Domaine Rewa wines speak of the land which sits on the 45th Parallel on the Pisa Flats in the Cromwell Basin wine region, encircled by the Pisa Range, Dunstan Mountains and the Cairnmuir Range with the Southern Alps to the West - all of which block rain to the valley.
The Domaine
45th Parallel
Foothills of Mount Pisa
The low fertility and high mineral content of the glacial gravels, sands and silts of the Cromwell Valley are particularly suited to growing grape vines and the 5.5-hectare vineyard has been planted in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Gris. The property slopes up from the road where pinot noir and chardonnay are planted, towards a terrace of riesling on the Mount Pisa foothills.
Custodial duties
Farming sustainably and holistically is part of Philippa’s heritage and from the time of purchase she took a biodynamic and organic approach to Domaine Rewa, becoming fully BioGro registered three years later in 2013. With an ethos to always give more than we take, the land and environment are constantly being improved and thereby reflected in the quality of the wine.
Biodiversity
Aside from attaining organic certification each year since, the property’s biodiversity has been boosted by planting over 500 trees and many more plants including natives, olives, oaks and a diverse orchard all supported by the presence of bees. The property’s organic waste, marc (remnants from grape pressing) along with locally sourced organic hay and manure, form a rich layer of compost applied to the vineyard annually.
An enduring memory
In search of a meaningful name for her Central Otago vineyard Philippa looked to her beloved maternal Granny Rewa – a brilliant woman who, like our wines aged gracefully and provided inspiration and courage to all around her.
DECODING
THE LABEL
THE LABEL
A small team form a tight-knit, collaborative community
Birdlife is prolific on the wider property
Domain Rewa’s Southern 45th Parallel location
All vineyard work is meticulously done by hand
Rewarewa tree - otherwise known as NZ native honeysuckle. Sadly Central Otago is too far south for this tree to flourish so symbolic simply because of its name and the fact it attracts bees.
Classic cornerstones of biodynamic principles
A thriving, diverse eco system supports bees and their hives
Grape drawings depict the varietal in the bottle
A grove of olive trees provides the oil required to fuel The French Potter
Biodynamic farming principles and practices are thoughtfully applied
Biodynamically working in rhythm with the moon
Vineyard Map
From Clay to Wine
The French Potter, aka Yannick, has seen his Anduze pots adorn the Palace of Versailles, Christian Dior’s Chateau de La Colle Noire and the Chelsea Flower Show. Immigrating from France to Central Otago, Yannick brings with him centuries-old artisanal crafting techniques and a mind full of plans that include combining his artistry with Domaine Rewa’s winemaking in the form of amphorae which were historically used for the fermentation and maturation of wine. Winemakers who use these clay receptacles claim that their wine is stable by nature and rich in tannins. They don’t require chemical preservations to ensure long life, or fining. Their natural imprint on the wine, allows the place and purity of the site to shine through.
Atelier
Building The French Potter’s atelier on the vineyard makes Domaine Rewa unique in that the 350-litre amphorae are crafted on the site on which the vines grow.
AMPHORAE
The French Potter Pinot Gris
The first highly anticipated wine from the amphorae, The French Potter Pinot Gris, was released in 2021 – a unique prototype for Central Otago. For future amphorae Yannick hopes to use local clay, sourced from the vineyard or nearby Bannockburn, noting that it would be the ultimate way of exploring and embracing terroir in the wines of Domaine Rewa and differentiating the smaller vineyard from bigger production vineyards.
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