Ra Nui stands for Marlborough, the realization of the finest Pinot Noir from a very special terroir. An intense construct, crafted for serious Pinotphiles, Ra Nui reflects choice selection of clone and rootstock, in combination with low yields, sensible oak and rich lees treatments. Grapes are principally sourced from the Ra Nui Summer Valley Vineyard, situated near the town of Blenheim under the lee of Wither Hills. A small, devotedly managed site, planted to Dijon clones 115 and 667, 777 and Abel, yielding low harvests of small berries with concentrated flavours.

Pinot Noir, being an early budding variety, can get knocked around in the coolest Marlborough vintages, resulting in a lower than normal fruit set. Grapes are hand picked into small bins and transported to the winery, sorted and transferred directly through a destemmer/ crusher into small open topped fermenters. The must is cold soaked for three days while treated to a course of hand plunging for the extraction of colour and tannins, before being warmed for fermentation. Upon completion, the wine is pressed into a selection of seasoned and new 225 litre French oak barriques for several months maturation, a close scrutiny and topping up as needed before an egg white fining, assemblage and bottling.