Bell Hill

Domain

Bell Hill was founded by Marcel Giesen and Sherwyn Veldhuizen in Northern Canterbury, New Zealand. The vineyard, located in an old lime quarry in the region of Weka Pass, is composed of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Between 1997 and 2009, plantings started on only 2 hectares.  Bell Hill has a rich archaeological history. The discovery of fossils of 19 different species of birds going back 1,000 to 2,000 years were identified. Drawings from the Maoris, indigenous Polynesian people, were also discovered on rocks. The South side of the hill looks like a bell; this is where the name “Bell Hill” comes from. March 1, 2015, Bell Hill received the biological certification “BioGro” after having started the project in 2007-2008 in an attempt to preserve the terroir.  The wines are characterised by a consistent quality, with a concentration of fruits and a real expression of the terroir. The Chardonnay has great structure with a lengthening acidity. The Pinot Noir is fruitier with a very supportive tannin structure. Before selling the bottles, the wine benefits from a period of extra ageing. The wine bottles are sealed with screwcaps and not with corks to prevent oxygen from seeping into it.