Who we are
Gate 20 Two began as a happy accident. When Nigel and Pauline McKinlay purchased land here, they quickly realised they had stumbled upon something extraordinary. Not just a home site, but a rare pocket of earth within one of the world’s finest Pinot Noir regions. It seemed impossible not to plant vines. What started as curiosity soon became devotion, and over the years their careful stewardship transformed this once-bare slope into a thriving vineyard producing elegant Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, each bottle an honest reflection of the land that inspired it.
Today, the vineyard has entered a new chapter under the care of Debbie and Steve Sullivan, who were drawn to Bannockburn’s beauty and the vineyard’s quiet sense of purpose. For them, Gate 20 Two represents more than a retirement dream, it’s a way to gather family, celebrate connection, and continue a story already rich with passion and place. With deep respect for Nigel and Pauline’s work, they are nurturing the vines with the same hands-on approach, bringing fresh energy and family warmth to every harvest.
As the seasons turn, Gate 20 Two remains what it has always been, a labour of love rooted in the Bannockburn soil, where every glass tells the story of those who’ve cared for it, past and present.
A place we love
The vineyard was gradually established between 2001 and 2004. It sits on an almost square site of steep to rolling land, surrounded by conservation reserves. The views are towards the striated cliffs of the old gold mines to the South and towards Queenstown up the Kawarau Gorge to the West.
Across the river, the Clutha valley stretches to the Lindis with the spectacular Pisa and Dunstan ranges flanking West and East. The homestead sits in the midst of the vines, ensuring close attention to vineyard management. The intimate relationship with the vines and the work involved in production is deeply satisfying. It’s a place that we love: – to wake up each morning to such superb vistas is a great experience.
The land faces North, has long sunshine hours and a complex mixture of gravels and clays. Viticulture practice is to give hands on attention, limited irrigation and low cropping to produce exceptional fruit. Our grapes are single estate and so are fully representative of our individual soils, and each particular growing season. The resulting wine is blended each season from selected clones within the vineyard. Hand work is predominant – pruning, shoot and bunch thinning, bud rubbing, leaf plucking, and harvesting are all by hand. Gate 20 Two is a certified sustainable vineyard and all due care is taken to adhere to those independent standards.
Our wines
The vineyard is now producing at maximum capacity. Controlling that capacity to produce the quality we are seeking is the main aim of the viticulture.
Most of our crop is contracted to Mt Difficulty winery, but our desire to extend the quality achieved in the vineyard through to a finished wine led to the Gate 20 Two brand, with the aim of creating first class wines of distinction. Viticultural expertise, our particular site’s unique climate and soils, and the experience and finesse of our winemaker are a great base from which to achieve this result. We seek to produce exceptional wines which will always have a limited release. Grapes for Gate 20 Two are from selected vines. Even on a small vineyard soil, slope and clone type combine to produce distinct flavours from particular blocks. The wines made will reflect that terroir.
It’s pretty much a family affair on our Central Otago Winery. Our viticulture is ably managed and directed by Greg Lane from Mt Difficulty winery, and we do as much of the work towards achieving quality as we can ourselves. We all aim to produce intense rich flavours from vines that are managed for low yield and high quality harvests.
A unique cellar door experience
Gate 20 Two cellar door is open year round,11-4pm daily.
Our cellar door is part of our house on the vineyard. We are happy to welcome you as guests and to have the chance to tell you about ourselves and our wines.
You will have the opportunity to taste and to buy – we sell only from the vineyard – and we enjoy meeting the people who drink and appreciate our wine. You can also see and learn about a working vineyard while you visit.
We are easy to find along Felton Rd. in Bannockburn, simply turn first right after you cross the bridge. As a bonus the view from the vineyard is spectacular. If you are in Central Otago please take the the time to visit, we look forward to meeting you.
