Esk Valley Estate

Esk Valley's story begins in 1933 when Englishman Robert Bird established Glenvale Winery in Bay View, north of Napier. The estate focused on fortified wine production until the late 1970s. In 1986, Sir George Fistonich, founder of Villa Maria Wines, purchased the property and set a new course for premium table wine production. The estate was rebranded as Esk Valley in 1988, marking the start of its modern identity. A pivotal chapter opened in 1993 when Gordon Russell took on the winemaking role, pushing the estate into new grape varieties and wine styles that earned it national and international recognition. In 2021, Indevin acquired the estate as part of the broader Villa Maria Estate portfolio.

• Founded 1933 as Glenvale Winery; produced fortified wines until the late 1970s
• Acquired by Sir George Fistonich in 1986; rebranded Esk Valley in 1988
• Gordon Russell became winemaker in 1993, transforming the estate's reputation
• Acquired by Indevin in 2021 within the Villa Maria Estate portfolio

Esk Valley operates from two distinct locations within Hawke's Bay. The original historic cellars sit in Bay View in the north of the region. A purpose-built winery constructed in 2018 sits within the Gimblett Gravels subregion, one of New Zealand's most celebrated wine-growing areas. Gimblett Gravels is defined by its free-draining Omahu Gravels soils, which stress the vines and concentrate flavors. The warm maritime climate of Hawke's Bay provides long, dry growing seasons that suit the estate's Bordeaux varieties, Syrah, and a broad range of white grapes.

• Two operational sites: historic Bay View cellars and Gimblett Gravels winery (built 2018)
• Gimblett Gravels soils are free-draining Omahu Gravels, ideal for red Bordeaux varieties
• Warm maritime climate enables consistent ripening across a wide variety range
• The Terraces vineyard was replanted in 1989 with first commercial harvest in 1991

Esk Valley produces wines across three tiers. The Terraces sits at the top as the flagship, a reserve single-vineyard expression crafted only in exceptional vintages. The Winemaker's Reserve tier represents the estate's next level of quality and complexity. The Esk Valley Range offers the most accessible entry point to the portfolio. Across all tiers, the estate grows an unusually broad variety range including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Verdelho, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Noir. Bordeaux-style red blends, full-bodied Chardonnays, and elegant Syrah are the wines for which the estate is best known.

• Three tiers: The Terraces (flagship), Winemaker's Reserve, and Esk Valley Range
• The Terraces is a reserve single-vineyard wine produced only in the best vintages
• Bordeaux-style blends, Chardonnay, and Syrah are the estate's signature styles
• Grape range spans 11 varieties including Verdelho and Chenin Blanc

Esk Valley emphasizes hand-crafted production methods throughout its winemaking process. Wild yeast fermentation, extended lees aging, and hand plunging in concrete fermenters are central to the approach. These traditional techniques aim to build texture and complexity without overworking the wines. The philosophy prioritizes elegance and sophistication, a style that Gordon Russell has consistently championed since joining in 1993. The move to the purpose-built Gimblett Gravels facility in 2018 allowed the team to refine this approach further with winery infrastructure designed specifically to support premium production.

• Wild yeast fermentation preserves site character and complexity
• Hand plunging in concrete fermenters is used for red wine production
• Extended lees aging adds texture and depth across the range
• Purpose-built 2018 Gimblett Gravels winery supports premium production goals