
Wines
We make small batch wines from vineyard sites discovered around New Zealand. Focusing on organic and sustainable viticultural practices and making intriguing wines.
Winemaker, Laurence and partner, Rebecca started Gravel Down Wines in 2018 wanting to establish a creative and sustainable micro-winery. Gravel Down wines are a pure expression of site with strong attention to detail. Laurence’s winemaking philosophy is one of gentle and thoughtful processes. Selective hand-picking complements managed natural ferments and maturation. We avoid mechanical crushers, destemmers or pumps and all our wines are unfined and unfiltered with only a small addition of sulphur at bottling.
Gravel Down is a nod to the interrelationship between the vines and alluvial soils of New Zealand’s vineyards. Our name references the contrasting textures required to develop balanced and harmonious wines. Gravel – the structured, the hard and angular. Down – the soft, ethereal, and elegant.
We source fruit from both Hawkes Bay and West Auckland. Primarily selecting parcels from certified organic vineyards that we believe to be unique and interesting sites. Depending on the year we are making anywhere from 3-7 barrels of wine (900-2000 bottles).
-
2021 Syrah
Organically grown Syrah sourced from a single vineyard on the banks of the Oratia stream in Auckland. Hand-picked, made and bottled by family and friends. 100% whole bunch, wild yeast fermentation. One month on skins. Gentle basket press to neutral French oak. 8 months maturation. Bottled with minimal added sulphur <10ppm.
Two barrels produced. -
2020 Golden Slumbers
A limestone lullaby to a wine nurtured through its extended elevage and an ode to a beautiful site. 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on the limestone slopes of Central Hawkes Bay. Hand-picked, made and bottled by family and friends.
Harvested during covid lockdown by my family bubble who camped amongst the vines and hauled the grapes back to our home winery.
Wild yeast fermentation with 50% on skins and 50% full solids in barrel. Oxidatively handled and aged on primary lees in neutral French oak for 24 months.
Extended bottle age prior to release in 2025. Unfined and unfiltered. 2 barrels produced.
-
2020 Waoku Red
An acknowledgment of where this wine was pieced together, Waoku (dense forest) refers to our family farm in South Hokianga.
Organically grown (Biogro certified) Syrah (83%) and Petit Verdot (17%) sourced from a single vineyard on the banks of the Oratia Stream, Auckland. Hand-picked, made and bottled by family and friends. 100% whole bunch, wild yeast fermentation. 8 weeks on skins. Gentle basket press to neutral French oak. 18 months in barrel. Unfined and unfiltered. Minimal Sulphur. 3 barrels produced.
-
2021 Oratia Red
Named after the Oratia Stream that borders the vineyard, this wine is a unique co-fermented blend of red (Syrah and Petit Verdot) and white (Gruner Veltliner, Petit Manseng and Verdelho) varieties.
Organically grown (Biogro certified) and hand harvested from a single vineyard on the banks of the Oratia Stream, Auckland. This wine was lovingly made and bottled by family and friends. 100% whole bunch, wild yeast fermentation. 7 months on skins. Gentle basket press to neutral French oak. 24 months in barrel. Unfined and unfiltered. Minimal Sulphur. 1 barrel produced.
About Us
Kia ora!
We're Rebecca and Laurence. The idea to create Gravel Down Wines was formed during time spent working and traveling in Europe. We were inspired by the culture of small, family run wine businesses and wanted to create something similar in New Zealand.
All our wines are hand-picked, made, and bottled with the help of family and friends. The winery space is a repurposed old Kauri barn in the foothills of the Waima ranges in Hokianga, Northland.
Laurence Brand, Winemaker
An interest in the connection between art and science and a love of travel led me to pursue a career in winemaking. I spent my early twenties working in vineyards across Australia and New Zealand, then went on to graduate from the esteemed bachelor program at the University of Adelaide. Since then I have worked fifteen vintages across Australia, France, Austria, UK, US and New Zealand, allowing me to gain experience in a wide range of winemaking styles.
Rebecca Thorne
Mum to Elena, Communications Adviser at Nelson City Council, and spend the remainder of my time bottling & labelling wine with Laurence and our dog, Rua.
It's important to us that Gravel Down Wines is run as sustainably as possible – from packaging to power and water consumption through to composting all our grape marc (which our vege garden loves!).

Contact Us
Phone 022 393 8711