The smooth stones and gravels left behind by an ice glacier provide free drainage and heat summation for the vines.

With low yields, the grapes are optimally ripened to a very high quality - this is expressed in the flavours and balanced wines.

The vineyards enjoy abundant sunshine in a temperate climate and protection from cool easterly sea breezes by the prominent limestone outcrop of Mount Cass.

The family owned boutique vineyard is committed to sustainable wine production - without compromise, being an accredited member of the Sustainable Winegrowers programme of New Zealand Wine Growers.

Yields are strictly controlled to prevent over-cropping of vines, where we deliberately focus on low yields to enhance fruit character. The wines are carefully handcrafted from vine to your glass from some of oldest vines in the Waipara Valley.

Mount Cass Vineyard was one of the first three vineyards in the Waipara Valley to undertake a project whereby we planted native trees in blocks on the vineyard to encourage beneficial insects, birds and lizards, back into the environment, reducing the need to use pesticides to control insect pests like leaf roller.

The name Te Kota means “shell” in the native Maori language and this is where the shell image comes from on our label, in which is tucked the islands of New Zealand, much in the way our vineyards are tucked in the protective cove of Mount Cass.