Black Estate Damsteep Pet Nat 2024

Black Estate is a family-run winery in the North Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island . Located about an hour’s drive from Christchurch, it is surrounded by beautiful vineyard scenery.

Natural Viticulture That Respects the Land

One of the winery’s defining features is its unwavering commitment to organic and biodynamic farming methods that bring out the best in nature . They use no chemical fertilizers or insecticides. Instead, they care for the vineyard as a living ecosystem, letting their own cattle and sheep from nearby graze on weeds and using the animals’ manure as natural fertilizer . Another hallmark is timing vineyard work according to the rhythms of the cosmos, including the phases of the moon .

Three Distinctive Vineyards

Black Estate has three vineyards, each with its own distinctive character .

• Home: The winery’s home base, where clay-rich soils produce robust grapes .

• Damsteep: As its name suggests, this vineyard is on a steep slope, and limestone-rich soils give the wines their distinctive character .

• Netherwood: Established in 1986, this is the oldest vineyard. With no artificial irrigation, the vines send their roots deep into the earth, producing concentrated flavors .

Winemaking by “Doing Nothing”

Head winemaker Nicholas Brown is an accomplished vintner who was named New Zealand’s Winemaker of the Year in 2022 . His philosophy is “intervene as little as possible.” He uses no commercial yeasts, relying solely on the wild yeasts found in the vineyard for fermentation. The wine is also left unfiltered, preserving the grapes’ pure, vibrant character in every bottle .

The Pleasure of Visiting the Winery

The estate is home to a renowned restaurant that has earned the top “two-star” rating from a prestigious local guide year after year . Guests can enjoy dishes made with fresh organic produce from the estate’s vineyards and local farmers, paired with the winery’s acclaimed wines . There is also a B&B nestled among the vineyards, offering the special experience of having the quiet vineyard all to yourself after the staff have gone home .

Black Estate is more than a place where wine is made—it is a passionate winery where you can experience the nature and food culture of the land in all their richness.