Tukipo River Estate Vineyard lies on Highway 50 on the stony terraces of the Tukipo River and overlooked by the Tukipo Terraces House. The first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines were planted in 2001 by Bay and Shona de Lautour and the vineyard is now run by their daughter Kate and her husband Roland Norman.
Roland, who is in charge of all winemaking and vineyard operations aims to make the Chardonnay with the French region of Chablis in mind.
"I wanted to create a wine that was flinty and demonstrated crisp acidity which also reflects our cooler nights and higher altitude in Central Hawke's Bay. With subtle use of French oak and partial malo-lactic, a creaminess has been achieved which doesn't overwhelm the clarity of the fruit."
Roland Norman

The vineyard is very much a family - run operation with all the family getting involved throughout the season especially at harvest time.

We are lucky to have family nearby so it was all hands on deck for the 2006 vintage with ten nieces and nephews,their parents, friends and neighbours helping to pick the Chardonnay grapes.

"After the harvest we all sat down with some of the small samples left over from the 2004 vintage and a bowl of smoked trout paté, which had been caught in the Tukipo River - we decided it was a match made in heaven and the name stuck."
Kate de Lautour

What the critics say.....

2009 Fat Trout Chardonnay Five Stars - Yvonne Lorkin July 17 2010

2009 Fat Snapper Chardonnay - Featured in Dish Magazine, Christmas edition

2006 Fat Duck Pinot Noir

" The 2006 Fat Duck is the first ever Pinot Noir produced by Roland Norman and Kate de Latour, the husband and wife team behind Tukipo River Estate - and it's released just in time for the duck shooting season! It has classic forest-floor and bramble fruit characters, with an earthy, spice-laden bouquet. Seasoned leather, black cherry and bracken flavours lead to a long, silky finish. Good work!"
Hawke's Bay Today, May 5th 2007

2006 Fat Trout Chardonnay.....
 

Wow! What a debut from Roland Norman and Kate de Lautour. Aromas of ripe nectarine, grapefruit and creamy, nutty characters lead to a concentrated, full bodied wine. Complete with Chablis-like vibrant acidity and satisfying length of flavour, this is the perfect gift for the wine lover and fisherman alike. Because its not just trout by name, its trout by nature. Each bottle comes with a nifty trout fly around the neck, mine boasted a Taupo Tiger that I can't wait to cast out.

Bay of Plenty Times January 8th 2007

Tukipo River Estate Fat Trout Chardonnay 2006

"Kate de Lautour, a former BBC journalist and her husband Roland Norman are now also producing wine from the de Lautour family farm. Made by Roland, who worked for one of Britain's best known wine merchants, it is sold under the Fat Trout label and the crisp, clean debut 2006 Chardonnay bodes well for what is to come."
The Dominion Post Jan 13th 2007.
 

Current vintages. Prices are RRP only.

2009 Fat Duck Pinot Noir $40.00
2010 NEW RELEASE Fat Pheasant Pinot Noir $21
2010 Fat Trout Chardonnay $28.00
2008 Fat Trout Chardonnay with trout fly attached $30
2010 Fat Snapper Chardonnay $19.95

Trade enquiries welcome. No freight costs on multiple case orders.
Now available in the UK - contact Bancroft Wines www.bancroftwines.com

Kate de Lautour and Roland Norman
The home of Fat Trout Chardonnay and Fat Duck Pinot Noir,
2581 Highway 50, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Postal Address: 77 Valentine Road, RD5, Hastings
06 8796237 • 0274 323 087 or 0274323045
email: roland.kate@xtra.co.nz