Over the years the family-owned vineyards, and the other vineyards in Hawkes Bay from which Delegat draws grapes, have grown steadily in size and number. The sunny Hawkes Bay vineyards enjoy a superb mix of microclimates and varying soils...silt, shingle and clay...fertile deposits over gravelly sub soils...all deposited by the rivers and streams which drain freely from the rugged inland ranges in the west. Our winemakers are able to blend ripe fruit from different locations to achieve wines of true regional harmony and character.

Starting in the late 1980s, and through the 1990s, the Delegat family has established a strong viticultural presence in the Marlborough wine region of New Zealand's South Island, investing in and establishing prime vineyard sites. This expansion continues today. Marlborough regularly gets more sunshine hours than any other region in New Zealand and it has a long slow ripening season extending into April, with cooler nights helping to preserve acidity. Our Oyster Bay Marlborough vineyards are planted in the prime central Wairau Valley on shallow stony soils over deep layers of free draining river shingle...ideal for reducing vine vigour and encouraging concentrated fruit flavours.

The Delegat family believes that to make great wine, passion is the greatest ingredient.

This passion is present in every aspect of winemaking and is also expressed in abundance by the 'extended family' of growers, viticulturists, vineyard managers and winemakers who make their wonderful and individual contributions.