ABOUT US
Mount Brown is a family owned vineyard, situated on the western slopes of the Waipara Valley.
THE VINEYARD
Mount Brown occupies two different sites. The smaller Mount Brown block is where the vineyard was first established and is planted with Pinot Noir and Riesling. Nearby, the Limeloader block (25 hectares) contains mostly Sauvignon Blanc, with small amounts of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Tempranillo(the red grape used in Rioja). Both sites have well-drained, sandy gravel soils. The Mount Brown block is more sheltered and less frost prone, whilst the Limeloader block is protected by wine machines.
The vines are planted at high density plantings (up to 4,200 per hectare for Pinot Noir) and are trained on a two cane system (VSP). Our vines never have insecticides applied and during the growing season the foliage is regularly thinned out to increase light penetration and air circulation around the bunches. This greatly diminishes the risk of disease, allowing the predominate use of recognised organic products for vine health.
Read more information about the soils and climate of the region.
FAMILY OWNED
Mount Brown is owned and managed by the Rutherfurd family. Tony Rutherfurd heads the commercial side of the business, his son Mike runs the vineyard operations and Catherine is responsible for sales and marketing.
Tony has been involved in horticulture since 1990 and viticulture since the late 1990s. Mike is the vineyard manager, although he’s a builder by trade (which comes in handy when putting up posts). Catherine has lived in the UK since 1998 and sells our wine directly to independent wine merchants through-out the south-east of England.
