Walking the 50 hectare vineyard at Te Awa Winery you will see the vines planted in free draining alluvial soils, typical of the area. These are the trails of the old Ngaruroro River which meandered through the region until a huge flood changed its course in 1867. Farther along Gimblett Road the soil is all stone and shingle with little variation. At Te Awa however, the same stone and shingle profile is interspersed with small patches of sand and silt left behind by the swirling river all those years ago.

Te Awa occupies a prime position in the Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District, one of the premium Hawke’s Bay wine growing sites. Warm temperatures, low rainfall and the permeability of the soils creates an almost paradoxical blend of consistency and complexity. The region has produced some of New Zealand's most sought after Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay.