AWATERE RIVER

According to Louis Vavasour, Awatere River Wine Company's Winemaker and Founder, "our wines capture the essense of the Marlborough lifestyle. For me that's about fun days kicking back at the bach with friends and family - fishing, diving for scallops, or sailing the traquil Sounds. Frequently enjoying quality wines created virtually in our own backyard."

The Vavasour family first settled by the Awatere River in 1887, pioneering commerical grape-growing and winemaking. Louis' parents, Peter and Anna Vavasour, first planted vines in the Dashwood district in 1986 and established the region's first winery.

Today, Awatere River produces low yield quality wine which focus on length, structure and complexity. Awatere River believes in a blaance of head and heart in winemaking. They perfer old world winemaking methods and believe that the less handling the better.

LOUIS VAVASOUR

Louis Vavasour founded ARWC in 2007 following the bold lead of his father Pete and late mother Anna, who together in the 1980s pioneered viticulture and winemaking in the Awatere Valley after over a century of Vavasour family heritage in the area. Like his parents, Louis likes to push boundaries – and the Awatere River Wine Company is no different.