It was 2023. We were deep in our B Corp accreditation, thinking hard about footprint, and we came across Piquette — an ancestral method that reuses pomace, the grape skins left after pressing. Humble origins. Serious potential.
Down Low started with a question: what if low alcohol wine didn't have to apologise for itself?
Three vintages of stubbornness followed. Left to its own devices, Piquette is fragile and unhinged — there were tears and tantrums getting it to hold its shape. Keeping it fresh and stable is a tightrope walk, and we've fallen off more than once.
Vintage 2026 is our first release. It's the one we've been chasing — the shape is right, the line is clean, the drinkability is exactly what we imagined. At 3.8%, it's joyful, full flavoured, and made with all the permission and none of the apology.
Tasting Notes
Down Low Blanc is fun, fresh and honestly delicious. Full flavoured, brisk and alive — packed with lemon, kawakawa and tangerine. Certified organic, low carb, vegan friendly, 70% lighter in alcohol. High expression, low touch.
Organics
We’re certified organic through and through—not because it looks good on a label, but because it’s how we believe wine should be made: with respect for the soil, the vines, and everyone who enjoys a glass.
No synthetic shortcuts, no hidden nasties, just honest fruit guided by nature and a little dose of kiwi ingenuity. We farm like gardeners, ferment like purists, and bottle like we’re handing it to a friend—because for us, “organic” isn’t a marketing buzzword. It’s a mindset that starts in the vineyard and finishes in your glass.
About us
Clive Dougall and Peter Lorimer launched Deep Down Wine in Marlborough in 2019, set on showing another way in the region — honest, thoughtful wines from unique sites and soils across the valley.
Clive spent twelve years as Head Winemaker at Seresin Estate, where he made the first certified organic wine in Marlborough. From 2020 to 2025 he chaired Organic Winegrowers NZ and still sits on the board.
Down Low is where Deep Down goes next. Our first step into low alcohol — made the only way we know how.
