The Good Way 'Arapai Vineyard' Pinot Noir 2024

Meet the growers and producers of The Good Way, Hayley and Anton. We live in Martinborough with our two daughters, Quinn and Mackenzie.

For Hayley, grapes have always been part of life. She grew up in the Barossa Valley, Australia and spent six years working with Penfolds in the grape contracts department and bulk wine trade.

Anton studied viticulture and oenology at Lincoln University before moving to Australia, where he also worked for Penfolds and later became Assistant Manager of the Barossa Vineyards.

We moved to New Zealand in 2018 for Anton to develop a new vineyard for Craggy Range in Martinborough, while supporting Anton’s father on the family vineyard. We then purchased the vineyard from Robert in 2020 and created our own label.

The Land

Our vineyard has always been called Arapai, which translates to “good way” or “good path.” The name speaks to the journey once used on New Zealands first sheep station to move stock from land to coast, passing through what is now our vineyard.

It also reflects how we approach everything we do, with care for the land, a respect for its history, and a commitment to growing grapes and making wine, the good way.

Our vineyard is 3 hectares small and located on Lake Ferry Road, 6 minutes south of the town square. We grow multiple clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and manage all vineyard operations ourselves, with 'help' from our daughters, Quinn and Mackenzie.

The Wine

Anton understands the important and unique relationship that the vine has with its surroundings. The vines, and therefore the grapes, will evolve and mature differently across parts of the vineyard depending on a number of factors: soil, climate and clone to name a few. He organises the grapes to be picked in different stages where possible, for optimum fruit quality and intense flavour profiles.

It is our philosophy to have minimal interventions with our fruit and wines. Our wines are uninoculated and minimal sulphur is added at bottling at preservation. Hayley hand labels every single bottle and prepares every order for delivery.

We are passionate about growing grapes and making wine and do this so we can share our wines with family and friends.