THE BONELINE

THE REGION
Located in the heart of North Canterbury’s Waipara Valley, The Boneline sits beneath the Teviotdale Hills, protected from cooling easterlies while benefiting from the warm, dry northwesterly winds the region is known for. With the Southern Alps creating a natural rain shadow, Waipara enjoys low rainfall, high sunshine hours, and long dry autumns that allow fruit to achieve excellent ripeness while retaining freshness and structure.

The combination of limestone-rich soils, significant day-to-night temperature variation, and extended growing seasons gives the wines their distinct tension, texture, and savoury detail. It’s a region particularly well suited to expressive Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and aromatic varieties.

THE VINEYARD
Established in 1989, The Boneline vineyard spans around 60 acres across a diverse range of soils including limestone, clay, silt, and river gravels. The vineyard’s varying elevations, aspects, and naturally sheltered terraces create a series of unique growing sites, each contributing different characteristics to the wines.

Farming is carried out using organic principles with a strong focus on soil health, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability. The vineyard team works closely with the land to encourage balance naturally, producing fruit with concentration, energy, and a strong sense of place.

WINEMAKING
The Boneline’s winemaking approach is thoughtful, hands-on, and driven by the character of each vineyard parcel and vintage. Fruit is handled gently with minimal intervention, allowing the vineyard and season to speak clearly through the wines.

Small batch fermentations, hand plunging, careful oak use, and parcel-by-parcel blending all play a role in shaping the final wines. The focus remains on purity, structure, and drinkability rather than overworking the fruit in the winery.

The resulting wines reflect both the rugged limestone landscapes of Waipara and the philosophy behind them - expressive, site-driven wines with texture, energy, and authenticity.