Michael Fraher had been investigating growing grapes for some time.
He was training for the Coast to Coast, doing lots of cycling, and got to experience the pain of the cold strong easterly wind around Christchurch. He selected his main vineyard site in Waipara very carefully, there is no cold easterly there, buying a sheep farm from which the owner was retiring and planting 95-acres divided predominantly between Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. So it was that four generations of the Fraher family gathered at the Waipara property on State Highway 1 north of Amberley in 2002 to plant their first vines at what was initially registered as “CYCLEROAD”.
The original plan was to grow quality grapes to supply local wineries. In 2007 we had a good crop and that was when we formed an alliance with The Crater Rim, buying a minority shareholding and them buying our grapes. We made a major contribution with our volume – they already had a good relationship with a number of smaller vineyards to produce quality wine.
Unfortunately, in 2009, the fire in the winery – caused by an electrical fault – became a raging inferno with all the alcohol and wine barrels. It started in the centre of the winery and the roof was just gone…metal just vaporised.
It was a family business and the fire destroyed a great deal of equipment and the winery building itself. So they chose to sell and we took over full ownership in 2010 and are now moving on from there. Our entry level label, which is very successful for our supermarket customers, From the Ashes, was inspired by the fire. The label is dedicated to the North Canterbury Fire service and all who helped The Crater Rim rise from the ashes.
The original winery, some 10kms north of the Fraher vineyard, was rebuilt and extended and further development is ongoing as the business grows.
The original plan was to grow quality grapes to supply local wineries. In 2007 we had a good crop and that was when we formed an alliance with The Crater Rim, buying a minority shareholding and them buying our grapes. We made a major contribution with our volume – they already had a good relationship with a number of smaller vineyards to produce quality wine.
Unfortunately, in 2009, the fire in the winery – caused by an electrical fault – became a raging inferno with all the alcohol and wine barrels. It started in the centre of the winery and the roof was just gone…metal just vaporised.
It was a family business and the fire destroyed a great deal of equipment and the winery building itself. So they chose to sell and we took over full ownership in 2010 and are now moving on from there. Our entry level label, which is very successful for our supermarket customers, From the Ashes, was inspired by the fire. The label is dedicated to the North Canterbury Fire service and all who helped The Crater Rim rise from the ashes.
The original winery, some 10kms north of the Fraher vineyard, was rebuilt and extended and further development is ongoing as the business grows.