Growing Wine

Plume

The Māori translation of Plume, or feather, is Raukura. It is a significant adornment worn by people of high ranking, prestige, or mana. It is not for just anyone. It is special, it is ornamental and should be treasured.

The Plume range looks to bring a different perspective to fine wines. The core idea comes from the link between the feather and the land, the people and the environment. It’s about fine attention to detail, where simplicity and complexity bathe in beauty.

Sit back and savour the rich notes and let the subtle flavours take flight on your palate.

The wine creation utilised many traditional winemaking techniques to enable a true expression of terroir. Made only in years of outstanding harvest and usually bottle aged for release.

The Raptor

The Raptor is a generic term for all birds of prey. These are birds that primarily hunt and feed on vertebrates that are large, relative to the hunter. Additionally, they have keen eyesight for detecting food at a distance or during flight, strong feet equipped with talons for grasping or killing prey, and powerful, curved beaks for tearing flesh.

There are four species of raptors that are native to New Zealand (one of which is the falcon). These superior birds fulfil a unique role with New Zealand’s ecosystem making them vital to the maintenance of a healthy New Zealand environment.

Our Raptor range of wines align with the birds of prey as (like the birds) they are superior examples. Lake Chalice winemaker Chloe targets particular small parcels of unique fruit, sometimes from a single vineyard, that stand out as excellent examples of a particular variety displaying clear varietal expression.

The Falcon

New Zealand’s endemic falcon – the Kārearea – is proudly displayed on every bottle of Lake Chalice wine. A native to the Marlborough region but rarely seen, Kārearea favour the remote mountains and foothills of the Awatere and Wairau valleys of Marlborough.

Once prolific to the region, today the Kārearea are threatened due to introduced pests, persecution, and electrocution. To help prevent further damage to such a magnificent and endemic raptor, Lake Chalice Wines contribute towards the Falcon Trust to help preserve and rehabilitate New Zealand’s indigenous birds of prey.

The Falcon range is the mainstay and signature of the Lake Chalice portfolio. Representing signature flavours unique to our vineyards expressed in a wide range of grape varieties.

The Nest

The nest is a safe, comfortable environment where the bird will lay and incubate its eggs and raise its young.

Careful selection of what materials will be utilised to construct such a thing as well as site selection are imperative to the successful outcome of the small bird hatching, feeding and ultimately flying away.

The nest is the starting point for the young and a place to visit for its elders.

Our Nest range of wines are created utilising careful selection of vineyards from sites across Marlborough. The wines offer the renowned Marlborough wine experience with expressive flavours and an approachable style. For some, this is where they will start their love of Lake Chalice, as these wines are readily available and affordable.