2025 asked us to take a deep breath, wait, and trust the vines—and wow, did they deliver. After a textbook spring bloom that promised a bumper crop, December and January dialled back the heat. Those cooler spells slowed everything to a crawl, but with the frost fan humming at Papillon we kept the canopy pristine and the fruit safe. The payoff came in March. We kicked off on the 14 th with Rosé fruit, snuck the Pinot Noir and other aromatics off in tidy little bites, and finally wrapped on 5 April when the last rows of Sauvignon decided they’d had enough. The generous pauses between picks gave us time to scrub gear, stay organised, and even fire up the BBQ for some...
Harvest, Vintage Tastings & Rave Reviews The hum of harvest is back, and the winery is alive with the energy of the season. Our Rosé, Pinot Noir, and the first blocks of Sauvignon Blanc are in, and the fruit is looking incredible. The long days and late nights have begun, but there’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a new vintage—the moment when months of work in the vineyard finally come to life. Pinot Noir Through the Years: A Vintage Tasting Before the chaos of harvest, we took a rare opportunity to step back and taste six consecutive vintages of our Pinot Noir, from 2019 to 2024. Each glass was a time capsule, capturing the nuances of each growing season....
Introducing the 2023 ‘Otto’ Syrah: A Labour of Love We’re excited to unveil the 2023 ‘Otto’ Syrah, a wine that reflects the passion and dedication of our winemaking team. Named for Kate’s second child, Otto, this small-batch Syrah is a true testament to the art of winemaking, from vineyard to bottle. Sourced from a small planting on our Sugar Loaf Estate block, the 2023 ‘Otto’ Syrah was crafted with care and attention to every detail. The vintage benefited from perfect growing conditions—balanced warmth and sunlight that imparted rich flavors while preserving freshness. The grapes were harvested at the ideal sugar levels in late March, then fermented in an open-top cuvée for three weeks before being gently hand-pressed into French oak...
We are beyond thrilled to share that our 2024 Riesling has won a trophy at the Aotearoa Wine Show! Our team travelled up to Auckland to attend the awards lunch, where we were presented with this incredible honour among New Zealand’s finest winemakers. It was a moment of excitement, pride, and celebration as we accepted the award in recognition of the hard work and dedication that goes into each bottle. Our Riesling, with its balanced sweetness and vibrant acidity, reflects the unique terroir of our Marlborough vineyard. Each sip brings flavours of fresh lemon-lime citrus, stone fruit, and hints of honeysuckle and jasmine—true to its Rapaura roots. The team enjoyed a fantastic day at the awards lunch, and the celebration continued...
"The best vintage ever!?!?!!" This year has been exceptional, marked by unique weather conditions and an outstanding harvest. Marlborough experienced a very dry winter followed by isolated spring frost events, leading to fewer bunches than usual. However, the quality of the fruit was outstanding. This season also saw record-breaking dryness and sunshine, with drought conditions declared in mid-March. Fortunately, timely rain in early March refreshed our vineyards, preventing berry shrivelling and ensuring a healthy crop. The warm, sunny days and smaller yields meant our harvest started about two weeks earlier than usual. We even completed our Sauvignon Blanc harvest earlier than ever before. Cooler nights helped maintain excellent acidity levels, and disease pressure was remarkably low, allowing for a smooth and organized...
