Altogether Unique
What a day at the 2026 New Zealand Wine Business Forum, Winning in Changing Markets.
Te Kano Winemaker Dave Sutton works with grapes from the continental climate of Central Otago, and the maritime climes of its eastern neighbour, so sees the striking difference daily.
“When I left Central this morning it was 24C and when I got here it was 16C,” he says, describing Waitaki’s season as similar to other wine regions influenced by La Niña, with more cloud cover promising a longer harvest.
Like Central Otago, Waitaki’s soils are derived from big geological events, but much of it was under sea before that uplift, so there’s limestone with glacial material, says Dave, excited by the impact of that unique soil mix on their wines.
Working in a region with just 59 hectares of planted vineyard has its challenges, particularly because it’s “not on the radar” of a lot of service providers.
“So sourcing labour though contractors is challenging, and equipment servicing and repairs is difficult.”
People have to be more resourceful, he says, “But most people here have a No.8 wire mentality and manage to find unique solutions to unique problems.”
