Pyramid Valley

Pyramid Valley is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive fine wine estates, producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with captivating perfume, beautiful texture and a compelling sense of place. Its story began in 2000, when Mike and Claudia Weersing settled on the limestone-rich hills of Waikari in North Canterbury after years spent searching for the right place to grow these demanding varieties. Mike brought experience gained in Burgundy and cellars across Europe, while Claudia’s commitment to biodynamics shaped the vineyards from their first planting. Together, they established an estate where small differences in soil and slope became the foundation for wines of remarkable individuality. Since acquiring Pyramid Valley in 2017, Steve Smith MW and Brian Sheth have continued that vision, with winemaker Huw Kinch guiding its next chapter.

At the heart of Pyramid Valley lies the Waikari estate, where closely planted vines grow in intricate combinations of limestone, clay and marl. Its cool climate allows the grapes to ripen slowly, developing flavour while retaining the freshness that gives these wines their poise. The celebrated Botanicals Collection explores individual vineyard parcels, named after the plants that grow naturally among them, including Lion’s Tooth Chardonnay and Earth Smoke Pinot Noir. Further south, the Low Burn estate in Central Otago brings another dimension through its sheltered terraces and calcium-rich soils, while relationships with carefully chosen growers extend the collection to sites such as Kererū Road in Hawke’s Bay. Both estate vineyards are certified organic, with biodynamic principles and regenerative farming supporting healthy soils and a rich diversity of plant life.

That thoughtful approach continues in the cellar, where indigenous yeasts and measured winemaking allow each vineyard’s character to unfold. Across the range, the Chardonnays combine citrus and orchard fruit with layered texture, savoury detail and a saline freshness, while the Pinot Noirs draw you in with fragrant red fruit, floral notes, fine tannins and subtle earthy complexity. For lovers of Burgundy, there is much to appreciate in their balance and attention to place, alongside a personality unmistakably their own. Explore Pyramid Valley through the inviting North Canterbury and Low Burn wines, the distinctive Kererū Road Chardonnay and the finely detailed Botanicals bottlings: a collection equally suited to a thoughtful dinner, a special gift or a patient place in the cellar.