Te Whare Ra (TWR) - Handcrafted wines from Marlborough’s old vines

Te Whare Ra (TWR) – Handcrafted wines from Marlborough’s old vines

Te Whare Ra is a small, family-run estate in the Renwick sub-region of Marlborough, New Zealand. Owned and operated by experienced winemakers Anna and Jason Flowerday, the 11-hectare vineyard was originally planted in 1979, making it one of the oldest in the region. The soils—loam over clay—contribute to the depth and character of the wines.

TWR is known for its low-yielding vines. All grapes are hand-picked and hand-sorted, ensuring only the best fruit makes it into the bottle.

Wines are crafted with minimal intervention in a purpose-built, small-scale winery designed for precision and small-batch winemaking. The range includes:

• Gewürztraminer
• Riesling
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Pinot Gris
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir
• Syrah
• The signature aromatic white blend “Toru”

Each wine reflects the care, craftsmanship, and unique terroir of this exceptional Marlborough estate.

In 2003, Te Whare Ra was purchased by the husband and wife winemaker team Anna and Jason Flowerday. Together they have taken Te Whare Ra to new heights and won many awards for their wines and their efforts in organic farming, amongst those many achievements they have also produced two sets of twin girls. So life is pretty busy! Jason grew up in Marlborough and Anna is from McLaren Vale in South Australia. With both of them hailing from multi-generational wine backgrounds it was as natural as breathing that they end up with their own winery.

“top Marlborough producer to watch for”– Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast

“one of the most interesting producers in Marlborough.”– Dr. Jamie Goode

Te Whare Ra – Honest, handcrafted wines without compromise

At Te Whare Ra, craftsmanship comes first. All wines are made on-site in a small, purpose-built winery in Marlborough, New Zealand – focused on quality over show.

Grapes are hand-picked, carefully sorted, and gently processed. Small-batch fermentation of individual vineyard parcels allows for precise expression of site and variety. No fining agents, additives, or artificial inputs are used. Instead, the winemaking is natural, with extended lees aging and a patient approach.

The result: characterful, authentic wines with texture, depth, and a true sense of place.

Te Whare Ra – Wines with a sense of place

The 11ha vineyard has predominantly loam over clay soils.

The vines are hand-tended with great care, using natural practices to ensure balance and vitality in the fruit. Yields are deliberately kept low, with selective crop thinning to promote natural ripeness and concentration. The result is fruit that needs minimal intervention in the winery and reflects the character of the site.

There also is a big focus on soil health in the management of their vineyard. This is achieved through old school farming, composting, biodynamic preparations, selected mixed grasses in mid rows and looking after bees and biodiversity.

“Our philosophy is wholly centered on making seriously good wine. We like wines to express their place – to speak of a somewhere-ness rather than of a same-ness, we want you to be able to taste this in our wines.”– Anna & Jason Flowerday