With Crowded House and Totara, Matt Ward and Fraser Brown (Catalina Sounds) launched 2 other brands that guarantee typical New Zealand and quality wines. Crowded House refers to the early years in Wairau Valley when Matt and Fraser pioneered a valley where grapes were not yet available. Meanwhile, they are far from alone here and others also discovered the enormous quality that this place has to offer. It is as they say themselves: “In the beginning, when we arrived here, we were still alone and brave, or maybe even stupid, but now we are with many others and we can really call it our home here… Our densely populated house.

The grapes come from 6 different vineyards spread across the Wairau plain and the southern valleys. Sandy soils with rocks and clay/lime soils.