Vineyard Management
With a maritime climate it is essential to maintain an open canopy to allow sunlight and air to penetrate, reducing the pressure of disease. Our vineyard canopy design includes single and double cane vertically shoot positioned (VSP) vines, creating a thin, upright canopy that intercepts as much sunlight as possible. To balance vigour in some of our blocks, we are trialling spur pruning, a method of retaining a permanent fruiting cordon with two-bud fruiting spurs.
Vineyard management is driven by the desire for ripe flavours with balanced acidity and concentrated fruit. Vine density ranges from 1667 vines/ha in our 37 year old Moutere Mendoza to 4545 vines/ha on some close planted Mendoza at Rosie’s Block. Low production (1.5kg per vine for Pinot Noir, 2kg/vine for aromatics and 2.5kg/vine for Chardonnay) helps achieve the quality of fruit to create long-lived, intense but elegant wines.
Organics & Sustainability
Organics are now the very heart of Neudorf. Our desire to tread gently is reflected in every decision we make.
All Moutere blocks are now fully certified organic (BioGro 5438). This ensures that Home Block Moutere Chardonnay, Home Block Moutere Pinot Noir, Rosie's Block Moutere Chardonnay, Rosie's Block Amphora Chardonnay, Rosie's Block Moutere Albariño, Home Block Moutere Pinot Gris, Rosie's Block Moutere Riesling Dry, and Rosie's Block Moutere Riesling are all certified.
Over the past four decades we have strived to encourage healthy wines with greater disease resistance, better fruit quality, greater site expression and ultimately fewer inputs. All our mature vines are dry farmed - the home vineyard has had no permanent irrigation for 40 years. We have seen the benefits of this approach during drought years when the vines withstood the full brunt of summer’s force
It’s not just about running an organic vineyard. It’s about running our business in the best way to protect our slice of the earth. This includes native plantings along the streambed, composting our winery wastes and mulching the prunings back into the vineyard.
Climate & Conditions
“Neudorf are one of my favourite New Zealand producers, and though the wines are generally tasted blind, it is hard to separate the wonderful Finn family, and their vision writ large in their wines, from the consumption and assessment of their wines. Late 70s pioneers of Nelson, they continue to excel."
