The wines of Pyramid Valley are born in the dramatic soils and slopes of the Waikari Estate in North Canterbury and the Low Burn Estate in Central Otago.
In our view as guardians, terroir is a multi-faceted vision; the inter-relationships between soil, climate and culture. At Pyramid Valley, that is calcium rich soils, gentle slopes to the north and east, a temperate verging on cool, sunny climate, high density vineyards alongside a finely tuned farming culture.
These keystones, this approach, has entirely driven the selection, planting and development of our two estate owned vineyards, both in New Zealand’s South Island.
“There are few places where there is just the right amount of energy, ample sunshine and timely rainfall for the cool and temperate climate grape to fully, but just, ripen; in a way where the variety and the influence of the soil is entirely transparent. I am firmly of the view that our Waikari and Low Burn vineyards are two of those rare places.”
- Steve Smith MW, Vigneron and Co-Owner
Our foundation vineyard, Waikari, in North Canterbury was first planted in 2000 and developed further between 2018 and 2023. It shares a similar soil to the Côte d'Or and its limestone/clay/marl soils. Famous Burgundian soil scientist Claude Bourguignon was so enamoured when founder Mike Weersing sent him soil samples from Waikari for evaluation, he thought they came from the Côte d'Or!
Our story breathed a new chapter in 2018 when we purchased a new vineyard, the Low Burn Estate, Central Otago. Blessed with some of the oldest vines in Central Otago, and where more than 150 years of sensitive human cultivation, market gardening and irrigation has created soils of rare distinction.
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High-altitude slopes of limestone and clay, a dam built for frost and young vines, and 20,000 native plants returning the land to its pre-human state. Explore the deep history and deliberate marginality behind every bottle of Pyramid Valley.
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Some of the oldest vines in Central Otago, grown on calcium-rich loess laid down over millennia by a stream running through a sheltered valley, in soils shaped by 150 years of market gardening and goldminers' irrigation. Discover the site Brian Sheth and Steve Smith MW searched three years to find, and the three Pyramid Valley wines now born there.
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Our Place
Pyramid Valley began with a simple idea: that fine wine starts with a deep understanding of place. Follow our journey.
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Winegrowing & Vinification
From the soil beneath our vines to the wine in your glass, see how our philosophy shapes every Pyramid Valley wine.
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Sustainability
Caring for the land is at the heart of what we do. See how we work with nature to protect our vineyards for generations to come.
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