More than two years ago, Hawke’s Bay producers based close to the Gimblett Gravels in ‘The Triangle’ were planning to get together to gain international recognition for their area.
Last week, the group finally launched the Bridge Pa triangle albeit without some of the area’s biggest players but let’s hope they come on board to give this subregion a chance at success.
The Triangle – also known as the Ngatarawa Triangle– first needed to settle on a name for the area and define its boundaries. It lies around one kilometre from the Gimblett Gravels, and being so close shares the same climate.
It is on the same former river bed as the Gravels but with a clay and sandy top soil. Peter Cowley, who has researched the special nature of this area for some time, explains, “The Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District is located on old terraces of the Ngaruroro River, which up until 10,000 years ago flowed out to sea between Maraekakaho and Roys Hill.
“The river deposited vast amounts of greywacke gravel known locally as red metal, which is covered in different areas by alluvium derived from loess, volcanic ash and greywacke.”
The now officially named Bridge Pa triangle covers more than 2,000 hectares and includes the largest concentration of vineyards in Hawke’s Bay.
The wines are similar in style to the Gravels but Stephen Daysh, director of Bridge Pa, claims, “The Triangle fruit isn’t as dense or heavy as Gimblett Gravels but is a little more lifted and perfumed.”
More than two years ago Paul Ham, managing director at Alpha Domus, told me: “We are constantly bombarded with Gimblett Gravels. I’m not complaining about it but it’s up to us to be proactive. Across the road from the Gravels we have this triangle sub-region which offers something else.”
“People have heard all about Gimblett Gravels and they are looking for what’s next from Hawke’s Bay, so we have a great opportunity to get some traction.”
With around 20 producers involved in the Bridge Pa triangle association, sporting a logo and official boundaries, the group has made the first steps towards greater recognition. However, to garner trade and consumer awareness, it will need the bigger producers in the region to give it real clout. I hope they support the initiative.
