About Settlement
We are passionate about producing delicious wines that are expressions of a single vineyard block and respectful of the land the fruit comes from.
At Settlement, we seek out the most distinguished parcels of fruit from some of Marlborough’s finest organic single vineyards, to create four wines that reflect the diverse parcels of land the fruit comes from. The wines produced – a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir - are well suited to Marlborough’s soil profile and climate, and are sourced from individual sites in the Wairau and Southern Valley’s renowned for their silty clay loams, established vines, and organic farming practices. By choosing exceptional vineyard sites, little is required from us in the winery. The purity of fruit and flavour is nurtured in the organic vineyard, and any variation in season is embraced in the winery with little intervention required during the winemaking process. Creating elegant, complex and structured wines.
Steve Planthaber
Steve grew up in the Barossa Valley, surrounded by vineyards and the wine industry from a young age. On leaving school he found his way to the deep south of New Zealand to study chemistry and work for some of New Zealand’s largest companies in a variety of roles. A move to Marlborough with his partner Kirsty Sutherland cemented his love of wine, and after 12 enjoyable years working for Cloudy Bay Vineyards in production and operations, he decided to use his diverse skills and experience to relish the opportunity to form his own wine brand, Settlement.
As the owner and winemaker of Settlement, Steve is hands on from the selection of organic fruit from single vineyard sites, right through to bottling and the marketplace. When not at work, Steve is kept busy by his young family, and loves spending time outdoors, relaxing in the Marlborough Sounds, or racing his vintage car.