Nestled between the braided Waitaki River and the lower reaches of the St. Marys Range, you will find a boutique vineyard belonging to Gary Marsh and Marg Eton-Marsh.
Searching for a weekend retreat in the winter of 2017, Gary and Marg were drawn to an abandoned vineyard in the picturesque Waitaki Valley. Little Domett Estate is now a place where their passions converge. A shared appreciation for good wine, a desire to be in nature, collective ample drive and determination brought the abandoned vineyard back from the brink.
The 3.3 hectare vineyard is planted in premium vine stock clones, designed to produce low to medium yields and those suited to the Otiake terroir. Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and Gewürztraminer varieties were planted in 2006. The vineyard was first harvested in 2010 with a vintage of Riesling. Gary and Marg planted 0.5 hectare of Pinot Noir in 2018.
Little Domett Estate's goal is to sustainably produce wines which are balanced, elegant and with the fruit purity of the Otiake terroir.
Our Mountain
Little Domett sits alongside Mount Domett where collectively they are the eastern most peaks in the stunning St Marys Ranges of North Otago. Little Domett commands prominence over our southern skyline, which overlooks the land in which our wine is grown.
Mount Domett was given its name by Commissioner Walter Mantell in October 1848 in honour of poet, philosopher and politician Alfred Domett. The mountain is also known by local Iwi as Te Huruhuru after the prominent Kai Tahu leader.
Today, surrounded by remnants of the areas gold prospecting days, the mountains offer hunting, tramping and mountaineering activities.
Our River
We gather the pristine glacial waters from the Waitaki River, as it flows 109km from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean.
The braided river is ever-changing, shifting its pathways according to the current conditions, creating new islands and wetlands and washing away the old.
A popular fishing river the Waitaki is renowned for its annual salmon run.
Our Land
Situated on the southern side of the Waitaki Valley, our vineyard lies below its namesake, Little Domett on Otiake Road.
Little Domett Estate sits on fertile free draining alluvial flats. The greywacke river gravels are underlaid with limestone from the surrounding hills and escarpments.
Distinctively Waitaki Valley; our Little Domett wines are expressive of the land they come from. The complex geology and exceptional free-draining soils produce wines notable for their distinctive minerality, crisp acidity, and complexity of fruit flavours.
Being competitive trail runners with backgrounds in horticulture and operations management their new venture drew on their commonalities including a strong work ethic, resilience and optimism. The pair continue to be hands-on in the business and vineyard. Gary and Marg strive to reap the rewards of their passion and commitment to producing great wine.