EIT Hawkes Bay

Geoff Wright is owner, grower and winemaker for Wrights Vineyard & Winery, an organic operation located in the Ormond Valley.

Wright started off as a student at the Tairāwhiti Polytechnic Certificate of Viticulture and Winemaking programme back in 2000. Although a chartered accountant, he found his real passion was with the land. Covering an area of thirty acres, twenty five acres is planted in grapes, with the rest growing olive trees and cherries on the property.

His wife Nicola also shares his passion and is sales and marketing manager for the business and currently sits on the Gisborne Winegrowers committee.

Their intention was to open a boutique cellar door which is available to wine buffs now and they continue to plan the next stage of their dream, a winery made from strawbales and their own home using the same materials. They hope to include the generation of their own power, wind solar system and composting toilet onto the property in time.

Geoff explains that the programme at the Polytech was really balanced with the inclusion of theory to support the very practical aspects of the study. “The fact that the programme only took you out of work for a year was fantastic, and gave you a substantial overview of viticulture and winemaking” comments Wright. He goes onto explain the other benefits of the programme was that you networked with like-minded people, the classes were small providing good interaction and the course was fun as well.

“Since I completed the Certificate, the Polytech have continued to support us, they have been so helpful and I get the feeling they do this because they are passionate about the region and want to see the wine industry here succeed”, comments Wright.

This last vintage saw a ten tonne production at Wrights Vineyard & Winery specialising in methode traditionnelle from chardonnay but also has planted an array of varieties including Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Semillon and Syrah. Along with that Wrights Vineyard is fully certified under ‘AsureQuality’ export certification.

Wright is taking his role as guardian of the environment really seriously and practices bio-dynamics on their vineyard.