Hawkshead
In the midst of the Valley of Vines at Gibbston, Denis Marshall and Ulrike Kurenbach have established the Hawkshead Vineyard. The first block of 1.5ha was planted in the spring of 2001, and a further 1.5ha in 2002, making the area planted in pinot noir just 3.00ha. These blocks were some of the first in Gibbston growing on over 80% rootstock, being 3309, RPG, and 101/14. The vines are spaced 2.4 metres between the rows and 1.28 metres between plants, creating a plant density of 3255 vines per hectare. At this spacing they budget on 1.6 kg of fruit per vine.
Today Hawkshead is a ‘Single Estate’ Vineyard on State Highway 6, just 25 km east of Queenstown as the valley gently falls to the Kawarau Gorge. Located on the 45th Latitude the Hawkshead Vineyard enjoys a near continental climate. Warm days and cool nights evoke memories of Burgundy and our grapes, on the north-facing slopes benefit from all year sunshine. A long dry autumn, accompanied by warm daylight temperatures, ensures slow ripening and intense flavour development for high-quality fruit.
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