Obsidian Vineyard

There's a well known saying among winemakers that great wines are made in the vineyard. At Obsidian, we certainly view our vineyard as one of the most important contributors to the quality of our wine. The 9 hectares planted at Obsidian vineyard is located in the coastal hills of the Onetangi viticultural area, close to the sea on the northern shores of Waiheke Island. The vines are planted on steep slopes in an amphitheatre-like setting, and the high heat summation, combined with advanced viticulture, enables the grapes to achieve full ripeness. Twelve vineyards are now nestled in the valley, with the renowned Stonyridge vineyard a near neighbour. The Obsidian vineyard was planted in 1993 with the express purpose of producing a great Bordeaux-style red. However since that time new varieties have been introduced and Obsidian now has eight different varieties of interesting wines in its portoflio, including a new variety to Waiheke Island, Montepulciano. Obsidian's first vintage of this grape variety won a coveted Trophy and Gold Medal in the Romoe Bragato 2007 Wine Awards.

The flagship wine Obsidian is a classic blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. In 2000 the Weeping Sands label was introduced. Weeping Sands is made with the same meticulous care and attention as Obsidian, but for earlier drinking.

We are often asked how Obsidian wine came to be named after a semi-precious stone. It is known that obsidian was a prized procession of the indigenous Maori inhabitants of Onetangi, close to the site of the present day vineyard. Although, the stone is not found naturally on Waiheke Island, it was highly sought after for its razor sharp cutting qualities and glass-like structure. Obsidian is still in demand today and is recognised by its distinctive color. The deep lustrous colour of the stone is how the wine 'Obsidian' is often described. When it was time to identify a name for Obsidian's second label, the owners again drew on local history and discovered the literal translation for 'Onetangi' from the Maori language to English is 'Weeping Sands'.

With each vintage, Obsidian has received more and more accolades and is becoming recognised as a wine with excellent cellaring potential and the complexity to partner very well with food.