7th Heaven

About

Becoming winegrowers was not something owners Michael and Diane Jones planned to do, but in 2013 they finally found and purchased the perfect piece of land for their dream family home. The land, rich in gold mining history also included a neglected 1.5ha vineyard.

Michael is a second-generation Cromwell orchardist and while many people would have probably ripped out the neglected vines, he was keen to see what they could do.   

Since the first vintage in 2014, the vineyard has transformed into a productive small block of grapes producing a variety small-batch wines and ruby port, all made from 100% single vineyard pinot noir grapes.

The vineyard is on a north-facing slope of the property which is located in the foothills of Adams Gully, to the south of Bannockburn. During the Otago gold rush, Adams Gully Workings covered a significant area stretching from the foothills, where the 7th Heaven Vineyard is located today, right up into the Carrick Range to the Young Australian Water Wheel.

The vineyard is 1.5ha but has approximately 8000 vines due to the row spacing of 1.5 metres and 1 metre vine spacings.  The majority of the vines are pinot noir (a mix of clones 777, Abel and 115) and a smattering of viognier.   

Debra Cruickshank from DC Wines produces their wines at her Bannockburn Winery. Currently the range includes a Pinot Noir, Pinot Port, a Pinot Rosé and a Blanc de Noir; all produced from 100% pinot noir grapes. 

The Méthode Traditionelle masters at No1 Family Estate work their magic to their base wine to create their 100% Pinot Sparkling Wine.