Konrad Wines

Welcome! Discover the world of Konrad Wines with us – a family-run winery in Marlborough, New Zealand. 

The people behind Konrad Wines

Konrad Wines is wholly owned by the Hengstler family: Konrad, Sigrun and their two sons, Conrad and Carlo. 

The Hengstler family originally comes from Germany and then lived for over 20 years in Melbourne, Australia. While travelling through New Zealand, Konrad discovered the Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs and decided to produce wine in Marlborough – with the goal of making full use of both the grape varieties and the terroir. 

Founding, vineyards and terroir

1. First planting / start — the family planted their first vines in 1996. 
2. Vineyards — they manage two vineyards in Marlborough: one in the Wairau Valley and one in the Waihopai Valley. Together, these vineyards cover an area of 40 hectares. 
3. Site conditions / terroir — Marlborough offers more hours of sunshine than any other region in New Zealand. The soils are stony silt with loess overlying well-draining alluvial loam in the topsoil. 

Climatic conditions & growing environment

The climatic and geographical characteristics of Konrad Wines include:

• A strong difference between day and night temperatures (diurnal climate), which helps to produce sugar during the day and preserve acidity at night. 
• Limited use of irrigation in summer to highlight root depth and soil profile. 
• Frost risk in early spring months in the Waihopai Valley, countered by measures such as overhead sprinklers and wind machines. 
• Vertical shoot positioning, leaf and fruit thinning, pruning and retrimming, low cropping depending on variety. 

Grape varieties and wine production at Konrad Wines

Konrad Wines grows various grape varieties and uses different winemaking methods, each adapted to the variety and the style of wine.

Grape varieties grown

• Sauvignon Blanc 
• Riesling 
• Gewürztraminer 
• Grüner Veltliner 
• Pinot Noir 

Winemaking and maturation methods

Insight into winemaking at Konrad Wines:

• Sauvignon Blanc: Organically certified grapes (BioGro) from their own Waihopai Valley Vineyard. A mix of hand and machine harvesting. Fermentation in stainless steel as well as barrel ferments plus the use of indigenous yeasts. 
• Riesling: Selective hand-picking in small batches from the Waihopai Valley. Whole-bunch pressing, cool fermentation in stainless steel, slight residual sweetness for balance; minerality and acid structure are important. 
• Gewürztraminer: Grapes from the “Home” and “Wall” vineyards, both in the Waihopai Valley near the Waihopai River. Use of alluvial soils. Hand-tended, leaf plucking, sensitive variety. Skin contact before fermentation, pressing, separate fermentation of free-run juice and press fractions, a proportion wild-fermented in old French barrels as well as stainless-steel tank. Ageing on fine lees for several months. 
• Grüner Veltliner: Organically farmed, single-vineyard wine from the Landfall Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley. Soils: stony loam, loam/loess over terraces above the river. Fermentation in stainless steel, a component in old French oak for texture, ageing on fine lees for several months. 
• Pinot Noir: Single-vineyard from their own Waihopai Valley block. Limited yields, hand-picked, cool harvesting of grapes (e.g. at night), cold maceration, wild fermentation, pressing, maturation in French oak barriques for about 10 months. 
• Rosé / Pinot Noir Rosé (“Sara” 2014): First dry rosé style, organically certified, grapes from the Waihopai Valley. Later harvesting, skin contact before fermentation, a proportion in old oak for maturation to achieve structure and deeper aromatics. 

Style & wine types

The wines of Konrad Wines are characterised by:

• Freshness and purity of fruit aromas, clear varietal typicity. 
• Balance between acidity, minerality and residual sugar, especially in Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
• Texture and balance – for white wines often stainless steel and for red wines and certain styles maturation in oak to gain complexity and structure. 
• Varietal diversity: aromatic whites, elegant Pinot Noir as well as rosé as a complement. 

Terroir & vineyards: Wairau and Waihopai Valleys

The two vineyards managed by Konrad Wines offer clear differences in location and expression:

1. Waihopai Valley Vineyard: 30 km from the sea, at about 124 metres above sea level. Cooler climate, dominant acidity and typical aromas. Soils: stony, silty subsoils with fertile loamy topsoil, good drainage. Frost protection measures required. 
2. Wairau Valley Vineyard: about 20 km from the ocean, at about 67 metres above sea level. Warmer microclimate, riper fruit profiles, more tropical aromatics. 

Awards & prizes

Over time, Konrad Wines has received numerous awards. Some of them:

• Gold medal – 2016 Konrad Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand Organic Wine Awards. 
• Pure Silver – 2013 Konrad Bunch Selection Riesling, AIR New Zealand Wine Awards. 
• Pure Silver – 2013 Konrad Dry Riesling, AIR New Zealand Wine Awards. 
• 91 points – 2013 Konrad Bunch Selection Riesling (Cameron Douglas Master Sommelier). 
• Silver medal for 2010 Konrad Sauvignon Blanc in Wine Award 2013. 
• Bronze medal for 2011 Gewürztraminer, International Aromatic Wine Competition. 

Philosophy, quality and responsibility

The quality and working philosophy of Konrad Wines includes:

• Quality begins in the vineyard: no shortcuts, controlled yields, selective harvesting.
• Handcrafting – many manual interventions, personal involvement of the owning family in all stages of work. 
• Sustainable viticulture: BioGro certification for Sauvignon Blanc grapes, reduced spray programmes, use of traditional vineyard practices such as leaf and fruit thinning etc. 
• Consistency and recognisability: use of the two vineyards (Wairau & Waihopai) for blending so that the Sauvignon Blanc and also Pinot Noir have a consistent taste and quality year after year. 
• Value for money: despite high quality, there is a continued effort to offer fair prices. 

Why Konrad Wines should be your choice

When you choose wines from Konrad Wines, you are choosing:

1. Wines from family ownership, with genuine manual work and personal commitment.
2. Vineyards in renowned Marlborough locations with different microclimates that provide diversity and depth.
3. Grape varieties ranging from fresh, varietally typical white wines to elegant Pinot Noir and rosé.
4. Tasting experiences with perceptible quality and expressiveness in every glass.
5. Awards that prove Konrad Wines receives recognition in competitions both nationally and internationally.

Conclusion: Authentic wines with character

Konrad Wines stands for wines that harmoniously combine origin, terroir and craftsmanship. From the first vine planted in 1996 to today, the Hengstler family has remained true to its values: quality, sustainability, transparent winemaking and expression of the soil. When you choose a wine from Konrad, you are choosing not only pleasure, but also responsibility, origin and genuine character.