The Wild Earth Story
Back in 1998 Quintin and Avril Quider were living on Stewart Island, a natural wilderness and conservation sanctuary at the southernmost tip of New Zealand. Along with fishing and diving they were both keen pinot noir fans and when they were offered a patch of bare land at the end of Felton Road in Bannockburn, Central Otago, they knew it would be perfect for their own vineyard.
What they didn’t know was that ten years later their 2006 vintage pinot noir would be awarded the Trophy for Best Red Wine and Champion Pinot Noir at the world’s largest wine competition, the International Wine Challenge in London. These awards, along with four other trophies that same year, endorsed a string of gold medals won for every vintage up to then. To be named Top Pinot Noir in 2009 by Cuisine magazine for the 2007 vintage was further encouragement.
The team is small but dedicated: Quintin and Avril, the founders and owners; our vineyard crew, led by Pip; Steve, our talented winemaker; and Glenys, running the office, orders and logistics.
The sole aim of Wild Earth is to create the finest pinot noir, riesling and pinot gris our two vineyard sites can produce. We're working with young vines, planted from 1999 - 2001 that are already showing incredibly exciting potential.
Alongside the real pleasure of harvesting superb grapes at the end of the season is the enjoyment of cooking a meal at dusk over an open fire next to the Kawarau River. We cast a line for fat trout from the bottom of the vineyard and the wild rabbit and thyme aren't hard to find. Wild Earth wines are the perfect match.
Vineyard
Cromwell, Central Cromwell