Black Estate is a family-owned business run by Penelope (Pen) and Nicholas (Nick) Naish, situated at the top of the Waipara Valley in North Canterbury, New Zealand.
The area the three unique organic and biodynamic vineyards they own and farm in is called Omihi. It has clay and limestone soils and a cool climate which Pen says means pinot is happy there. “It’s also a good place to live,” she says. “Lots of good food, old farms, wine and farming friends around.”
Pen looks after the marketing, sales and exports side of the business, and Nick grows and makes the wine (“… and fixes the water pump and chops wood, and finds my keys in the vineyard,” says Pen), but being family-owned means everyone gets a say on how to do things; even the staff.