GRAVA WINES

STORY
Grava is the fruit of a long-held dream by Alistair (Al) Gardner and Karla Falloon. They founded Grava in 2014 (though the vineyard was planted earlier in 2003) in Martinborough, Wairarapa.

Al is viticulturist and winemaker. His wine journey includes over a decade in various Spanish wine regions (including Galicia, Segovia, Toro, and Málaga), which inform both his style and his respect for terroir, climate, and tradition.

Karla, alongside her family, runs the operational and hospitality side, helping Grava be much more than a vineyard — it’s a place to engage with wine, land, people.

The name “Grava” comes from the Spanish word for “gravel”, a nod to the gravelly alluvial soils of the Dry River flats / the terraces of the Ruamahanga River that define their Martinborough site. These soils are fundamental to the character of the wines.

PHILOSOPHY & WINE STYLE
Grava brings together the clarity of New Zealand’s cool climate with insights gained from years of winemaking in Spain. This dual heritage shapes both the way the vineyards are cared for and the style of wines produced.

The vineyards are hand-harvested and managed with a deep respect for the natural environment. Every decision focuses on ecosystem health, allowing the land itself to speak through the wines — in their texture, aroma, and expression of soil.

At Grava, wine is more than flavour. It’s about the full sensory experience: the crunch of gravel underfoot in the vineyard, the gentle sound of fermentation, the hum of bees and birds in a living ecosystem. These details are part of what makes Grava wines unique — expressive, thoughtful, and deeply connected to place.