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Coopers Creek Vineyard Ltd

Welcome

Coopers Creek sits in the heart of the Huapai and Kumeu wine region, about 35km north west of Auckland. It is an area steeped in tradition and home to some of the oldest established vines in New Zealand.

It was here, in 1980, that Andrew and Cynthia Hendry first established the Coopers Creek winery with the aim of producing the very highest quality wines, principally dry in style and reflecting New Zealand's outstanding cool climate viticultural conditions.

Andrews background and knowledge from working within the wine industry at the time and Cynthia's success from running her own pate making business provided a winning formula.

They could see the potential of New Zealand wine and their vision was matched by their resolve and dedication to succeed.

Initially the company was formed by the Hendry's with the partnership of Randy Weaver, who became the first winemaker at Coopers Creek, plus other Shareholders. Four hectares of land were purchased at the Huapai site, work started on the winery buildings and Chardonnay and Merlot vines were planted.

Two years later (1982) the first Coopers Creek vintage was produced and soon after that the first label released onto the local market. Coopers Creek was in production as a "micro-boutique' winery.

The 1980's saw the winery steadily develop and expand with the acquisition of a second vineyard site at Middle Road in the Hawkes Bay and, after Randy departed to return to the USA, with the appointment of Kim Crawford as winemaker.
The winery began to develop contracts with Growers in the other principal wine growing regions of New Zealand and to build its portfolio of wines. Their policy has always been to grow the grapes where they grow best and this is reflected in the wines produced.

Throughout the1990's Coopers Creek continued to move forward flourishing both in terms of growth and production and in recognition of delivering quality wine. With a host of wine show success behind it Coopers Creek achieved the consideration as one of the best performing small/medium-sized wineries of the decade.

Andrew Hendry has always seen the potential of New Zealand wine in the export arena. A long-time contributor and campaigner for New Zealand wine he has for many years been seeking and negotiating associations and partnerships with overseas markets. These efforts have been rewarded with Coopers Creek receiving a special commendation from the government and the prestigious 'Award for excellence in exporting' at the 1997 New Zealand exports awards.

Simon Nunns joined Coopers Creek in 1997 and took over the reins from Kim, departing to set up his own label, as winemaker with the 1998 vintage. One of the best vintages ever seen at Coopers Creek and with a host of gold's and other medal winning wines from that vintage, Simon has continued to enhance the Coopers Creek label.

Today, twenty years on, Coopers Creek is still a family owned, New Zealand winery enjoying another growth phase with the recent acquisition of a new vineyard site in the Hawkes Bay (12ha at Roys Hill) and securing further contracts with vineyard sites in Marlborough and Gisborne. Current production, at 700tonnes per year for 2001, rose to well over a 1000tonne for the 2002 vintage just gone, the biggest ever recorded at Coopers Creek. Estimations will see the winery producing 1500tonnes by 2005.