Pyramid Valley Vineyards | Canterbury

Pyramid Valley is one of New Zealand's great wine estates where altitude, limestone, slope, rock and rich soils meet to produce some of the most profound Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines in the world. The wines are born in the dramatic soils and slopes of the Waikari Estate in North Canterbury and the Pyramid Valley Mānatu Estate in Central Otago. 

The story of Pyramid Valley began at the turn of the 21st century when Mike and Claudia Weersing established the site and set about creating the vineyards. German-born and America-raised Claudia, was a committed biodynamicist and the guiding spirit on the land in the early years of Pyramid Valley. Mike studied oenology and viticulture in Burgundy and worked in vineyards and cellars across Europe, honing his precise vision and practice for spectacular winemaking. Together, Mike and Claudia created remarkable wines for close to 20 years that have been recognised the world over.

2017 marked the next step in Pyramid Valley’s history when the Weersings decided to sell to Steve Smith MW (perhaps best known for establishing Craggy Range) and his business partner and wildlife conservationist Brian Sheth. Steve and Brian are building on the work done by the Weersings to fulfil the full potential of the site. In 2018 they purchased a second vineyard in Lowburn, Central Otago called Manata Estate, an established vineyard that has produced exceptional Pinot Noir since 2002.

Staying true to the estate’s founding principles, both sites adopt a biodynamic approach to viticulture and the winemaking follows natural processes with the use of indigenous yeast, no additives, natural fining and little, if any, filtration.