the background

The creation of Terrace Heights Estate was in the early months of 2002.  We had, since 1996, been growing grapes on contract for Whitehaven and an opportunity arose to brand the first wine a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

After a flurry of activity the T.H.E Sauvignon Blanc 2002 was released to absolute minimal fanfare.

The initial sales and marketing plan was to enter the wine in the Air NZ Wine awards of 2002.  Unfortunately, along with several other entrants our wine tasting stock for the awards was misplaced in transit and was, as a result, not judged.  This was a major blow to the marketing machine.

In March 2003 we tried again, this time with the Royal Easter Wine Show in Auckland.  The majority of our stock was still firmly ensconced in the Marlborough Bottling Company store in Blenheim.

We won a Gold medal for the THE Sauvignon Blanc 2002 at these awards and later, at the awards dinner, received the Trophy for Champion Sauvignon Blanc of the show.  We then sold our remaining stock very quickly and were on the wine map, if fleetingly.

So, some five vintages later I find myself writing this wondering where the time has gone.

This vintage we have rebranded totally but still remain true to the original concept of the pure simplicity of T.H.E. -Terrace Heights Estate.

Steve Hammond