago in New Zealand’s rugged South Island. The vine age gives our wines, particularly the Pinot Noirs, extra complexity and concentration. The Bannockburn area is internationally recognised as one of the few places in the world outside Burgundy where the pernickety Pinot Noir variety has found a home. Parts of New Zealand and cooler areas on the western seaboard of the United States are the only other

and remained in effect until 2004. The handshake bound the owners of

regions where Pinot Noir seems to truly flourish.


The unique microclimate of the Bannockburn area is partially created by the presence of Mount Difficulty which overlooks the southern Cromwell basin, and is the namesake of Mt Difficulty Wines. Mount Difficulty is integral in providing low rainfall and humidity for the region. Bannockburn enjoys hot summers, a large diurnal temperature variation and long cool autumns; conditions which bring the best out of the Pinot Noir grapes. These conditions, along with soils which are ideal for viticulture, provide an excellent basis not only for Pinot Noir, but also for Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay. The unique soils are a mix of clay and gravels, but all feature a high pH level; sweet soils are tailor-made for the production of quality wines.

THE GANG OF FOUR.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS PARTICULAR TO THEIR SITE.


SUSTAINABILITY

A GREEN MANIFESTO

The Mt Difficulty vineyards are managed in a way that reflects our commitment to be as gentle with the environment as we possibly can. We use no harsh insecticides or herbicides, preferring softer alternatives instead, many of which are organically certified. We have chosen to use the SWNZ framework for sustainability as a foundation on which to build, targeting a higher level of sustainability than is required by the initiative. Our stateof-the-art waste water treatment plant and the living roof on our new barrel hall are both testament to our intention to do all we can to protect and enhance our environment, both now and in the future. The sensitivity of our attitude towards the environment is ever evolving: currently, we are considering a more organic approach to viticulture. While many current operational systems

are strictly organic by definition they do not, at this time, take into account carbon losses through cultivation. This process of trying to remain organic while also reducing our carbon footprint is the area of viticultural management we are trying to resolve. The Mt Difficulty Winery was designed as a low energy input winery. The entire winery is housed in insulated buildings, and our new barrel hall is sunk below ground level to enable even more stable and lower energy inputs. Any tanks which are housed outside are also insulated. Our policy has always been to build in energy efficiency for the long term and to seek out innovative technology to keep us ahead of current practice.


DOWNSTAIRS

UPSTAIRS

The Mt Difficulty Winery and Cellar Door - commonly referred to as “Downstairs” and “Upstairs” In late 2000 a new winery was commissioned among the vines in Templars Hill vineyard on Felton Road. The winery was specially designed to produce quality Pinot Noir, but included separate facilities for other varieties and a specific barrel hall for Chardonnay. The building was completed just prior to Christmas 2001 and included an on-site Cellar Door which received many enthusiastic visitors over the busy summer holiday period. As the Mt Difficulty brand became better known, the small Cellar Door outgrew its premises in the winery and a new architecturally designed building was built high above the winery on Templars Hill. This building opened in February 2003 and

visitors were able, for the first time, to enjoy a glass of wine over a light platter lunch in the small café while marvelling at the views. Today the Cellar Door and Restaurant at Mt Difficulty Wines showcase the Mt Difficulty brand to thousands of New Zealand and international visitors annually. Though still small, the café has evolved to become a destination restaurant, with people travelling here for the food as well as the wine. Our popularity with diners has necessitated yet another extension, with a new wine tasting area having been opened in May 2012. We anticipate that this will improve the experience of wine enthusiasts and diners alike.


OUR WINE

COLLECTION

BANNOCKBURN

GROWERS SERIES

The grapes for the wines that carry the

The Growers Series first appeared in 2011

Mt Difficulty Bannockburn label are subject

with the release of Mt Difficulty Growers

to two strict criteria: they are managed

Series Packspur Pinot Noir 2009. The

under the umbrella of the Mt Difficulty

label allows us to showcase the terroir of

viticultural team and must be sourced from

different sub-regions, the first of which

vineyards situated in Bannockburn, south

is Lowburn; and soon to be followed by

of the Kawarau River. We believe this to

Tinwald Burn, Bendigo and Gibbston

be an area with very special qualities for

Valley. These sites are situated outside of

growing grapes, and that the management

Bannockburn where traditionally the grapes

of the vineyard is reflected in the quality of

for the wines that carry the Mt Difficulty

the ultimate product.

label have traditionally been sourced.


SINGLE VINEYARD

ROARING MEG

Mt Difficulty Single Vineyard wines are

Roaring

produced from the best sites on our

from grapes grown on Mt Difficulty

Bannockburn properties. With variations

Wines vineyards that do not qualify as

in

grape

Mt Difficulty Estate wines. All of these

clones the sites each have significantly

satellite vineyards are located in the

different features. The philosophy of the

Cromwell basin and all are cared for

Single Vineyard wines is to display the

on a day to day basis by Mt Difficulty’s

characteristics that are particular to their

viticultural team. At almost 80 hectares,

terroir, thus each Single Vineyard wine

they make up close to half of the vineyard

tells the unique story of its own place.

area available to Mt Difficulty Wines.

soils,

microclimates

and

Meg

wines

are

produced


OUR

PEOPLE

MATT DICEY

B.Sc & M.App Sc

JACQUI ROSE-ANDERSON

Wine Maker | General Manager

Cellar Door Manager

Matt (aka Le Grand Fromage) has a lifelong association with the wine industry, and is a fourth generation vigneron. After achieving a Masters Degree in Oenology and Viticulture Matt spent four years gaining experience overseas. He returned to Bannockburn in 1998 to try his hand at the ultimate winemaking challenge – making the best wines possible in a region with infinite potential. Matt’s

Jacqui worked in wine retail before she arrived at Mt Difficulty in 2003. She has been the first point of contact for our mailing list customers and members of ‘The Pinot Club’ and the ‘Not-So-Difficult Wine Club’ for many years, but these days shares the role with all of the team at the Cellar Door. On Tuesdays you’ll sometimes get her out of office message; she’ll be on the Cromwell

winter passion is skiing with his family, while summers bring jet boating and mountain biking “adventures”.

golf course.



73 Felton Road Bannockburn

+64 3 445 3445 cellar.door@mtdifficulty.co.nz

mtdifficulty.co.nz @mtdifficulty

/mtdifficulty

Photo credit: Mike Williamson

Central Otago


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