Grava
Martinborough
Facts.
First Vintage: 2015
Scale: 5.3 Hectares
Range: Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Rosé (Rosado)
Cellar Door: Yes, one of the first cellar doors as you arrive in Martinborough
Restaurant/food: Platters available
Did you know… They also make some Spanish wines and sometimes import them in: Godello and Mencía!
About
Welcome to the new and improved…
Grava Wines!
Grava is based in Martinborough, New Zealand, and is owned and operated by Alistair Gardner and Karla Falloon. Their partnership is grounded in deep vineyard knowledge, a global perspective, and a genuine love of wine as a shared, sensory experience.
Established in 2014, Grava grew quietly alongside Al and Karla’s work making and growing wine for many of the region’s most respected producers. As both viticulturist and winemaker, Al has an intimate understanding of the vines and the wines they are capable of producing. This rare, holistic perspective sits at the heart of Grava. The vineyard itself was planted earlier, in 2003, on the gravelly terraces of the Ruamahanga River. This site consistently delivers purity, texture, and balance across Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Noir.
The name Grava is Spanish for “gravel”. It reflects both the alluvial soils beneath the vines and Al’s long-standing connection to Spain. For close to two decades, Al has spent his off-seasons working vintages across Spanish wine regions including Galicia, Segovia, Toro, and Málaga. More recently, this has included collaborative projects with close friend and fellow winemaker Nacho Álvarez. Until now, those wines had never made their way back to New Zealand.
As Grava enters its second decade, and with the decision to finally introduce these Spanish wines at home, the time felt right for a refresh.
Change is fundamental to wine. Seasons shift, vines age, and wines evolve in bottle. The renewed Grava reflects this natural progression. It honours what has come before while more clearly expressing who Al and Karla are, and how they love to drink wine today.
The updated visual identity leans into joy and tactility. Playful dots act as an abstract reference to wine’s core elements such as the grape, barrel, bottle, and glass. Earthy, edible colours echo the way Grava wines are most often enjoyed. With olives, charcuterie, good bread, and a table full of friends. For Grava, wine is never just about taste. It is about engaging all the senses and creating moments worth lingering over.
