Subregion: Omaka Valley
Valley: Southern Valleys, Wairau Valley 
Region: Marlborough

Grows: Pinot Noir 
Planted: 2009
Wine: Blank Canvas Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir 

Growers: Sutherland, Healy and Beattie families 
Viticulturist: Nigel Sowman  

The stunning Settlement Vineyard in the Omaka Valley microregion of the Southern Valleys is home to our Blank Canvas Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir. We are lucky enough to have a small one hectare parcel of Clone 777 Pinot Noir entrusted to us to craft this small batch single vineyard expression. The block is imaginatively dubbed 'Back Block', with its north facing slope planted to high density of 3788 plants/ha.  

Soils and Climate: Omaka is one of the warmest subregions in Marlborough and as a result produces some of the most thickest skin Pinot Noir which results in an abundance of natural fruit tannin. The soil profile on the hillside consists of a layer of shallow topsoil from tight packed wind-blown loess, over low vigour clay loams.

Vineyard: The vineyard was planted in 2009 and is organically managed and certified (BioGro) having started organic conversion in 2013. The close planting and hillside means much of the labour is done by hand. The Back Block which our Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir is from is planted to 100% Clone 777, a perfumed Dijon clone that delivers naturally small bunches. 

Grower Philosophy: The three families behind Settlement Vineyard are deeply committed to sustainability and an organic philosophy with an overarching specialization in growing world-class Pinot Noir fruit.