Ariki means “Chief” in Maori and refers to our classic yacht from 1905, still racing to this day. Made exclusively with Chardonnay grapes from our Arae vineyard, a vineyard with spectacular views of the Hauraki gulf that is exposed to the sea breeze. To help connect our wine to the ocean we approached more delicate wine making techniques, picking early to retain elegance, not allowing malolactic fermentation to occur, and careful use of primarily used oak has allowed this wine to surpass expectations.