Rippon

The land at Rippon has been in the Mills family since 1912, when Percy Sargood, great-grandfather of winemaker Nick Mills, purchased a high-country station on the western shores of Lake Wanaka. The vineyard's name traces back even further, to Emma Rippon, an ancestor who was the first in the family to take the surname Mills. Rolfe Mills, inspired by the schist-slope vineyards of Portugal's Douro Valley during his service as a submarine lieutenant in World War II, began experimental plantings in 1975 and committed to commercial viticulture in 1982; the first commercial vintage was released in 1989. Lois and Rolfe Mills are recognised as part of the founding pioneers of the modern Central Otago wine industry. Nick Mills, their son, took over winemaking in 2003 after training in Burgundy at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Albert Mann, and Domaine JJ Confuron, immediately beginning the transition to biodynamic farming.

• Family ownership of the land dates to 1912; experimental plantings began 1975, commercial viticulture committed in 1982, first commercial vintage released 1989
• Vineyard named for Emma Rippon, a maternal ancestor who was the first in the family to take the surname Mills; Tinker's Field named for Rolfe Mills
• Rolfe Mills was inspired by Portugal's Douro Valley schist-slope vineyards while serving as a submarine lieutenant in World War II; Lois and Rolfe Mills count among the founding pioneers of the modern Central Otago wine industry
• Nick Mills (fourth generation) took over winemaking in 2003 after training at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Albert Mann, and Domaine JJ Confuron; he immediately initiated biodynamic conversion

Rippon's 15-hectare vineyard sits at approximately 380 metres elevation on the western shore of Lake Wanaka, with a north-facing escarpment that maximises sun exposure during the growing season. The site lies on the 45th parallel south, within Central Otago, New Zealand's only region with a true continental climate. The soils are formed at the meeting point of ancient terminal moraines and coarse glacial gravels, all underpinned by schist, providing excellent drainage and a distinctive mineral signature. Lake Wanaka acts as a large thermal mass that moderates frost risk and extends the ripening window, with Ruby Island providing additional shelter. The site tends to ripen fruit at lower potential alcohol than other parts of Central Otago, yielding wines of precision rather than weight.

• North-facing escarpment at approximately 380 metres altitude on the western shore of Lake Wanaka, 45th parallel south
• Soils: schist-based terminal moraines and coarse glacial gravels; shallow topsoils of glacial and alluvial origin over decomposing schist bedrock
• Central Otago is New Zealand's only wine region with a continental climate, producing the country's most pronounced diurnal temperature swings
• Lake Wanaka's thermal mass moderates frost risk and ripening conditions; Ruby Island provides further shelter for the vineyard's microclimate

The flagship Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir is sourced from all fully established Pinot Noir vines across the property, many planted from 1982 onward on their own ungrafted roots; the estate describes it as 'the farm voice of a distinct parcel of land.' Two single-block wines, Emma's Block and Tinker's Field, come from the oldest and most distinct parcels, with Tinker's Field bottled separately only in exceptional vintages. A special 'Bequest' bottling is made without added sulfur in the finest years, and younger vine fruit is released under the Jeunesse label. Six varieties are produced: Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Gamay, Sauvignon Blanc, and the rare Osteiner (a Riesling-Sylvaner cross with roughly 1 hectare planted). Winemaking is minimal: hand-harvesting into 10kg cases, wild yeast fermentation in 2-tonne stainless-steel fermenters, extended skin contact of 10 to 28 days depending on parcel, with aging in predominantly used French oak barrels; wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

• Mature Vine Pinot Noir blends all fully established parcels (vines planted from 1982 onward, mostly ungrafted on own roots)
• Single-block labels include Emma's Block (clay-schist, more floral and delicate) and Tinker's Field (north-facing pure schist, more structured and powerful)
• Bequest bottling made without added sulfur in the finest years; Jeunesse label for younger-vine fruit
• Winemaking: wild yeast fermentation, 2-tonne stainless steel fermenters, 10-28 days skin contact per parcel, aging in predominantly used French oak, no fining or filtration

When Nick Mills took over the estate in 2003, the vineyard already had nearly three decades of dry-farmed, chemical-free cultivation. He immediately began converting to biodynamics, and Rippon is now fully Demeter-certified. The estate operates as a self-sustaining system: no herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers are used. Vines are dry-farmed with no irrigation, forcing deep root development into the schist substrate. The majority of vines are ungrafted, a practice that maintains direct expression of the schist soils but carries heightened phylloxera risk. Biodynamic preparations, cover crops, and on-farm composting maintain soil biology, and all work is undertaken by hand. The estate's philosophy centres on minimising intervention in both vineyard and winery to allow the character of the site to speak through the wine.

• Demeter-certified biodynamic; no irrigation, no pesticides, no herbicides, no synthetic fertilizers since Nick Mills took over in 2003
• Majority of vines ungrafted on own roots, maintaining direct soil expression; dry farming forces deep root penetration into schist bedrock
• On-farm composting, cover crops, and biodynamic preparations used to maintain soil health and biodiversity
• Minimal intervention in the winery: wild yeast only, no temperature control, no fining, no filtration, and no additions beyond a small amount of sulfur

Rippon has achieved consistent international recognition for both wine quality and its extraordinary setting. The estate has featured multiple times in the World's Best Vineyards rankings, placing 15th globally in 2021 and earning the title of Best Vineyard in Australasia at a previous edition. James Suckling awarded 97 points to both the 2020 and 2021 Mature Vine Pinot Noir, with Decanter awarding 95 points to the 2020 vintage. The Wine Advocate has consistently scored Emma's Block and Tinker's Field at 94 points and above. Rippon is regularly cited in Forbes, Decanter, Vinous, and the New York Times wine coverage as one of New Zealand's benchmark producers.

• World's Best Vineyards 2021: ranked 15th globally; Best Vineyard in Australasia at a prior edition of the same awards
• James Suckling: 97 points for both the 2020 and 2021 Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir; Decanter: 95 points for the 2020 vintage
• The Wine Advocate has awarded 94+ points to single-block wines Emma's Block and Tinker's Field across multiple vintages
• Featured in Forbes, Decanter, Vinous, and New York Times wine coverage as one of New Zealand's benchmark producers

Rippon welcomes visitors to its cellar door by appointment, seven days a week, with tastings conducted in an intimate format of no more than six guests. Tastings last approximately 30 minutes, include four to six current vintage wines, and are provided free of charge. The estate has no onsite restaurant. The Rippon Hall, a striking venue constructed from compacted earth taken from the Rippon hillside and timber from the estate's own larch forest, serves as the tasting space and is available for weddings, events, and concerts. The vineyard is accessible by foot or bicycle along the lakeside Millennium walkway from Wanaka township; the estate is at 246 Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Road.

• Cellar door open seven days by appointment only; intimate tastings (max 6 guests), approximately 30 minutes, free of charge
• No onsite restaurant; visitors are encouraged to dine in Wanaka before or after their tasting
• The Rippon Hall, built from on-site materials including compacted earth and estate larch timber, serves as tasting space and events venue
• Accessible by foot or bike along the lakeside Millennium walkway from Wanaka; address is 246 Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Road