6 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT URLAR Gladstone T T Kim Newth Winery a showstopping destination URLAR’s new cellar door and extended winery facilities, which opened last July, are a real showstopper for the region. “We have had two good seasons in a row, so we’re very satisfied with both the quality and quantity of this year’s harvest.” With a newly extended winery and beautiful new cellar door, URLAR Gladstone is winning praise and support as a top wine and dine destination in the Wairarapa wine region, with visitors and locals alike flocking to savour all that this premium offering provides. Nestled in picturesque wine-growing country between Martinborough and Masterton, URLAR is renowned for producing exceptional pinot noir and other award-winning wines. ‘URLAR’ is a Scottish Gaelic word that means ‘of the earth’. This ethos defines every aspect of grape-growing and wine-making at the 33-hectare vineyard, with a team dedicated to giving life back to the soil and upholding sustainability principles. Angus and Davina Thomson, originally from Scotland, planted the first vines at URLAR in 2004. Organic production remained central to the operation after the Nishi family took over ownership in 2018. The Nishi family, who also own sake breweries and whisky distilleries in Japan, first started planning for URLAR’s new cellar door and expanded winery facilities in 2018. “We appointed Wellington DLA Architects, and once we completed the design phase, the project went out for tender,” says Kohei Koyama, URLAR director and winegrower. “We ended up selecting a local contractor with a very good reputation, Rigg Zschokke. The building work started at the end of 2019, just before Covid. The lockdowns and shortages were enormously challenging, and with the border restrictions Mr Nishi could not travel here to monitor progress on-site. It was tricky, but we got there, thanks to a great team. The end result is a Japanese concept infused with Kiwi practicality.” Another challenge for the project was that the winery had to keep operating while the extension was being built. Careful planning and scheduling work was required. “We had Master Builder awards’ judges here recently, who were very interested in how the project was managed. We’re one of the nominated projects now being considered for an award in our region.” URLAR’s new cellar door and extended winery facilities, which opened last July, are a real showstopper for the region. With its folded, dark-stained cedar façade, the cellar door is aesthetically striking. A lakeside deck provides panoramic vineyard views, which can also be enjoyed from the elegant upstairs dining area. As well as showcasing URLAR’s organic wines, the cellar door offers a crafted menu of delicious seasonal cuisine. Local ingredients, such as artisan olive oil, meat and bread, are featured on the menu, supplemented by fresh herbs and produce grown at URLAR. The cellar door, which includes boardroom facilities, is available for functions and corporate meetings. The adjacent winery facilities have been extended and repurposed, effectively tripling the original space. It includes a barrel hall, new winery production spaces and a modern laboratory. “Since we opened our cellar door, we have had a lot of support – not just from tourists, but also locals, especially people from Masterton. With our lovely blend of newly built cellar door and functional winery, it’s a new destination for Wairarapa. People come and stay for a couple of hours, enjoying our wine and food as well as the location and view from the cellar door.” Kohei says the spacious production facilities are fitted out perfectly for smooth and efficient winemaking and are very safe and easy to use. Sixty French oak barrels, made from century-old oak trees, arrived in February in time for the 2025 harvest, now underway. “We have had two good seasons in a row, so we’re very satisfied with both the quality and quantity of this year’s harvest,” Kohei says. URLAR’s ongoing focus in the years ahead will continue to be on growing grapes and making wine in a way that’s also good for the environment. “We recognise that we’re guardians of this land for the generations to come.” Proudly supporting URLAR Winery
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