Clos Henri: French Quality Made in New Zealand!

THE BOURGEOIS FAMILY CONQUERING NEW ZEALAND

It is because the Bourgeois family, a leading figure in the Sancerre region, found it impossible to extend their estate in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé that they decided to leave France to pursue their passion without any constraints.

After many searches and visits to various countries, it was finally in New Zealand that the Bourgeois finally settled in 2000 on some 98 hectares of pastureland where not a single vine bud had been seen. They immediately fell in love with these virgin lands of the Wairau Valley, located in the Marlborough region of the South Island.

Here, the particularly mild climate is conducive to viticulture. It remained for the Bourgeois family to set up Clos Henri and to learn how to tame this land by a clever mix of French techniques and traditional New Zealand methods.

STARTING FROM SCRATCH:
A CHALLENGE FULL OF SURPRISES

Before the Clos Henri vines were planted, these 98 hectares of land were used for sheep grazing. Neither machinery nor fertilisers had disturbed the balance of the soil, leaving the new arrivals with as many possibilities as questions as to how this fertile land would be used for growing vines.

However, as the aim was not to disturb the natural biological assets of the land, the Bourgeois family began their cultivation with a long development process. They first planted nutrient-rich cereals, which they then mowed to make up for any nutrient deficiencies the vines might have.

Finally, they set up the vineyard, gradually increasing it by six hectares per year in order to better study and understand the new land. The creation of Clos Henri was therefore as exciting as it was time-consuming, and for the entire team it was a most fascinating task!

From then on, the challenge was taken up with brio, as witnessed by the incredible balance of its Pinot Noirs and the delicious citrus and passion fruit aromas of its Sauvignons - pioneering work that is bearing fruit!