A commitment to the earth beneath and the future beyond.
01 Northburn
Wine from the vineyard
Te Kano Land Northburn Cabernet Franc 2022
Te Kano Land Northburn Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Wine of an elegant and sublime nature…
The beating heart of Te Kano Estate, Northburn is the largest of our four vineyards and our spiritual home. An extensive Kōwhai regeneration project is taking place here using seed harvested from an ancient ancestor tree.. This work is also supported by some of the most unique vineyard plantings in the region.
Exploring here is always memorable. Passing underneath stacked stone towers and water races created by prospectors 150 years ago, each turn of the road reveals new discoveries and incredible vistas stretching into the distance.
Spanning 102 hectares, the sheer size of the site has offered unique opportunities to explore a wide variety of soil types, aspects and slopes, and perfectly match these to a variety of Pinot Noir clones.
The lower terraces of Northburn are comprised of gravelly glacial fans, crushed and deposited by successive ice ages. Angling towards the lake, they capture the reflected sunlight and achieve earlier ripening and softer tannins long before the higher vineyard blocks.
The mid range of terraces is comprised of primary schist, incredibly hard and almost completely bare of topsoil. These schist soils lie at elevations between 250-300 metres above sea level. The highly reflective stones are home to Central Otago’s largest single planting of Chardonnay.
The highest plateau features deep pockets of clay interspersed with rocky outcrops. These variable soils grow wines with nuance and complexity. Eons of northerly winds have deposited soils across this high terrace, resulting in a fine soil structure overlying the parent schist below. The combination of clay, primary schist and wind blown loess create 3 distinct zones between 280 and 323m above sea level.
Small parcels of Gamay Noir, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc have been planted in unique microclimates across the site, and the full potential of these plantings is only starting to unfold.
02 Jerome
Wine from the vineyard
Te Kano LandBannockburn Chardonnay2021
Te Kano LandBannockburn Pinot Noir2021
Fine grained, tightly structured wines with grace and finesse…
Named after the matriarch of the Lloyd Family, Jerome stands 261 metres above sea level and comprises 4.6 hectares of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.
With the initial plantings taking place in 2002 these are some of our oldest vines, and the sandy, devigourating soils have forced them to send roots ever deeper on their quest for water. This exploration of the terroir makes these wines some of the most typical of place, with a character that is absolutely unique and instantly recognisable.
Small berries and bunches define the Jerome wines, with a higher fraction of skins to juice resulting in powerful, concentrated and aromatic wines. The Pinot Noir is characterised by a defined tannin structure and lifted berry fruit character. The aromatic white wines show incredible concentration and ripe fruit flavours.
Jerome’s structured tannins make it a key component of the Life Series and Bannockburn wines, bringing a focus and aging potential that is the hallmark of the Te Kano style.
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03 Eliza
Wine from the vineyard
Te Kano Life Blanc De Noir 2023
Te Kano Land Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2021
Bright and supple wines, with plushness and depth…
Named after the daughters of the Lloyd family and home to our incredible cellar door, Eliza straddles an alluvial terrace from the edge of the famed Felton Rd to the banks of the Kawarau River.
The initial plantings on this 4.5 hectare block were established in 2004 and range from 199 metres to 225 metres above sea level. Deep silt and clay based soils washed down from the Bannockburn sluicings give way to alluvial gravels, and lend themselves to wines with large berries and bunches, characterised by soft supple tannins and juicy black cherry notes.
Bannockburn’s thyme covered hillsides contribute a distinct dried herb note to the rich flavours of dark cherry and plum typical of Pinot Noir grown on clay soils. Eliza provides an essential component of the Life Series, lending generosity and depth to the structure of Jerome and the minerality of Northburn.
Eliza has been farmed organically since 2017, and is the first of our vineyards to achieve full organic certification.
With depths of mineral sophistication, delicately perfumed…
Located in North Otago, our Waitaki vineyard was planted in 2007 and comprises 11 hectares of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewurtztraminer and Riesling.
This vineyard stands 200 metres above sea level and benefits from cooling sea breezes and a slightly higher rainfall than Central Otago. Soils in the region are derived from limestone deposited over 200 million years ago and uplifted by major tectonic movement. The braided Waitaki River has added layers of silt and gravel interlaced with limestone, creating unique soils perfect for fine Pinot Noir and aromatic white wines.
Pinot Noir wines of the Waitaki valley are typified by lifted, elegant aromatics, mineral length and delicate, fine-grained tannins. The white wines from the region show exceptional poise and aging potential, with floral and citrus notes combining with a chalky minerality.
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