Ara is a special piece of land in the Wairau Valley located just outside the Marlborough township of Renwick.
The Dart, the Ara operations building, is a real-life expression of commercial architecture's leading edge. It demonstrates beautifully how functionality and efficiency can coexist with aesthetics and sustainability.
As much about function as it is about form, The Dart is designed to make work life on the estate efficient and enjoyable. Materials used in its construction were selected for their durability and minimal environmental footprint. Most of them were sourced locally or from sustainably-grown forests. In the year it was built, The Dart won the Commercial Architecture category at the New Zealand Institute of Architects' Nelson-Marlborough Architecture Awards.
Recent Award Winners
2012 Ara Select Block Pinot Gris: Gold Medal Royal Easter Show 2013. The wine delivers rich aromas of pear, nectarine and a touch of honey finishing with a spiced citrus lift. Not too sweet or overpowering.
2010 Ara Select Blocks Pinot Noir: Gold Medal at the 2012 New World Wine Awards and Silver at the International Wine Challenge in London 2012. The grapes were hand-harvested and the wine has vibrant boysenberry and dark cherry aromas.
Both these wines are perfect winter warmers with salmon, duck or lamb.
For more information check out www.arawines.co.nz