MARTINBOROUGH, WAIRARAPA: Oraterra represents the new chapter for one of New Zealand's most revered wine production teams: the group of six behind Oraterra began their journey together at Martinborough's Dry River.
In 2022, following a decade of working together, winemaker Wilco Lam, along with general manager Sarah Bartlett, assistant winemaker Tom de Hamel, and viticulturists James Pittard, Michelle Mills and McKenzie Smith, left their post at Dry River, following a change of ownership.
Their mission was to continue pursuing their direction of crafting expressive Martinborough pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot gris. The site they found – the four-hectare McCreanor vineyard on Princess Street – was planted in the 1980s and had supplied incredible fruit to wineries like Escarpment. It was being run by a young local couple who were looking to sell.
Following the purchase of the vineyard, a new project was born: Oraterra, or golden earth.
Testament to Wilco and team's reputation for lively, expressive, detailed wines of world-class calibre, Oraterra is centred on biodynamic and regenerative farming practices, natural yeast fermentation and very little winemaking intervention. Each label represents Wilco's visual interpretation of how the wine tastes, beautifully brought to life by local artist Leanne Williams.
We're extremely excited and privileged to offer Oraterra's inaugural release. With the first shipment due on Australian shores in late May, we are now offering pre-arrival allocation orders.
Stock is extremely limited and has already sold out in New Zealand – so please be quick.
