Starborough is fortunate to have family owned vineyards in both the Wairau and Awatere Valleys. Although both valley’s are located in Marlborough they each have differences in soil and climate forming their own unique characteristic fruit flavours.
Our Land
The Wairau and Awatere valleys are both in Marlborough, but the differences in soil and climate keep them distinct. Each valley has its own characteristic fruit flavours.
Starborough Terrace Vineyard
Neighbouring the township of Seddon and basking on the terraces of the southern bank of the Awatere River the Starborough Terrace Vineyard is perfectly located to enjoy all the great fruit characteristics of the Awatere Valley. The soils are formed by wind-blown loess overtop of alluvial stony river gravel deposits. These soils are of moderate fertility and very free draining making them ideal for producing, rich, ripe and concentrated Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.
Starborough Terrace Vineyard
Basking on the lower terraces of the southern bank of the Awatere River, Starborough vineyard’s soils are wind blown loess over stony river gravel deposits and deeper clay subsoils. Of moderate fertility and very free draining, this soil.
Long Lane Vineyard
Located east of Starborough closer to the sea means this vineyard is cooled by the easterly wind directly off the Pacific Ocean. This cooling allows extended fruit maturity and development creating ripe fruit characters while also retaining refreshing and focused acidity.
The lower Dashwood soils on the northern bank of the Awatere River are alluvial gravel silt loams over deeper layers of river stone deposits. These soils are of low to moderate fertility and are very free draining. The interaction between the soil and this unique climate allows the production of intensely aromatic, ripe and concentrated wines. Varieties grown are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Long Lane Vineyard
Close to the Pacific Ocean and cooled by the easterly wind, the fruit development at the Jones’ Long Lane vineyard is extended for complexity of flavour.
The soil in this part of the lower Dashwood on the northern bank of the Awatere River is low to moderate, fertile and free draining, alluvial gravel silt loam over deeper layers of river stones. The interaction between the soil and this unique climate allows the production of intensely aromatic, ripe and concentrated wines.
O’Dwyers Farm Vineyard
O’Dwyers Farm is the Jones family’s original property in the heart of the Wairau Valley located in Rapaura. The soil is a very fertile, free draining, alluvial silt loam which allows the production of very healthy vine and canopy growth. This vine vigour along with the relative warmth from the valley floor create potent and powerful fruit forward Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc wines.
The Awatere Valley is generally cooler, drier and windier than the Wairau Valley. Fruit grown at O’Dwyers Farm Vineyard therefore experiences a very different climate to the two Awatere Valley vineyard locations. These differences are reflected in the very distinctive wines produced at each vineyard and when blended together allow a wide range of fruit characteristics in all Starborough wines.
O’Dwyers Farm Vineyard
The Jones family’s original property in O’Dwyers Farm in the heart of the Wairau Valley. The soil is a fertile free draining alluvial silt loam which provides potent fruit forward wines.
