The Maraekakaho Vineyard is situated on an ancient river terrace formed by the Ngaruroro River, which now flows around 60 metres below the site. Originating in the Kaweka Ranges to the west of Hawke’s Bay, the river has shaped the landscape over hundreds of thousands of years through glacial melts, floods, and droughts. The remaining terraces consist of greywacke boulders and gravels, with topsoil composed of windblown loess, volcanic ash, and humus from historic vegetation.

The New Year brought long, warm summer days and moderate–cool nights that supported balanced ripening while maintaining acidity. Favourable harvest conditions allowed for timely picking with no weather pressure. The resulting wines from Hawke’s Bay show reduced yields but high quality across varieties, with full flavour and tannin development in reds and balanced acidity with defined flavour profiles in whites.