in between the Mountains and the Pacific Ocean
Providence is located in the rolling hills of the Matakana region, 60 kilometres north of Auckland.
The vineyard is situated between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Rodney Ranges (standing at over 400 metres) 2 kilometres to the west.
Due to these features, the area enjoys a microclimate, noted for low rainfall and high sunshine hours, ideal to produce the best red wine in New Zealand.
Our own microclimate
The marine climate influenced by the Pacific Ocean ensures perfect conditions to produce a wine that is characterised by great elegance and complexity.
The winter months, June to September, are the rainfall months. Due to the proximity to the ocean, the winter is mild.
Spring is noted for its mild temperatures and evenly spread rainfall, perfect for early development of the vines.
Summers are warm and dry with temperatures rising to 33°C.
Autumn is characterised by sunny days and cool sea breezes. The pre-harvest period is noted for the difference between day (24°C) and night (6°C) temperatures which allow the grapes to slowly reach maturity with perfect sugar/acid balance.
Climatic extremes are unknown in the Matakana area. Accordingly, it takes 120 days to ripen the grapes at Providence rather than 100 elsewhere in the world.
The combination of abundant sunshine and sufficient rainfall produces the superior quality of Providence.
Thousands of years in the making
The vineyard is planted on free draining, iron-rich clay of volcanic origin containing many trace elements. The clay soil extends beyond six meters in depth. The minerality of the soil is reflected in the unique aromas and flavours that characterise Providence wines.
The granular structure and free draining nature of the soil allows for plant stressing in normal years. In very dry years the clay soil retains sufficient moisture, permitting natural ripening with no adverse effects on the vines.
The characteristics of the climate and soil allow the vines to develop deep root systems, thereby utilizing deep lying trace elements and minerals which enhance the complexity of our wine.
The perfect Assemblage
The vineyard area covers two hectares on a North-facing hillside averaging about 12 degrees of slope.
The vineyard was planted in 1990 and originally with three varieties: 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec.
Over the years, these percentages were changed to produce the optimal Bordeaux blend for the property. Currently, the composition is 45% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot and 10% Malbec.
In 1993, 1200 Syrah vines were planted as an experiment. After initial disappointment with the young Syrah vines, James was persuaded to persevere by Providence fans in Japan, Germany and the USA. The Syrah have since become cult wines among wine lovers.
The row widths are 1.6 meters with 1 meter spacing between vines.
The vines are grown in the traditional manner - low to the ground - which utilizes retained heat from the clay.
