QUARTZ REEF

Direct and to the point; loves to stir things up; adores vintage champagne; qualified viticulturist and winemaker; consummate creator when it comes to either Pinot Noir or méthode traditionnelle: these are all apt descriptors of Austrian-born Rudi Bauer.

Established in 1996 and named after New Zealand’s largest quartz deposit that lies beneath the vineyards at Bendigo Station, Quartz Reef has become the vessel for what winemaker Rudi Bauer calls his search to make wines that exhibit ‘a symphony of flavours that capture attention and entertain so that you forget everything else’.

Rudi’s Pinot Noir is world-class, and his superb méthodes champion brilliantly the true potential of our southernmost regions for sparkling wine, produced as they are entirely from his own estate-grown fruit, a la Grower champagnes.
He is a strong advocate of biodynamics, and Quartz Reef’s two 15-hectare Bendigo vineyards are strictly and passionately managed by the principles developed by fellow Austrian, Rudolf Steiner. The management regime of the biodynamic Demeter- Certified vineyards is both arduous and time consuming, but the results speak for themselves.
Quartz Reef wines are produced entirely in-house, from vineyard through to bottling, ensuring the total quality control and consistency that have earned them accolades everywhere.

Quartz Reef applies the proven winemaking talents of Austrian-born Rudi Bauer, who continues to enjoy & explore the Pinot Noir's many dimensions, and the convergence of the old and the new wine worlds. Rudi was born in the district of Salzburg, Austria. Gaining degrees in viticulture and winemaking in Gumpoldskirchen (1975-79) and Krems (1980-82) in Austria and followed by winemaking business college in Bad Kreuznach (1983-84), Germany. 1985 Arrived in New Zealand – Mission Vineyard, Hawkes Bay as Assistant Winemaker 1986 Vintage at Simi winery, Sonoma County, California Sokol-Blosser winery, Oregon 1988 Vintage at Simi winery, as small lot winemaker 1989 - 1992 Viticulturist/winemaker at Rippon Vineyard, Lake Wanaka 1992 Vintage at Meo Camuzet, Vosne-Romanee, Burgundy 1993 - 1997 Winemaker at Giesen Wine Estate, Canterbury 1996 Formed Quartz Reef 1999 Champion Winemaker of the Year - Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand Easter Wine Show 2000 Driving force, with Alan Brady, behind the first Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration 2002 Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration Chairman 2004 International Pinot Noir Celebration Wellington 2004, board member 2010 Der Feinschmecker Wine Awards “Winemaker of the Year” Nominee (one of six in world and first ever in New Zealand)