Lime Rock Wines

About

Lime Rock WInes really is a tale of following your heart.

In 1979, Rosie Butler was selected by her then employer Montana to study winemaking at the prestigious wine course at Roseworthy, South Australia.

This was the beginning of the rest of her life as it was here she met her future husband Rodger. After a grueling 6-hour Chemistry exam they met at their local watering hole - the Roseworthy Pub.

After completing her studies however, Rosie returned to Montana and assumed the role of winemaker at Gisborne and also lent her expertise to the inaugural vintage at Blenheim. Blenheim must have given Rosie some perspective because it was here Rosie made a life-changing decision to relocate to Australia, where she would unite with Rodger.

Rodger, whose background in Natural Resources was shaped at Roseworthy, had previously worked for the National Parks Service in the breathtaking Flinders Ranges of South Australia. Subsequently, he joined the Environment Department as an Ecologist, specializing in the Outback regions, until the year 2000.

Their adventurous spirits eventually led them back to New Zealand, where they embarked on an exciting new chapter in their lives. Teaming up with Rosie's brothers, they carved out a 24-hectare parcel of land just west of Waipawa and founded Lime Rock Vineyard.

Embracing ecological principles, they propagated their vines from cuttings and carefully planted them in 2001 and 2003. These meticulous practices included eschewing cultivation or soil disturbance, utilizing steel posts instead of treated pine, and employing a water jet to create holes in the soil for the callused cuttings. The result was a harmonious vineyard that respects the environment.

A symphony of grape varieties graces their vineyard, including Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, and the addition of Gruner Veltliner in 2008. Their first vintage saw the light of day in 2003, and the following year marked the dawn of Lime Rock Wines and our very own cellar door.

However, the road to recognition was not without its challenges. Establishing Lime Rock as a Pinot Noir producer in the midst of Hawke's Bay, renowned for Bordeaux-style wines, posed a significant hurdle. It wasn't until the release of the 2007 White Knuckle Hill Pinot Noir, that the critics were truly captivated. WineNZ magazine's tasting of 90 Pinots from across New Zealand bestowed upon this wine the coveted title of top Pinot Noir over $35, with the 2008 vintage claiming the top spot in the under $35 category.

Rodger and Rosie have both championed Central Hawke's Bay as a distinct sub-region (appellation) within Hawke's Bay.