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Great Little Vineyards: Wine Revolutionaries with Heart
When Daniel Kemp founded what began as Kemp Wine Merchants back in 2001, he wasn’t just opening another wine shop – he was embarking on a revolutionary mission to transform how New Zealanders experience wine. Born from his deep-seated passion for fine wine, cultivated during his days managing his own restaurant, The Bach, Daniel envisioned something extraordinary: a wine destination that would celebrate the artisans, not just their bottles.
But Daniel’s journey starts long before the first bottle was ever shelved under the Great Little Vineyards banner. His adventure wound through the vine-laced hillsides of Europe, where he found himself drawn not just to the taste of great wine, but to the hands and hearts that make it. In Burgundy and Bordeaux, among winemaking families whose histories stretch back for generations, Daniel absorbed a crucial lesson: wine at its best is an act of devotion to place and tradition. It’s a labour of patience, a careful coaxing of the land’s bounty into expressions as unique as fingerprints.
For over two decades, Great Little Vineyards has stood at the forefront of New Zealand’s wine revolution, earning recognition from prestigious publications like Decanter Magazine, who declared us “the wine shop that sells the best of New Zealand (and the world)” and proclaimed that wine lovers would be “in heaven” when they discovered our carefully curated selection.
What sets us apart isn’t our size – quite the opposite. We’re deliberately small, passionately focused, and utterly dedicated to discovering the extraordinary. While others chase volume and mainstream appeal, we pursue something far more precious: authenticity. Our shelves tell stories of remarkable winemakers who pour their souls into every bottle, from emerging New Zealand pioneers to legendary European estates that have been perfecting their craft for centuries.
Our philosophy is beautifully simple yet profoundly powerful: wonderful people produce wonderful wine. This belief drives every decision we make, from the embryonic estates we champion to the established masters we represent. We seek out visionaries who share our unwavering commitment to quality over quantity – producers who are cut from the same cloth, totally dedicated to creating something exceptional.
Take Sébastien David in France’s Loire Valley, a winemaker whose hands bear the marks of a life spent tilling the earth and who still ploughs his vineyards with horses, respecting ancient rhythms. Or the devoted team behind Sato Wines in Central Otago, whose minimal-intervention winemaking in the breathtaking southern reaches of New Zealand results in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that seem to hum with the spirit of their wild, windswept home. Each of these producers goes beyond the ordinary: they tend their vines with the same care that an artist lavishes on paint and canvas, viewing their farms not as factories, but as living systems to be cherished, not exploited.
Take our remarkable portfolio of sustainable wine pioneers. We’ve become renowned throughout New Zealand for our unparalleled range of biodynamic, organic, and vegan wines. These aren’t just trending labels for us – they represent a fundamental respect for Mother Nature and a commitment to interfering as little as possible with her magnificent work. Our producers typically maintain densely planted vines that are low cropped, often yielding just one to two tonnes per acre. This means only the very best fruit is selected, embodying our unwavering principle: quality, not quantity.
At Collaboration Wines in Hawke’s Bay, the relationship between grower and winemaker is almost symphonic, each season’s offering a new movement in a grand composition. Over in Spain, Egobodegas embraces both tradition and innovation, crafting reds in Jumilla that burst with ripe fruit, balanced by the region’s blazing sun and parched soils—a true testament to resilience and vision.
From the sun-drenched vineyards of Collaboration in Hawke’s Bay to the innovative Spanish producer Egobodegas in Jumilla, our curated selection spans the globe while maintaining an intimate, personal touch. Our partnership with Central Otago’s Sato Wines showcases New Zealand’s emerging talent, while our rare wine collection features treasures like the Destiny Bay Magna Praemia 2015 – bottles that represent the absolute pinnacle of winemaking artistry.
But names and locations only paint part of the picture. What truly gives life to Great Little Vineyards is the shared attitude—a spirit of “do it right or not at all.” Our winemakers embrace time-honored techniques like wild fermentation and hand harvesting, sometimes shunning modern shortcuts that might save effort but rob wine of character. Others have pushed boundaries, daring to craft orange wines, late-harvest rarities, and micro-vinification’s that are more art project than mass production.
What truly distinguishes Great Little Vineyards is our dedication to education and experience. We don’t simply sell wine; we create moments of discovery. Our carefully orchestrated tastings and events transform wine appreciation from a solitary pursuit into a shared journey of exploration. Whether you’re a curious newcomer eager to discover new varietals or a seasoned connoisseur seeking that elusive, limited-edition treasure, our expert team provides personalised recommendations that honour your palate and expand your horizons.
Our company is predicated on fostering genuine connection—between soil and glass, people and story. When you come to one of our tastings or join a winemaker dinner, you’re not merely sampling what’s in the bottle; you’re stepping into a tradition, feeling the pulse of a place, and glimpsing the joy and challenges that brought that vintage to life. We believe wine is never just a drink—it’s the purest form of celebration and connection.
Our commitment extends beyond our physical presence to our digital platform, where every wine tells its story through rich descriptions and detailed tasting notes. We believe that understanding the provenance, the passion, and the process behind each bottle enhances the entire experience. When you purchase from Great Little Vineyards, you’re not just buying wine – you’re investing in a relationship with the dedicated artisans who created it.
The rare wines section of our collection represents our deepest commitment to excellence. These aren’t merely expensive bottles; they’re liquid testimonials to extraordinary vision and uncompromising dedication. From the ethereal Essenzia di Caiarossa 2013 Magnum to the celebrated Von Winning Rieslings from Germany’s Pfalz region, each bottle has earned its place through merit, not marketing.
Beneath it all lies our devotion to sustainable winegrowing. Biodynamic, organic, and low-intervention methods aren’t buzzwords—they’re the foundation for honest, expressive wines. Whether it means labouring under the sun to prune vines by hand, supporting biodiversity with cover crops, or following lunar cycles, our partner estates do the hard yards so the land—and the wine—can sing.
Our sustainability focus reflects a profound understanding that great wine begins with healthy soil and thriving ecosystems. The producers in our portfolio share this reverence for the earth, employing biodynamic practices that work in harmony with natural rhythms and seasonal cycles. This isn’t just environmentally responsible – it creates wines of extraordinary depth and character that truly reflect their terroir.
Daniel’s vision has evolved into something magnificent: a wine destination that honours tradition while embracing innovation, that celebrates established excellence while nurturing emerging talent. Our customers don’t just purchase wine from us – they join a community of passionate enthusiasts who understand that great wine is about connection, discovery, and the pure joy of sharing something exceptional.
With extremely generous New Zealand shipping rates and international delivery to most countries, we’ve made our carefully curated selection accessible to wine lovers everywhere. Our newsletter subscribers enjoy exclusive access to members-only offers and events, creating an inner circle of passionate wine enthusiasts who share our commitment to quality and discovery.
Great Little Vineyards isn’t just about selling wine – we’re custodians of stories, champions of artisans, and facilitators of those magical moments when the perfect wine transforms an ordinary evening into an extraordinary memory. Every bottle we select, every relationship we nurture, and every recommendation we make reflects our unwavering dedication to celebrating the magnificent alchemy that occurs when passionate people create something truly exceptional.
So what’s next for Great Little Vineyards? The journey continues—with a steadfast eye on discovering tomorrow’s superstars, supporting the next wave of pioneering winemakers, and sharing the delight and wonder of truly exceptional wine with everyone who walks through our doors, visits us online, or raises a glass in our honour. Our dream is simple, but grand: to help New Zealand and the world connect, one glorious bottle and one unforgettable story at a time.
This is our revolution: making extraordinary wine accessible, authentic, and absolutely unforgettable. Join us, and discover the world of wine at its most passionate, its most personal, its most sublime.