The fruit was sourced from the fertile, deep, free-draining silt-loam soils of the lower Wairau Valley. The rows are planted north-east to south-west at a 43 degree angle rather than the typical north to south. This leads to slightly greener characters in grapes on the south facing side and more tropical characters in grapes on the north facing side. The resulting wine is multi-dimensional and complex. The site is cooler than some other areas of the valley and hence slower to ripen. The distinguishing flavour is of crushed herbs - which is one often associated with the coastal Awatere region. Careful monitoring during ripening and harvesting in the cool of the evening ensures fruit of maximum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.