Thyme Hill

About

A Central Otago vineyard that only grows Merlot! Thyme Hill Vineyard was established in the mid-nineties by the late John Kelly in the Alexandra basin just a few kilometres outside of the Alexandra Township. An adventurer and an entrepreneur, John Kelly was the first to bring Merlot grapes to the region.

Keen grape grower Inge Diks purchased the vineyard in 2011 and adopted the challenge of reviving the vines and continuing John’s vision of growing Merlot in Central Otago. It was certainly a challenge and a risk that would appeal to only a select few!

The vineyard is on six hectares of land in a beautiful setting. North facing slopes provide stunning views of Leaning Rock and the Dunstan Range. Surrounding the vineyard is the landscape so unique to Alexandra, the purple thyme that inspired the name, all punctuated by schist rocky outcrops.

Inge emigrated to the South Island from the Netherlands in 1991 and worked in dairy farming for 20 years. Keen to try something new, she decided to start producing quality Merlot grapes, earning herself a reputation for someone who ‘gets things done’, among the vineyard community. Grape growing isn’t easy, which is exactly what attracts Inge to it – a challenge. The weather and climate is difficult (four seasons in one day is not uncommon), but as Inge says, “true job satisfaction is achieved through seeing your vines come to fruition, from bud burst through to harvest and onwards through the wine-making process to the enjoyment of togetherness with family and friends”.