About Us
Folding Hill Wine Company is owned and run by the Kerruish family. Tim and Nikki met in the North Island 30 years ago where they were both working as doctors, but they soon fell in love with the incredible wine and stunning landscapes of Central Otago. The first vines were planted in late 2003 and since then, Tim and Nikki have produced a lot of grapes and 4 children, Matthew, Mollie, Hannah and Izzy.
From the moment we arrived at Folding Hill we have taken a single minded approach to producing the very best Pinot Noir possible from our special part of the world.
Advised by legendary Central Otago viticulturist Robin Dicey, planting of our first vines commenced in late 2003. We carefully selected Pinot Noir clones, and rootstocks, proven locally to make wines with complexity, flavour, balance and length and have done everything possible to ensure the vines have been able to reach their full potential. We strongly believe that low yields are of paramount importance in creating outstanding Pinot Noir and we manage our vines intensively through the growing season to ensure crop levels are around 3.5 - 4.5 tonnes per hectare.
In 2016 we planted an acre of Chardonnay and we are absolutely delighted that it is producing top class fruit with our debut vintage being made in 2020. All the fruit for our wines is sourced from our Biogro certified organic vineyard in Bendigo.
In The Vineyard
In The Winery
Our approach to winemaking is based on the traditional philosophy and practices of the 'Old World'. We believe that hand picking optimally ripe fruit and then gently guiding it through vinification with as little intervention as possible allows us to produce elegant wines with flavour and structure that authentically reflect the special place they come from - wines that really are "Handmade from Central Otago"
Harvesting is done entirely by hand. This allows us to be scrupulous in our rejection of any unsuitable grapes, ensures that only the highest quality fruit is used and creates a more personal bond with the winemaking process. Bunches are fully destemmed and berries fermented whole in small (3000 litre) fermenters using wild and innoculated yeasts. Our different clones are treated separately throughout winemaking and elevagé to allow the assembly of a final blend that combines texture, structure and flavour.
After many years of experience our choice of barrel is now Francois Frere Medium Toast. Using a mix of new and old barrels we find these have consistently produced the best wines across all clones. Wines are bottled unfiltered and unfined.
Pinot Noir 2021
"A bouquet filled with scents of place first then ripe red berry fruits of dark cherry and cherry skin; tart raspberries then plum. A seam of mineral earth offers scents of clay and stones then spices of barrel. Firm & ripe tannins with a higher acidity frame and fruit flavours that reflect the bouquet. Lengthy, taut and complex."
Cam Douglas MW
96 points 5 stars Outstanding
read our accolades
Chardonnay 2022
“Splendidly ripe and elegantly complex, showing ripe peach, fig, nougat and almond meal characters, followed by a succulent palate offering fleshy texture combined with elegantly pitched acidity, finishing long and satisfying. At its best: now to 2028.”
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
94 points 5 stars outstanding
Ballasalla Pinot Noir 2023
"Brightly fruited and elegantly lifted, the bouquet shows sweet cherry, floral, olive and subtle spice aromas, leading to a juicy palate that's fruit-forward and silky-smooth. Beautifully rounded and supple, offering delightful drinking. At its best: now to 2029."
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
93 points 5 stars
Next Generation
The kids have grown up amongst the vines and have a deep love for the special place that is Folding Hill. Matthew was there for the very first harvest while the girls have picked plenty of grapes in the past few harvests. They are beginning to take on more active roles in the business with Matthew now running our UK tasting events and the girls showing a real flair for marketing.
