VARIETIES - Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer

VINEYARDS
The grapes are mainly from Alex Craighead’s property and some lease blocks, with the balance being brought in.

FERMENTATION
One night skin contact, fermented in old puncheon and amphora.

MATURATION
Aged in stainless steel. TSO2 12-30ppm (max 30ppm added)

ALCOHOL
13%

WINEMAKER
Alex Craighead & Kazuomi Fujimaki

‘Ojiisan’ (informal) means ‘uncle’ in Japanese. Ojisan is a collaborative project between Alex Craighead in New Zealand and Kazuomi Fujimaki of Grape Republic in Japan. 

Alex and his partner - Josefina Venturino - were always drawn to
low intervention wines and winemaking, there wasn’t a lot on offer in New Zealand, so they began to experiment with zero sulphur wines in 2013. In 2014 they released their first wines in Martinborough before they moved to Nelson in 2016, where they bought an existing organic winery and vineyard.

VARIETIES
Pinot Noir & Syrah

VINEYARDS
The grapes are mainly from Alex Craighead’s property and some lease blocks, with the balance being brought in.

FERMENTATION
50% skin ferment Pinot Noir, with destemmed Pinot Noir on top.
Macerated for 7-10 days, later blended with 5 day macerated fully destemmed Syrah.

MATURATION
Aged in stainless steel. TSO2 12-30ppm (max 30ppm added)
ALCOHOL 11.5%

WINEMAKER
Alex Craighead & Kazuomi Fujimaki

‘Ojiisan’ (informal) means ‘uncle’ in Japanese. Ojisan is a collaborative project between Alex Craighead in New Zealand and Kazuomi Fujimaki of Grape Republic in Japan. Ojisan is a collaboration brand between Alex Craighead and Kazuomi Fujimaki of Japan. Alex and his partner - Josefina Venturino - were always drawn to
low intervention wines and winemaking, there wasn’t a lot on offer in New Zealand, so they began to experiment with zero sulphur wines in 2013. In 2014 they released their first wines in Martinborough before they moved to Nelson in 2016, where they bought an existing organic winery and vineyard.

VARIETIES
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer

VINEYARDS
The grapes are mainly from Alex Craighead’s property and some lease blocks, with the balance being brought in.

FERMENTATION
One night skin contact on the Pinot and chardonnay, 5 day skin fermented on the Gris and Gewürztraminer. Fermented in stainless and old oak.

MATURATION
Aged in stainless steel. TSO2 12-30ppm (max 30ppm added)
ALCOHOL - 11.5%

WINEMAKER
Alex Craighead & Kazuomi Fujimaki

SENSORY
Loads of bright red fruits such as strawberries and raspberries complemented by floral notes and hints of citrus zest. Light, soft, and juicy. The mouthfeel is soft and smooth, making it an easydrinking rosé. The finish is clean and crisp with a hint of minerality. 

SWEETNESS
Dry

Ojisan is a collaboration brand between Alex Craighead and Kazuomi Fujimaki of Japan. Alex and his partner - Josefina Venturino - were always drawn to
low intervention wines and winemaking, there wasn’t a lot on offer in New Zealand, so they began to experiment with zero sulphur wines in 2013. In 2014 they released their first wines in Martinborough before they moved to Nelson in 2016, where they bought an existing organic winery and vineyard.

The Quarter Acre Chardonnay is a wild fermented, elegant wine capable of ageing gracefully. The nose is toasty and mineral with notes of peach and lemon curd. These flavours continue through on the palate, which shows excellent terroir expression and complexity.

From a 40-year-old Sauvignon Blanc planting, the oldest in the region - this wine shows a deeply aromatic nose of honey suckle, lime and jasmine. On the palate it is silky with a phenolic grip that helps balance the acidity which is long but subtle. Notes of gooseberry and white peach. This is a wine to drink now or to cellar

Complex and enticing with ripe apricot, fig, vanilla, clove and hazelnut aromas on the nose, followed by a concentrated palate offering plush texture backed by beautifully pitched acidity, finishing wonderfully long and expansive.

It's easy to taste why Ata Rangi Rose is one of our top sellers. Dry wine and refreshing, it's an interesting blend of grapes grown in both Martinborough (64%) and Hawke's Bay (36%). It's a blend of grape varieties too, which each bring structure, fruity appeal and power to the wine; 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 16% Pinot Noir, 16% Syrah and 4% Cabernet Franc.

This is dry, fresh and medium bodied. A great rose for all seasons. Serve lightly chilled.

The name Ata Rangi is Maori for dawn sky and was chosen to portray the new beginning that the start of this winery represented for founder Clive Paton in the late 1970s.

Hand picked grapes, indigenous yeast fermentation and time on lees all add the X factor to this dry Pinot Gris from Kumeu River Wines, which has a long standing reputation as the best winery in the region, for good reason.

The winery began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

We love a dry Pinot Gris and this wine ticks that box beautifully... We're sure you'll love it too.

This Sauvignon Blanc is all about precision and feel. Bright notes of green apple and fennel glide over a chalk-dusted, subtly creamy core.

A firm mineral seam underpins the wine, while layers of grapefruit zest and savoury tomato leaf build in complexity. It tapers to a dry, grainy finish with an almost tactile grip.

A razor-sharp Riesling that keeps its cards close to its chest. Flint and citrus peel edge around a core of dry, chiselled fruit, while subtle spice lingers in the background. Brisk acidity slices through, creating a taut, electric structure. Beneath it all, the first whispers of smoky sweetness and mellow honey hint at what’s to come. It wraps up with a firm, grippy finish that leaves a lasting impression.

'Deep ruby hue with inviting savoury, fruit and floral aromas including Portobello mushroom, dark Ghana chocolate, cedar, blackberry, *Bing cherry and lilac flower. The palate is also complex with layers of dark fruit, spice, and umami that are woven together by a fresh vein of acidity. The texture is vibrant and delectable with fine, firm tannins that build in the mouth giving a long, memorable finish. Playful with understated power, this quintessential Bendigo Pinot has a tangy freshness that comes from grapes grown at elevation. Intriguing and approachable in its youth, this wine should develop beautifully for 15+ years. (*Bing cherry originated in the Pacific Northwest in Milwaukie, Oregon, the town where I was raised.  This wine evokes many happy memories for me and I wish the same for you). ' 

Jen Parr - September 2023

The four Valli Pinot Noirs

The four sub regions that winemaker Grant Taylor makes Pinot Noir from each year encompass widely varying landscapes, soil types and climates from the maritime influenced weather in the Waitaki Valley Vineyard on the ironically named Grant's Road; a site that Grant Taylor owns, through to the semi continental climates of Gibbston, Bannockburn and Bendigo. 

Bendigo

Valli Bendigo Pinot Noir is made from grapes grown on the Chinaman's Terrace Vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago. This elevated vineyard was planted in 2005 between 314 metres and 374 metres above sea level with five different Pinot Noir clones; Abel, 115, UCD5, 667 and 777. The soils are shallow sandy loams with a high clay content and also include a small lower section with gravel soils.  Bendigo has a semi continental, arid climate. The vines are cane pruned and grow on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.

Bannockburn

Valli Bannockburn Pinot Noir is made with grapes grown on the Hall Vineyard, which was planted in 2000 in Bannockburn at 350 metres above sea level. This area has a semi continental climate. It is planted with six different clones of Pinot Noir; namely, 777, 115, 10/5, UCD5, 113 and 13. The soils here are wind blown loess over schist bedrock. They are deep, moderately sandy and free draining. The vines are cane pruned and grow on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.

Gibbston Valley

Valli Gibbston Pinot Noir is made with grapes grown on the Gibbston Highway, which were planted between 1999 and 2000 at between 343 and 351 metres above sea level. The Pinot Noir clones on this site are 777, 115, UCD5 and 114. Soils are alluvial loess which ranges from 0.5 to 1 metre deep over firm river gravels.

Rainfall is lower here than in Bannockburn and Bendigo. The climate is considered semi continental. The vines are cane pruned and grow on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.

Waitaki Valley

Valli Waitaki Pinot Noir is made with grapes grown on Grant's Road in the Waitaki Valley, a maritime influenced climate planted between 2004 and 2005 at 200 metres above sea level on limestone based soils. River gravels also make up some of the soil type here and vines are cane pruned and grow on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.