Owned by Philip and Terry Horn, the family winery is often supported by their sons Luke and Oliver during University holidays.
The vineyard boasts 30 years of passion in wine, having been established in 1993 on an 8.2-hectare site. With densely planted vines (5000 vines per hectare), meticulously managed for low yield, ripeness, and intense flavor, Unison Vineyard cultivates Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah on the remarkable Gimblett Gravels soil. Additionally, premium white grapes are sourced from neighboring boutique wineries to produce Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay.
Embracing a handcrafted philosophy, Unison Vineyard employs handpicking, gentle basket pressing, and top-quality oak barrels to ensure wines developed from their unique terroir capture the vineyard’s intensity. As a sustainable winery, they believe in minimal intervention, allowing wines time to mature in barrels and bottle, releasing them only when they enter their drinking window. Winemaking expertise from Jenny Dobson, with experience in Bordeaux, Australia, and New Zealand, combined with owner Philip Horn’s guidance, ensures the wines are naturally balanced and enjoyable when young or after years of careful cellaring.
All red wines undergo aging in oak barriques in Unison Vineyard’s underground cellar, and they also utilize two large Oak Botti, large Italian Cuvees, for harmonizing and finishing wines before bottling.
Accolades have positioned Unison Vineyard as one of the top 25 wineries in New Zealand, listed in US Wine Expert Robert Parker’s Wine Buyers Guide with an Excellent rating. Jancis Robinson (Concise Wine Companion) has recognized Unison Vineyard as one of 28 up-and-coming producers worldwide due to their consistent production of high-quality fine wines.
Despite not participating in competitions these days due to their small handcrafted volumes, Unison Vineyard’s commitment to excellence is evident. In 2012, they installed a state-of-the-art Italian bottling and labeling line from GAI to ensure a gentle bottling process. This system is also utilized to bottle and label wines for other boutique wineries and some premium wines from larger producers.