Dillons Point Vineyard Lower Wairau Valley
The backbone of Giesen’s premium Sauvignon Blanc programme, Dillon’s Point was the Giesen brothers’ first Marlborough vineyard purchase. Maritime influence, intensely concentrated fruit characters, mineral intensity from the heavy soils, and hand-picked premium quality fruit make this vineyard special.
Fast Facts
- Purchased by the Giesen brothers in 1993 – the first vineyard they owned in Marlborough
- Planted exclusively with Sauvignon Blanc
- Maritime climate influence due to ocean proximity
- Located on the banks of the Opawa River
- Heavy soils
- Vineyard is not irrigated as the water table is close to the surface
- Lower yield targets – about half a typical Marlborough vineyard
- Vines are thinned to five tonne per hectare
- One of Giesen’s most easterly vineyards
- Known for evenly ripe bunches of intensely concentrated Sauvignon Blanc berries with a mineral intensity
- Fruit is hand picked
- Provides fruit for The August Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc
Dillon’s Point Vineyard is known for providing fruit for The August Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc and Single Vineyard Selection Sauvignon Blanc wines. It was the first vineyard purchased by the Giesen brothers in the Marlborough region in 1993.
One of our most easterly vineyards with a maritime climate influence due to its proximity to the ocean, this site is planted 100% with Sauvignon Blanc. Vines grown on the heavy Dillon’s Point soil, thinned to five tonne per hectare, produce evenly ripe bunches of concentrated Sauvignon Blanc berries with a mineral intensity.
The vineyard’s location on the banks of the Opawa River also means the water table is close to the surface and the vineyard doesn’t need to be irrigated.
Dillon’s Point Sauvignon Blanc is farmed with the same intense viticulture focus Giesen applies to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We target much lower yields – about half that of a typical Marlborough vineyard – which results in intensely concentrated characters. When the fruit is at its best, it is hand picked to ensure it reaches the winery in pristine condition.
