Neil Empson and his wife, Maria Empson, have always shared a passion for wine; so when they were looking for a new venture in winemaking it only made sense that they looked to Neil’s homeland of New Zealand, specifically the Waipara Valley.

The winery, they found, sits outside central Christchurch. The area is protected by the Teviotdale hills which shield the area from the winds off the Pacific Ocean. Instead, warm winds from the northwest create a microclimate with one of the longest growing seasons in New Zealand.

Along with the winery, Neil and Maria met Brent Rawstron and Alan McCorkindale who partnered with them as the winemakers.

The line is comprised of two wines. The first is a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that exemplifies the regions now famous harmony between vibrant mineral, flinty elements and rich tropical nuances. The second wine is a fruit-forward Pinot Noir from a single-vineyard located in Canterbury where the microclimate is well-suited for producing wines with balance and finesse.