te Pa

te Pā winery is located on the Wairau Bar in Marlborough, which is New Zealand's earliest known settlement. Before the MacDonald family started te Pā in 2003, their family history was already deeply rooted in the Wairau Bar for over 800 years. The location is the ideal place to grow Sauvignon Blanc, nestled between the river to the south, and Cloudy Bay on the eastern boundary. These two bodies of water mediate the temperature and encourage air flow throughout the vineyards. The effect is more even ripening of the grapes, a lower diurnal shift, and decreased disease in the vineyards. The variety of soil types range from loam to alluvial to sand/silt and promote a healthy drainage for the vines.
Sauvignon Blanc vines were first planted in 2003 with the inaugural release in of the first wine in 2011. Now with over 400 hectares under vine, the family has expanded their vineyards to Awatere Valley near Seddon, which is a cooler terroir than Wairau Bar. The winery grows Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. The vineyards are sustainably farmed.