{"id":2810,"date":"2021-01-26T07:29:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T07:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810"},"modified":"2021-01-26T08:02:11","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T08:02:11","slug":"craggy-range-hawkes-bay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810","title":{"rendered":"Craggy Range: elegance &#038; balance"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2810\" class=\"elementor elementor-2810\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0969e17 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0969e17\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-11fff69\" data-id=\"11fff69\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aff2834 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aff2834\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It\u2019s another lovely day in Hawke\u2019s Bay when I drive down the road to have a look at <strong>Craggy Range<\/strong> at the beginning of December. I\u2019m long overdue to spend some time at this beautiful wine estate, and have set aside a good couple of hours to take in everything this place has to offer.<\/p><p>I take a peek into the restaurant and then meet <strong>Michael Bancks<\/strong>, the Customer Experience Manager in the superbly appointed Cellar Door, with it\u2019s plush seating booths and warm, welcoming ambiance. Michael brings out a glass of ros\u00e9 and asks me if I know the background to the Estate and the history.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9360b0b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9360b0b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4109595\" data-id=\"4109595\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fff9869 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fff9869\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Michael Bancks<\/strong>: <strong>Mary and Terry Peabody<\/strong> are originally from the USA, eloped from there to Australia in 1965, and from there they\u2019ve had a lot of success with heavy industry \u2013 cement, trucks and waste management. The family made a group decision about creating a long-term family legacy in a business that was slightly more romantic! So the idea was born of a wine business that could be passed on to future generations, and they looked around the world at some of the great wine regions. Obviously in Australia where they were based, but also Napa and Bordeaux. There was a chance meeting with <strong>Baron Eric Rothschil<\/strong>d in Bordeaux and he talked about the New World having the best possibilities to create this legacy. There weren\u2019t inheritance tax laws, issues with appellations and the restrictions that come with those, and they could really start from scratch.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-561656a\" data-id=\"561656a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbeab61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fbeab61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Steve Smith MW<\/strong> presented this property to them. It was known as the Craggy Range Farm, and Steve had driven past many times going fishing up the valley. It his mind it was a stunning property, and a great name ready-made for a brand! There are about two hectares of Chardonnay panted here, plus our restaurant, cellar door, owners house and then the accommodation units that can sleep up to 38 people. All the finance, marketing, sales support \u2013 the admin \u2013 is run from this site \u2013 the <strong>Giants Winery<\/strong> &#8211; as well. And then we have our <strong>Gimblett Gravels winery<\/strong> and vineyards where we have 100 hectares \u2013 the single largest piece. We also have 100 hectares down in <strong>Martinborough<\/strong> which was developed in 1999-2000. However, two years ago we just invested in another 200 hectares on <strong>Te Muna Road<\/strong> \u2013 The Donald and McCloud farms, which will essentially be a continuation of our top terrace.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bdd0edd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bdd0edd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4cb6d83\" data-id=\"4cb6d83\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bc4f16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1bc4f16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"567\" height=\"378\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Mike-Bancks-2020.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2814\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Mike-Bancks-2020.jpg 567w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Mike-Bancks-2020-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-87a12c3\" data-id=\"87a12c3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75ce1cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75ce1cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WineFolio<\/strong>: Will you look to open a centre down there?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: We may open something down there in the future. At the moment we\u2019re very focussed on <strong>Hawke\u2019s Bay<\/strong> but as we grow that footprint, Martinborough becomes a bigger part of our discussion. At the moment the focus is developing the vineyards and creating some wines from those sites before we embark on any more hospitality.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6b9be07 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6b9be07\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ceee7e7\" data-id=\"ceee7e7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a76ea1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a76ea1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We focus on Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir down in Martinborough, and here in Hawke\u2019s Bay it\u2019s all about the Syrah, Bordeaux blends and Chardonnay.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Any ups and downs?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: It has always been about trying to create a global brand, so the wines can sit comfortably on the world stage. So pre-Covid we were exporting 90% of our production and we\u2019ve really focussed on the classic markets which appeal to most New Zealand exporters \u2013 the US, UK and Australia. As most of those have been in lockdown over the last 6 months, it certainly has created some challenges to the business, from where we\u2019ve been selling our wines. We\u2019ve always had a desire to have our wines served in the best restaurants around the world. So an <strong>on-premise<\/strong> focus rather than retail; and that becomes tricky when those restaurants are closed. So we are looking at where and how we sell our wines. We\u2019ve never really played much in that retail space, but this a great opportunity to evolve into that.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: What do you think is the \u2018next big thing\u2019 that the world will discover about New Zealand wine?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: At Craggy Range it\u2019s definitely about two key wines. We\u2019re really excited about the Syrah from the Hawke\u2019s Bay, and Pinot Noir from Martinborough. Sauvignon Blanc is definitely a big part of what the world knows about New Zealand, and roughly 60% of our wine is Sauvignon Blanc. So it\u2019s leveraging off the success of that in order to open doors. The vast majority or our production is Sauvignon Blanc, although we are different in that ours is from Martinborough. That\u2019s become a little bit different from the classic Marlborough story, and we do have a small vineyard there.<\/p><p>We aim to have the wines that are terroir-driven and express where they come from. With the footprint growing in Martinborough there comes a bigger story about what we do from that region. Pinot Noir is where we\u2019ve got the opportunity to really grow. Over the first 20 years we\u2019ve made some really interesting expressions of Pinot Noir from Martinborough and getting a lot of traction. Looking at Central Otago and Martinborough, they are wine regions that started roughly around the same time. Martinborough doesn\u2019t have the <strong>Queenstown<\/strong> effect. It doesn\u2019t have the adventure tourism, the beauty of the <strong>Remarkables<\/strong>, <strong>Lake Wakatip<\/strong>u.. and it\u2019s not the most southerly wine region in the world. Imagine if Martinborough had all that extra appeal attached to it.<\/p><p>When the Fine Wine classification was first created it was primarily Martinborough Pinot Noirs that were in those first 47 wines that were selected. Martinborough is to Wellington what Waiheke is to Auckland \u2013 not too far away and a great weekend trip.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-08fb901 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"08fb901\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-06576e9\" data-id=\"06576e9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aaa3ee5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aaa3ee5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"535\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Craggy-range-Cellar-Door-1-1024x746.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1976\" alt=\"Craggy Range\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Craggy-range-Cellar-Door-1-1024x746.png 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Craggy-range-Cellar-Door-1-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Craggy-range-Cellar-Door-1-768x560.png 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Craggy-range-Cellar-Door-1.png 1062w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-644f67a\" data-id=\"644f67a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3215068 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3215068\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>The Cellar Door at Craggy Range offers options relative to how deep a customer wants to dig into what Craggy Range is and what they do. The Cellar Door was renovated three years ago, with the idea to move away from the \u2018belly-to-bench\u2019 style of tasting where everyone clambers behind one counter. It\u2019s not necessarily the best environment to engage with people and to really give them a personal experience. Craggy Range looked to sit down and spend more time with people \u2013 with all tastings now seated.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-baf3dab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"baf3dab\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca054cb\" data-id=\"ca054cb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c52464 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c52464\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>There are now ten or so tables in the Cellar Door, a private Library space, but also a courtyard. With 3 different levels to the tastings and looking at both regions \u2013 with a white and a red from each region, and depending on the time of year \u2013 certainly coming into summer the rose will be in the tasting. There are such a range of styles \u2013 and colours \u2013 and plenty of varietals that make nice ros\u00e9.\u00a0Craggy Range use <strong>Tempranillo<\/strong> and Syrah for their ros\u00e9 \u2013 this is the second vintage with that combination. It\u2019s fruit driven without being sweet, dry and light in colour. They have a clear direction but open to evolution. An example would be the transition to organic farming in the vineyards \u2013 including a biodiversity planting program in Martinborough, in blocks that aren\u2019t ideal for grape growing but will be planted with natives<\/em><em>.<\/em><\/p><p><em>The <strong>Riesling<\/strong> comes from a tiny block in te Muna \u2013 well below 1% of total production. Mostly for the Cellar door and the restaurant where the food and wine matching is important. Off dry in style with about 9g\/l residual sugar to temper the acidity that comes from the cool evenings in Martinborough. Lime acidity, crunchy Granny Smith apple &#8211; juicy, aromatic, bright and crisp with a balance of acid to sugar as the key. When it\u2019s on tasting, it is the number one white wine seller.<\/em><\/p><p><em>There\u2019s also a <strong>Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc<\/strong><\/em>. Michael comments \u201cThe world has a great affinity with this style \u2013 greener, grassy spectrum\u2026 we try not to stuff it up\u201d.<\/p><p><em>They have a desire to have the wines served in the world\u2019s great restaurants, so do think about how the wines will pair with food. The <strong>Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc<\/strong> has a softer acidity with a riper, more textural palate. It will evolve to be a blend of three sites on Te Muna Rd and will be more of a regional style. <strong>Pinot Gris<\/strong> is also on Te Muna Rd but again a very small block, and again is only available at the Cellar Door and restaurant. Dry and lots of texture is what they look for. 60% whole bunch which adds the phenolics, and only 2 g\/l RS. Floral and pretty, exotic spices. Lush but not just flabby sweetness. Food friendly. Pinot Gris has often been inoffensive, easy drinking.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c11f2f1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c11f2f1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-da1b6a0\" data-id=\"da1b6a0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5f0a81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c5f0a81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Gimblett-Gravels-Winery-1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2816\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Gimblett-Gravels-Winery-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Gimblett-Gravels-Winery-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Gimblett-Gravels-Winery-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Gimblett-Gravels-Winery-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-30e0fae elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"30e0fae\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-adb6ae9\" data-id=\"adb6ae9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2913845 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2913845\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>We take to musing over what constitutes a special wine \u2013 if you were used to drinking champagne all the time, then the \u2018special\u2019 becomes <strong>Cristal<\/strong> or <strong>Dom Perignon<\/strong>. If you drink <strong>Lindauer<\/strong>, then something like a good NZ Methode would be special to you. Michael explains that for CR they have to look at the costs, then derive a price to sell the wines at. You have to make a profit, but it is also down to where you want to position your brand as well. As long as your brand matches in the tier that you are trying to play, then it should work. We talk about <strong>Longview<\/strong> where the winery was taken over and the \u2018<strong>White Diamond\u2019<\/strong> wine they sold for $15 was now on sale for $300 \u2013 so what\u2019s it worth?<\/em><\/p><p><em>Two Chardonnays arrive for tasting and from two different vineyards &#8211; one of the vineyards is the <strong>Kidnappers vineyard<\/strong>, a coastal vineyard between Elephant Hill and Clearview, out at <strong>Te Awanga<\/strong>; and then \u2018<strong>Les Beaux Cailloux<\/strong>\u2019 which translates from French as \u2018the beautiful stones\u2019 and it comes from the stoniest part of the Gimblett Gravels site.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-54f53f0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"54f53f0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-390ed24\" data-id=\"390ed24\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40d4254 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"40d4254\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MB<\/strong>: In the summer we\u2019ll see quite a big difference in temperatures \u2013 sometimes 5 or 6 degrees. Even at the Giants Winery you can feel a sea breeze come in around 3 o\u2019clock. It extends the ripening period \u2013 can be 2-3 weeks longer before ripening than Gimblett Gravels. That tends to be the first site picked in Hawke\u2019s Bay and it\u2019s usually the first few days in March, compared to the middle of the month for the coastal site. The colour of the fruit tends to be different as well \u2013 the Gravels fruit is more golden whereas the coastal Chardonnay can stay quite green.<\/p><p>We want the wines to speak of where they come from, so we\u2019re not looking for a big rich wine from our cooler site. Brighter, lighter and crisper and driven by the fruit with an acid backbone. Fermenting in a mixture of stainless steel and 500 litre oak puncheons, with only 10-15% new oak. And no malolactic conversion so we keep that malic acid, but a little batonnage just to get that texture. We talk about elegance and balance through all our wines, but it\u2019s with chardonnay that that is really pertinent. The balance of the fruit, oak, acidity working together across the palate.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a2c70e4\" data-id=\"a2c70e4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b5cdf9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3b5cdf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Gimblett Gravels \u2018Les Beaux Cailloux\u2019 Chardonnay is using 100% barrique, about 40% new oak, full malolactic conversion that gets a little richer, fuller and intense. We base our picking decisions on that backbone of acidity, and we layer our Chardonnay from there, building complexity in layers. The vines were in a central block in the vineyard \u2013 Block 18, but they had leaf roll virus that could threaten the whole site, so were pulled out and replanted with Syrah. Now, the adjacent block has been chosen for the prestige wine and is being managed for that, but that didn\u2019t happen overnight \u2013 it took a couple of years \u2013 and from 2011 to 2016 there was a gap in production of \u2018Les Beaux Cailloux\u2019. It shows real terroir in the style \u2013 with a flinty minerality and a struck-match reductive quality. We put in another 15 hectares of chardonnay in to our Gimblett Gravels site two years ago \u2013 pulled out a bit of Merlot and Malbec, and our Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay \u2013 the little sister to \u2018Les Beau Caillou\u2019 won Gold at the <strong>Hawke\u2019s Bay Wine awards<\/strong>.<\/p><p>In \u2018<strong>A Seat at the Table<\/strong>\u2019 the documentary, it was pleasing to hear <strong>Jancis Robinson<\/strong> talk about the fact that she believed that it was Chardonnay that would put New Zealand at the fine wine table.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-15caacc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"15caacc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e789986\" data-id=\"e789986\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f4b6ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1f4b6ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Buildings-1-1024x437.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2817\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Buildings-1-1024x437.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Buildings-1-300x128.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Buildings-1-768x328.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Buildings-1-1536x656.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Buildings-1.jpg 1586w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-745fd88 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"745fd88\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9609763\" data-id=\"9609763\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad98f3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ad98f3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: It\u2019s interesting, because Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is so distinctive, and also I believe that Hawke\u2019s Bay Syrah is as well. Yet arguably our best wine is Chardonnay!? However, I would temper that enthusiasm for New Zealand Chardonnay with a note of caution \u2013 that is \u2013 \u201cis it distinctive enough?\u201d It could easily pass for <strong>Grand Cru white Burgundy<\/strong> \u2013 and <strong>Kumeu River<\/strong> often does as you see in the film\u2026 but is that enough? Grand Cru burgundies already exist, so what\u2019s our point of difference there?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Exactly, but what I think, for me, is that Sauvignon Blanc has put us on the world wine table. But I think the \u2018wine table\u2019 and the \u2018fine wine table\u2019 are different areas. As with the Syrah and Shiraz conversation &#8211; we don\u2019t want to recreate Australian wines \u2013 we want to make the great wine of New Zealand that speak of where we come from. What New Zealand has done so well with Pinot Noir is that the wines are so expressive and aromatic, juicy, vibrant and really intense. But they sometimes lack structure and palate weight, and it\u2019s about evolving our New Zealand wine styles so that they keep that uniqueness, but have more complexity and layered.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: I love New Zealand Pinot Noir \u2013 I just think it\u2019s class in a glass. I love the way it is getting real finesse now \u2013 not trying to blow your head off with a bomb of fruit and upfront flavours. I also think that Syrah is starting to walk side by side along that path \u2013 with much more subtlety and aromatic nuances.<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: I think that vine age is key with Pinot, and having the understanding of the vineyard as well \u2013 how they perform and what they offer. We\u2019ve noticed over the 20 years that we have blocks that are higher performing than others, and have adjusted our winemaking to show the best of those different sites. Back I the day we used to make 5 different Pinots from 5 different sites across New Zealand. We had fruit from the <strong>Zebra<\/strong> in <strong>Bendigo<\/strong> and the <strong>Calvert vineyards<\/strong> for example. In the early days Steve Smith was sourcing fruit from vineyards that had older vine material to give the winemaking team options to make better wines.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-15f6ece elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"15f6ece\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f13de5\" data-id=\"5f13de5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12c9e18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"12c9e18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggt-Cellar-Door-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2818\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggt-Cellar-Door-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggt-Cellar-Door-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggt-Cellar-Door-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggt-Cellar-Door-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggt-Cellar-Door-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d98b61e\" data-id=\"d98b61e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-056f676 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"056f676\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our yields are quite different from our prestige wines to our family collection wines. Looking at 3-4 kilos per vine for our Family Collection, and then around 1 kilo per vine for our Prestige blocks. The winemaking is quite different here as well \u2013 with things like the whole bunch component. Looking at around 25% whole bunch for the Family Collection up to 45% whole bunch for \u2018<strong>Aroha<\/strong>\u2019\u00a0<\/p><p>The new oak component sitting at 25-35% new oak. The key component in Martinborough wines is that forest floor flavour \u2013 \u2018sous bois\u2019 as the French would say. Often that\u2019s a darker, earthier, bramble fruit profile rather than the bright, juicy red fruits. The evolution of whole bunch comes after 2011 \u2013 before that the fruit was destemmed. Intensely aromatic and pretty but with that texture to them as well. We have a variety of clones, including the gumboot clone, <strong>Abel<\/strong> \u2013 and our new plantings will include more of that Abel clone.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1609333 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1609333\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b986e79\" data-id=\"b986e79\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f796db0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f796db0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: It\u2019s notable how many times I\u2019ve picked out my favourites in a Pinot tasting and they turn out to be heavy on the Abel clone. I like its brooding, bruising nature \u2013 a swagger to it. Which is odd because I also value the ethereal qualities to some Pinot Noir too \u2013 it\u2019s like Ying and Yang. I also like the story behind how the clone came to be in New Zealand. I know a lot of people in the wine industry get tired of those stories, but it\u2019s a point of difference and of interest to others \u2013 not just international visitors, but many people who may be new to fine wine and don\u2019t know that there are even different clones of one varietal of wine, and would be fascinated to hear about it? An overseas consumer may not know what \u2018aroha\u2019 means, too<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: Te Muna translates to \u2018secret place\u2019 in Te Reo, and so we talk about that love for our secret place, and for Pinot Noir as well. The first vintage of \u2018Aroha\u2019 was 2006, and our original winemaker, <strong>Doug Wisor<\/strong>, died in a kitesurfing accident in 2004. He\u2019d made some barrel selections and put a sample on Steve\u2019s desk, labelled \u2018my selection\u2019 and said to Steve \u2018we\u2019ll have a chat about that next week\u2019. He died the next day, and Steve ended up bottling a small amount of the Chardonnay and also that Pinot \u2013 and he just put \u2018My selection: Doug Wisor\u2019 on the label. I think it\u2019s the passion he had for life and for Pinot that leads us down this path \u2013 he was a big part of the early wines we made. In his honour we created the \u2018<strong>Doug Wisor Memorial Scholarship<\/strong>\u2019 and every year a young American winemaker will do vintage at Craggy Range, then go and spend time with the <strong>Family of Twelve<\/strong> wineries. We also named the Syrah Trophy at the Hawke\u2019s Bay Wine Awards the \u2018<strong>Doug Wisor Trophy<\/strong>\u2019, and we won that for the first time this year with the \u201919 Syrah.<\/p><p>As you may have noticed \u2013 <strong>screwcap<\/strong>. For 2018 we have moved our entire portfolio across to screwcap. For the last 15 years we\u2019ve been trialling cork, screwcap and diam for the prestige wines. We\u2019ve got to the place now where we\u2019re completely comfortable that this is the best closure for our prestige wines.<\/p><p><strong>WF<\/strong>: No! I didn\u2019t notice! Maybe I\u2019m just so used to seeing screwcaps now. What does the market think though?<\/p><p><strong>MB<\/strong>: I think maybe ten years ago, the market would not have been so amenable to that change. But we\u2019re really comfortable with the quality of the wines, having done those trials. We\u2019re looking back at the wines and they\u2019re evolving better. It\u2019s not just that it\u2019s cheaper. We\u2019re a quality wine and we can guarantee it\u2019s the best closure for them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-517f9ad elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"517f9ad\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f653234\" data-id=\"f653234\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce7c759 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ce7c759\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kidnappers-Vineyard_Ocean-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2819\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kidnappers-Vineyard_Ocean-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kidnappers-Vineyard_Ocean-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kidnappers-Vineyard_Ocean-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kidnappers-Vineyard_Ocean.jpg 1306w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0e1794c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0e1794c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-835450d\" data-id=\"835450d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3d8549 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d3d8549\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of the things we\u2019re doing at the Cellar Door is branching out in terms of not just showcasing the current vintage. So with \u2018<strong>Le Sol<\/strong>\u2019 and \u2018<strong>Sophia<\/strong>\u2019 at the moment we\u2019re showcasing the \u201913 and \u201914, and can show how that\u2019s evolving. The 2019 Syrah is the first of <strong>Julian Grounds<\/strong>\u2019 red wines to be released, and kicking off with a trophy for Best Syrah. Doug was instrumental in pushing Syrah in the early days. Steve was really focussed on the Bordeaux varietals in Hawke\u2019s Bay and up until that point it was what everyone felt was best suited to the Gravels. The clone we planted in 1998 was the <strong>MS clone<\/strong> \u2013 the Limmer clone \u2013 that\u2019s believed is the one <strong>James Busby<\/strong> brought to New Zealand from Hermitage. We realised it had huge potential in the Gimblett Gravels so we pulled out some of the under-performing Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec and we\u2019ve put another 22 hectares of Syrah in the ground \u2013 across a range of clones. The Gimblett Gravels wine is from across the blocks, but \u2018Le Sol\u2019 is still having a backbone of the original Block 14 of Syrah from back in 1998.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e339a30\" data-id=\"e339a30\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59a0c99 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59a0c99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I often talk about \u2018Le Sol\u2019 as an iron fist in a velvet glove. It has intensity, power and a structure to it, but has an elegance, precision and prettiness to it at the same time.<\/p><p>Since 2016 we\u2019ve started to do a bit more work with whole bunch in Syrah as well. In \u201916 it was about 20% into \u2018Le Sol\u2019 and that evolution of how we make the wines. One of the interesting stories from the first \u2018Le Sol\u2019 that was made \u2013 Doug had wanted to keep the fruit out longer, and Steve kept saying \u201cno, you need to bring it in\u2019. In the end, Steve threw his toys and said \u201cFine do what you want, I\u2019m going to take half the vineyard and pick it and make a wine, and you can take the other half and we\u2019ll see who makes the better wine\u201d. Eventually Steve had to concede that Doug had made the better Syrah \u2013 allowing that fruit to really get that little bit of dehydration and make a big, rich, concentrated style of Syrah which captivated the world wine scene and put us on the map. Doug got a couple of years with a bit more leeway in the winery.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-15c3402 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"15c3402\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-719febd\" data-id=\"719febd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6368434 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6368434\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WF<\/strong>: Do you find the big, prestige wines are often better the day after the bottle has been opened? I reviewed \u2018<strong>Homage<\/strong>\u2019 recently and had a bit of a struggle with it at home. I\u2019d had it a couple of times \u2013 including at the winery. But I opened it and thought \u2018OK, not sure here\u2019 \u2013 then decanted it \u2013 couple of hours later thought \u201cBetter, but this doesn\u2019t grab me as one of New Zealand\u2019s greatest wines\u201d. The next day \u2013 different story.<\/p><p>What this wine is like \u2013 the \u2018Le Sol\u2019 &#8211; is what I aspire to communicate to people. Not \u2018more\u2019, just \u2018better\u2019 or even \u2018the best\u2019. And how you can get there. I mean I haven\u2019t got here overnight, of course not. I started on big jammy shiraz and supermarket plonk and sweet ros\u00e9s\u2026 but if you can spend time in New Zealand\u2019s wines and get to a point where your mind is opened to some of the nuances \u2013 the attention to detail that\u2019s gone into making them\u2026 and to be honest doing tutored tastings at quality Cellar Doors and in decent fine wine shops, events etc \u2013 you\u2019ll be in a position to try some outstanding wines at frankly pretty decent prices \u2013 on a world scale.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-20dcc13 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"20dcc13\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b7e007\" data-id=\"5b7e007\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44c1e39 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"44c1e39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7bfe684 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7bfe684\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a348d71\" data-id=\"a348d71\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-614ae23 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"614ae23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"389\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Courtyard.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2821\" alt=\"Craggy Range Lodge\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Courtyard.jpg 389w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Courtyard-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a556f32\" data-id=\"a556f32\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d641a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d641a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After our lengthy conversations about wine, I told Michael that I was keen to have a quick look around the immediate Estate grounds, and he was happy to take me on a quick trot around the accommodation options as well as the winery buildings. Exit the Cellar Door to a wonderful courtyard garden with beanbags under shady trees and a herb garden (used in the exquisite food in the restaurant) \u2013 this would be a lovely place to relax with a glass of whatever you found to be your favourite after a tasting session in the Cellar Door.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-296b01a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"296b01a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8f345cc\" data-id=\"8f345cc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae8982b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ae8982b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My background in New Zealand is in Tourism, so I am looking from a particular angle when it comes to closing the loop in a property like this \u2013 how can a couple on a special weekend away \u2013 maybe it\u2019s a special birthday, an event or just a luxury escape &#8211; settle in and just let the cares of modern life ebb away and immerse in these luxurious surroundings.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b412ef2\" data-id=\"b412ef2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcd7338 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bcd7338\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Sunrise-River.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2822\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Sunrise-River.jpg 909w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Sunrise-River-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Sunrise-River-768x503.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1abd574 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1abd574\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dc89179\" data-id=\"dc89179\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9b13e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d9b13e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"346\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Formal-Living.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2820\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Formal-Living.jpg 346w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Lodge_Formal-Living-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6643231\" data-id=\"6643231\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8efafe2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8efafe2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Happy to report that the places to stay lived up to the standard set in the Cellar Door. You\u2019d be well pleased to stroll from your cottage through the manicured grounds, over for a drink, then pop next door to the award-winning restaurant, and back to put your feet up with a view over the vineyards\/river\/private courtyard (pick your choice). Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/craggyrange.com\/accommodation\/\">https:\/\/craggyrange.com\/accommodation\/<\/a> for the options. Book ahead for the best deals and if there are events on locally.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s another lovely day in Hawke\u2019s Bay when I drive down the road to have a look at Craggy Range at the beginning of December. I\u2019m long overdue to spend &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing-about-wine"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Craggy Range: elegance &amp; balance - WineFolio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Craggy Range: elegance &amp; balance - WineFolio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s another lovely day in Hawke\u2019s Bay when I drive down the road to have a look at Craggy Range at the beginning of December. I\u2019m long overdue to spend &hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WineFolio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-01-26T07:29:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-01-26T08:02:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1272\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"714\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Walker Bell\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"David Walker Bell\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"19 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"David Walker Bell\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f\"},\"headline\":\"Craggy Range: elegance &#038; balance\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-26T07:29:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-01-26T08:02:11+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810\"},\"wordCount\":3941,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Features\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810\",\"name\":\"Craggy Range: elegance & balance - WineFolio\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-26T07:29:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-01-26T08:02:11+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg\",\"width\":1272,\"height\":714,\"caption\":\"Craggy Range\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=2810#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Craggy Range: elegance &#038; balance\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\",\"name\":\"WineFolio\",\"description\":\"A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"WineFolio\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/WF_final_black.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/WF_final_black.png\",\"width\":999,\"height\":389,\"caption\":\"WineFolio\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/wine.folio.1\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/winefolio\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f\",\"name\":\"David Walker Bell\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"David Walker Bell\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Craggy Range: elegance & balance - WineFolio","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Craggy Range: elegance & balance - WineFolio","og_description":"It\u2019s another lovely day in Hawke\u2019s Bay when I drive down the road to have a look at Craggy Range at the beginning of December. I\u2019m long overdue to spend &hellip;","og_url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810","og_site_name":"WineFolio","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1","article_published_time":"2021-01-26T07:29:57+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-01-26T08:02:11+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1272,"height":714,"url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"David Walker Bell","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"David Walker Bell","Est. reading time":"19 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810"},"author":{"name":"David Walker Bell","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/person\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f"},"headline":"Craggy Range: elegance &#038; balance","datePublished":"2021-01-26T07:29:57+00:00","dateModified":"2021-01-26T08:02:11+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810"},"wordCount":3941,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg","articleSection":["Features"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810","name":"Craggy Range: elegance & balance - WineFolio","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg","datePublished":"2021-01-26T07:29:57+00:00","dateModified":"2021-01-26T08:02:11+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg","width":1272,"height":714,"caption":"Craggy Range"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=2810#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Craggy Range: elegance &#038; balance"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#website","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/","name":"WineFolio","description":"A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization","name":"WineFolio","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/WF_final_black.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/WF_final_black.png","width":999,"height":389,"caption":"WineFolio"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/winefolio\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/person\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f","name":"David Walker Bell","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"David Walker Bell"}}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Craggy-Range-Giants-Winery_Low-with-vines.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2810"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2830,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2810\/revisions\/2830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}