About Gravel and Loam

The Onamalutu Gravels, vineyard and breathtaking landscape inspired Gravel & Loam to market a range of wines that truly reflect the feel of the land. This amazing environment is rich in flora and fauna, while the gravel and loam soils are perfect for producing lush and elegant wines. The ideal climatic conditions here give the grapes plenty of time to ripen and develop their aromatic power. The large difference in temperature between day and night adds freshness and complexity.

Grapes are harvested at 'the Croft Vineyard' in Burham and 'Fraher Vineyard' in Waipara. Most of the pinot noir grapes come from Canterbury, New Zealand's fourth largest wine region. Canterbury consists of two major subzones: the flat lands from the Christchurch area, with loose alluvial soils of loam on an underlayer of gravel and rolling boulders, and the more recently developed Waipara valley, where the loamy soils contain more limestone and stones. Summers are long and dry, with a high number of sunlight hours, while the climate is relatively cool. In Waipara, it can get a little warmer than on the flatlands.