Alana Estate

Alana Estate continues to evolve since its founding in 1993. New CEO Cath Hopkin has assembled a team of: winemaker Chris Archer, ex-Roseworthy & former Pepper Tree & Morton Estate winemaker; viticulturalist James Pittard, at Alana since 1993; consultant viticulturalist Nick Hoskins.

The Estate's single 18.7ha Martinborough terrace vineyard sits on a mix of silty sand (quartz & feldspar), gravel and limestone deposits. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are all grown and produced. Pinot Noir is the focus: fifty-six separate blocks have been identified, incorporating several clones such as Abel, 667, 777, 3309, 114, 10/5, UCD5. 'Le Coup' Pinot Noir is their flagship wine, made in tiny quantities as result of focusing in on the best six clones from the top silty/loam/loess terrace sites.

Alana Estate has sought to focus on the following core values: identification and separation of soil types, clones & rootstocks; wine styles determined by the terroir and capable of ageing; wines with high dry extract & a suave texture; parcel by parcel vinification & expression; consistent Martinborough terroir high quality & expression.

Yield reduction, better canopy management, increased soil biodiversity form part of the new strategy. 2006 also saw the completion of a new winery, featuring sorting tables and gravity fed vinification.