Spade Oak Vineyard
Heart of Gold
Heart of Gold
Passion, family vision and the desire to put that passion into their own label has seen Eileen and Steve Voysey produce Spade Oak Wines.
From their own vineyard which is located in the centre of the Gisborne flats, they can proudly lay claim to employing a mix of “old world” traditional techniques with the narrow rows, low fruit zone, natural wild yeast, time and “new world” techniques such as gentle fining, filtration and reductive handling. Combining red and white varieties that are complimented to suit each other, express and explore the potential of the region, is very much in the foreground of their planning. They have taken varieties from the Burgundy and Champagne regions, Rhone, Austria, Spain and Southern France regions with a focus on new varieties for Gisborne.
Current plantings consist of:
- Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
- Syrah, Viognier, Petit Mansang and Marsanne
- St Laurent and Grüner Veltliner
- Tempranillo and Albarino
The plantings of these varieties vary from 2.7 hectares down to 0.1 hectares but complete the 16 hectare block that has been aptly named after their grandparent’s farm in the UK, with an oak tree shaped like the Ace of Spades.
Involved in the wine industry for some 20 years, Steve can put his expertise as a winemaker into the wine growing with the wines being currently made at Indevin Gisborne Ltd.
It’s a family affair, with their children helping out over vintage and Eileen’s father living right on the property and always keen to lend a helping hand too. The vineyard techniques have provided cost effective methods and environmentally conscious practises which supports their membership to Sustainable Winegrowing NZ. Producing single vineyard wines enables complete control over quality.
Technically, Spade Oak Reserve wines are placed under “vino lok” closures which are a first for New Zealand. This technology has been brought in from Germany and Vino-lok is a glass stopper that has the appearance of a decorative stopper, but it is guaranteed to hold firmly in the bottle opening and can be resealed. To secure the glass stopper and to ensure its originality, a pleasingly shaped aluminium covering cap in various colours has been developed. The label highlights an Oak Leaf reflected in the Oak trees planted at the entranceway.
Limited release of their Gisborne Chardonnay 2007 and Gisborne Viognier 2007 with just 1550 bottles demonstrates the traditional styles of that variety but takes on the persona of the complexity of grapes from Gisborne with their bold, elegant and ripe weighty fruit character.
The 2009 vintage has added to the Spade Oak Reserve range which now includes a Syrah and a sweet Noble Viognier. In addition there is the release of a new range “Heart of Gold’ under screw cap which includes a St Laurent, Syrah/Tempranillo, and a Chardonnay/ Viognier. The first 2010 Grüner Veltliner has also been released.
Their wines are destined for the restaurant outlets and through fine wine stores at the higher price bracket, making no apologies says Steve. “It is a reflection of the passion and quality of Spade Oak wines”.
Spade Oak Vineyard Ltd
437A Main Rd, RD1, Gisborne New Zealand.