Settlement

Marlborough

Settlement Vineyard is nestled in the picturesque Wairarapa region, known for its boutique wineries and exceptional wines.

Named after the stunning Amphitheatre single vineyard site in the Omaka Valley, Settlement is dedicated entirely to the production of old vine, single vineyard wines from very special, organic sites in the Wairau and the Southern Valleys, renowned for their silty clay loams.

The wines they make – a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir - are well suited to Marlborough’s soil profile and cool climate, but key to understanding Settlement’s approach is their focus on organic farming practices and letting the unique terroir shine through to create elegant, complex and structured wines. Any variation in season is embraced in the winery during the winemaking process.

Owner and Winemaker

Owner and Winemaker

Steve Planthaber

Steve grew up in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, surrounded by vineyards and the wine industry from a young age. On leaving school he found his way to the deep south of New Zealand to study chemistry and work for some of New Zealand’s largest companies in a variety of roles.

A move to Marlborough with his partner Kirsty Sutherland cemented his love of wine, and after 12 enjoyable years working for Cloudy Bay Vineyards in production and operations, he decided to use his diverse skills and experience to relish the opportunity to form his own wine brand, Settlement.

As the owner and winemaker of Settlement, Steve is hands on from the selection of organic fruit from single vineyard sites, right through to bottling and the marketplace.

Exceptional Vineyard Sites

Exceptional Vineyard Sites

Steve and his team produce four single vineyard wines from sites located in the Southern and Wairau Valleys. Each vineyard site was selected based on its location, vine age and viticulture regime to achieve their desired style for each wine.

In addition to Settlement Vineyard in the Southern Valleys, they source fruit for Chardonnay from Poplars Vineyard, also in the Southern Valleys, as well as Riesling from Ashmore, and Sauvignon Blanc from Heritage – both vineyards in the Wairau Valley. Settlement was planted in 2009, but the other vineyards are older, dating back to the 1990s.

They take great pride in crafting exquisite wines that reflect the unique character of each individual vineyard block and the land from which the fruit is sourced.

According to Steve, “By choosing exceptional vineyards sites, little is required in the winery”.

“Since our fist vintage in 2019, our intention has been to produce delicious quality wines that are expressions of these single vineyard blocks, and I think we’ve definitely achieved that”. Steve Planthaber

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