In October 2022, Edmond de Rothschild Heritage purchased 34.5 hectares of established vineyards belonging to Akarua, a historic and pioneering Central Otago vineyard; a significant and much anticipated addition to the Edmond de Rothschild Heritage portfolio. Selected by Anne Escalle's team for its unique terroir and rare, balanced conditions conducive to the production of very fine pinot noirs.

Across the nine estates on four continents owned by Edmond de Rothschild Heritage, Arianne de Rothschild's vision remains consistent; to reveal the quintessence of the terroirs and enhance their inherent character while respecting the environment, and to elevate the wines to their highest peaks: a vision that her team wholeheartedly believes in.

The Holy Grail of Bannockburn
Edmond de Rothschild's acquisition of Akarua came 10 years after the founding of Edmond de Rothschild's first New Zealand estate, Rimapere, in the Marlborough Valley, the country's premier wine region renowned for its excellent Sauvignon Blanc. The vast majority of the 34.5 hectares purchased in 2022 are located on Cairnmuir Road, ideally placed given its reputation as the Holy Grail of Bannockburn. Nestled in the foothills of the mountains and amidst breathtaking scenery, the land here offers rare balanced conditions that are conducive to the production of very fine Pinot Noirs.

On the gentle north-west facing slopes, the vineyard is exposed to the sun during the hottest hours of the day. The westerly wind that blows through reduces the risk of plant disease and frost.

Aka (vine) - Rua (two) in Maori, the name 'Akarua' means two grape varieties. Pinot noir and Chardonnay, the two varieties first planted on the estate in 1996 by Sir Clifford Skeggs. They now represent 78.5% and 2% of the plots respectively, with a small amount of Pinot Gris and Riesling completing the offer. Drawing on the know-how of the local teams and its international winemaking expertise, Edmond de Rothschild Heritage's ambition is to maximise Akarua's exceptional potential to produce the country's finest pinot noir from a single estate, to create elegant wines and exceptional vintages and to become the New Zealand benchmark for the national and international markets.

Land
Pioneers Central Otago has quickly gained credibility in the international market and in the media for producing exceptional pinot noir. Pioneers in the 1980s such as Alan Brady at Gibbston, Vernon and Sue Burgess at Alexandra and Rolf and Lois Mills at Wanaka, began to produce serious wines in the most challenging of circumstances, activating a surge of enthusiasm and investment in the industry over the next two decades and beyond.