Te Kano

Central Otago

Te Kano Estate, a family-owned winery in Central Otago, New Zealand, was established by the Lloyd family, whose journey began with the purchase of a vineyard on the famed Felton Road in Bannockburn, followed by the discovery of the breathtakingly beautiful Northburn site.

Their vision to rejuvenate the land and produce exceptional wines. Indeed, the name ‘Te Kano’ means ‘The Seed’ in Māori, and reflects their commitment to restoring a landscape which was altered for the worse by decades of gold mining dating back to the mid nineteenth century. It’s a commitment symbolise by an ancient Kōwhai tree, once common in the area, and which they are now re-establishing (they have propagated over 900 so far).

The estate focuses on crafting premium quality, artisanal wines, through sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention winemaking.

Winemaker

Dave Sutton

Initially working as a viticulturist in Marlborough and South Australia Dave then joined winery harvests in the USA, Chile, Spain, Germany, France, Ukraine, Australia and around New Zealand, before arriving at Te Kano.

He believes in the importance of understanding the vineyard's nuances throughout the growing season, fostering a strong connection between the vineyard and the winery. His approach to winemaking is based on allowing the fruit to speak for itself, so any intervention during the process is kept to a minimum.

Dave’s versatility is also evident in the Te Kano range, which contains wines you might expect, such as the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, but also some which are more unusual, such as the Gamay, and Blanc de Noir.

Diversity and Complexity

Te Kano's vineyards are situated in distinct sub-regions of Central Otago, which showcase the rich diversity of the region’s landscapes, and contribute unique elements to their wines. The Jerome Vineyard in Bannockburn features sandy soils that encourage deep root growth, resulting in wines with firm tannins and distinctive character. The Eliza Vineyard, also in Bannockburn, is planted on deep silt and clay-based soils, producing wines with soft, supple tannins and juicy black cherry notes. The expansive Northburn Vineyard offers diverse aspects and elevations, creating complex wines.

The Lloyds’ long term restoration programme of native fauna that once thrived in the area has been transformative, inspiring Te Kano to move towards organic agriculture and a softer farming approach which is part of the character of their outstanding wines.