Vine Chat

  • Phoenix from the flames

    by Bruce Nimon
    Well, that title is somewhat dramatic, but you get the idea. With the 2024 season underway, chardonnay is flowering and everything is very green ri...

  • Climate Change and Gabrielle!!!!!

    by Bruce Nimon
    I started writing this after the cyclone but stopped as I was spiraling down, now I am ready to finish it.     Vintage 2023 has been and continues ...

  • Independence, freedom to change things up!

    by Bruce Nimon
    Kokako Farms is an independent winegrower, this means we are not owned by a winery. The HB industry has a shrinking number of independent growers, ...

  • Succession!

    by Bruce Nimon
    There is a certain level of anxiety as you run low on stocks of a wine that has been doing so well in the market, what will be made of the next vin...

  • People

    by Bruce Nimon
    The “People” in our People, Practise and Place wine philosophy.   The Kokako wine story is as much about the people as it is about the magic spot t...

  • Tale of Two Syrah's

    by Bruce Nimon
      Left to right 2019 – 2014       Ohiti Gravels Syrah 2014 Eight years old and going strong. Those fruit-driven aromas are replaced with sweet pipe...

  • Q&A

    by Bruce Nimon
      How many bunches of grapes to make a bottle of wine? This one is all about variety and clones. Chardonnay clones vary a lot so do the bunch weigh...

  • Post-harvest

    by Bruce Nimon
    What happens when the excitement of harvest is over and winter pruning is still months away? Even though after COVID-19 two seasons we would all li...

  • PPP!

    by Bruce Nimon
    People, Place, and Practice This is the basis of our wine and to a greater extent, our fruit sold to other wineries. People. Covers my knowledge b...

  • Clone Wars

    by Bruce Nimon
    The Clone Wars   As long as there have been good chardonnays there has been good debate around which clone of chardonnay is best. One step back wha...

  • Left Bank!

    by Bruce Nimon
    Left Bank of the Ngaruroro River or Ohiti Valley is geographically opposite the famed Gimblett Gravels. First off Gimblett Gravels is a world class...

  • Day in the life of a viticulturalist

    by Bruce Nimon
    Birds, Birds and More Birds. Age old struggle of man and beast, well grape growers and imported grape thieves. Starlings, Black Birds, Thrush, Finc...