Alpine Pacific Wine Company Limited
The owners of Alpine Pacific Wines - Mount Cass Vineyards, Chris & Carol Parker, purchased the business of Chancellor Estates Ltd in May 2002. Vineyards on Mt. Cass Road were planted in 1982, as the then owners and developers believed that the terroir was not too much different from Marlborough with the added benefit of the effect the Teviotdale Hills and Mount Cass have in protecting the vineyards from the cool easterly sea breezes. A further established vineyard was purchased in 1999 off State Highway 1, offering different soil types. The main wine brands of the company are "Mount Cass Vineyards" to emphasize the importance of Mt. Cass the predominant peak in the Teviotdale Hills that overlooks the Waipara Valley and "The Hanmer Junction", which associates the company to the tourist resort of Hanmer Springs.
Mount Cass Road Vineyards
The vineyards are separated into two blocks based on age of plantings.
Block One - planted in 1982 is made up of Sauvignon Blanc 6064 vines (3.3 hectares), and Cabernet Sauvignon 3890 vines (2.1 hectares).
Block Two - planted in 1995 is made up of Sauvignon Blanc 4723 vines (2.6 hectares), Cabernet Sauvignon 1437 vines (0.8 hectares), Chardonnay 3757 vines (2.1hectares), Riesling 3142 vines (1.7 hectares), and Pinot Noir 3600 vines (2.0 hectares).
Omihi Road Vineyards
One block of Pinot Noir of 3900 vines (1.6 hectares) and Chardonnay 5974 vines (3.2 hectares).
Alpine Pacific Wines also buy in finished wine from the Waipara region to supplement it volumes required for sales, including Pinot Gris and Merlot (for blending with Cabernet to produce Cabernet Merlot). Each individual variety are grown and processed to provide Alpine Pacific Wines the wines required to meet it customers requirements.
Sauvignon Blanc - in 2002 the company produced two types of wines, one of "greener/grassier" characteristic and the other a tropical fruit style.
Cabernet Sauvignon - in 2002 the fruit was harvested late in May early June to allow the full flavours of the Cabernet to develop.
Riesling - two styles are produced; a medium style (14-18 gms of RS), and a drier style (5-7 gms)
Chardonnay - a reserve style using only Mendoza clone, a lighter oak style and a normal oak style of Chardonnay.
Also a Late Harvest style is produced, which the company has found a niche market. This style will increase in volume at the expense of the normal style of Chardonnay. This wine is only produced from grapes from the Mt. Cass Vineyards site.
Pinot Noir - over the next vintages, Alpine Pacific wines will be producing only one type, which differs from the policy in the past. Blending the grapes from both vineyards will make this.
Future Developments
Tasting Room - Mount Cass Vineyards
The site located at the vineyard will give the visitor more of a wider appreciation of the industry. The initial tasting room will be small until such time the business develops in which food may also be provided.
Plantings
Due to the demand we have with Sauvignon Blanc excess Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay will either be top grafted or inter-planted. A new smaller experimental plot of 0.5 hectares will be developed and planted with Pinotage.
Nursery
A small nursery with various rootstocks has been planted and it is planned in the future to use these rootstocks to provide the area and the company Phylloxeria resistant grape vines for the future.
Contact
Phone: +64 3 3146834
Fax: +64 3 3146894
Postal
Address: 		PO BOX 120, WAIPARA, 8270
Delivery
Address: 		133 MT. CASS ROAD, RD3, AMBERLEY 8270.
Staff
Owner: Chris & Carol Parker
Manager: Carol Parker
Sales: Chris Parker
Marketing: Chris Parker
Producer Details
Opening Hours: 8.00 - 5pm.
Vineyards: 22
Production: 10000
Winery Tours: No
Facilities: Tasting Rooms.
Newsletter: No
Sales
Cellar Door: Yes
Internet: Yes
Direct Mail: Yes
Via Retailers: Yes
Wines from this Producer
Hanmer Junction Merlot Cabernet | 1999
Hanmer Junction Sauvignon Blanc | 2002
Hanmer Junction South Island Pinot Noir | 2001
Hanmer Junction Waipara Cabernet Sauvignon | 2001 | 1999
Hanmer Junction Waipara Lightly Oaked Chardonnay | 2001
Hanmer Junction Waipara Pinot Gris | 2003 | 2002
Hanmer Junction Waipara Riesling | 2002
Mount Cass Waipara Chardonnay | 2001
Mount Cass Waipara Dry Riesling | 2001
Mount Cass Waipara Late Harvest Selection | 2002
Mount Cass Waipara Pinot Noir | 2002 | 2001
Mount Cass Waipara Riesling | 2003
Mount Cass Waipara Sauvignon Blanc | 2002