Akaroa harbour was formed by a volcanic eruption and has lain dormant for thousands of years. The soils are wind blown loan and drain freely.
Early French settlers were attracted to the sheltered valley of French Farm in the early 1800’s and used the valley as their garden, producing fruit (including grapes) and vegetables for local consumption.
Romeo Bragato on his first visit to New Zealand in 1898 commented that Akaroa would become the “Vineyard of Christchurch”. After many years his prediction has been realised with the establishment of the Sunnybrae Vineyard at French Farm overlooking the breathtaking Akaroa Harbour.
Sunnybrae was originally a small dairy farm supplying milk to the local cheese factory at Barrys Bay.
In 1992 three hectares of grapes on the fertile and sunny Northern facing slopes overlooking the harbour were planted at Sunnybrae, including 1,600 pinot noir vines, 1,800 chardonnay vines, 2,200 merlot vines and 400 riesling vines. A further 550 pinot noir vines, 550 riesling vines and 100 malbec vines were planted in 1996. The first commercial harvest took place in the autumn of 1996.