Ben Bolitho formally started in the family business in 2001 as vineyard manager, but has lived and breathed the business since his childhood days growing up on the vineyards. Today he is Waimea's General Manager and viticulturist, responsible for the day to day operations of the company's 140 hectares of vineyards, as well as managing all contract growers.

"I'd like to think that the care with which we manage the soil and the plants that grow in it, has an enormous impact on the ultimate quality and consistency of the wine we produce".

A Family Business

In the early nineties, Trevor and Robyn Bolitho were keen to diversify their horticultural operation into grapegrowing and winemaking. They recognised that the stony alluvial soils of the Waimea Plains were ideal for fine wine production. We planted our Annabrook, Hunter and Hill vineyards between 1993 and 1995. The first wine from these vines was produced in 1997 and was an immediate success, winning Trophy for best Sauvignon Blanc in the 1998 Winestate Awards. By 2006 we had planted our Hope, Packhouse, Colin's and Lansdowne Road Vineyards and built a modern winery on site to support the rapid growth in wine production.

One of the distinguishing features of Nelson wineries today is that all of them are family owned and run and Waimea Estates is no exception. Very much hands on, viticulturists Trevor Bolitho and his son Ben are intimately involved with production, micromanaging the 140 hectares of vineyards in order to deliver the best possible fruit to the winery.

We pride ourselves on remaining effectively a boutique producer. Since those first plantings, as a family we have been  intimately involved with production, micro-managing the vineyards in order to deliver the best possible fruit to the winery, in the absolute belief that great wines begin in the vineyard.

Trevor, Robyn, Ben & Anna Bolitho

Trevor and Robyn Bolitho planted their first grapes on the Waimea Plains of Nelson in 1993.

"I think nothing has been more satisfying than seeing many years hard work in the vineyards pay off year after year in award winning wines that are enjoyed by people all over the world.