Who
We Are
Confluence Estate is owned by Robert Pierce and Melanie Pierce, who together have nearly 40 years of experience in the wine industry.
Melanie is a qualified Viticulturist with an Applied Science degree, majoring in Viticulture and Enology. In 2013, Melanie passed the Court of Master Sommeliers exam to become a Certified Sommelier. She also has a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economics and Accounting.
"I am a firm believer in the French term of Terroir. 90% of a wines quality comes from the vineyard and we, as vineyard managers, need to take all the factors and influences that Mother Nature and our general environment throws at us each year and adjust our growing practices accordingly to always maintain balance and uniformity within our vines."
"I am often asked Why I wanted to spend months studying for the Court exams. The answer is quite simple. To learn more. To learn more about how the different wine regions around the world grow grapes, what grapes they grow and why, different soil types and growing conditions, different wine making practices and wine aging requirements and how different environmental conditions are worked with. All of these variables ultimately affect the finished wine, so being good at sensory evaluation and understanding how differences in viticultural practices flow into the finished wines makes me a more informed grower with a very strong focus of providing wine consumers with the best possible drinking experience."
Vineyard
Focus
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Quality Grape Production
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Growing Grapes with Classic Character
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Canopy Management
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Sustainable Pest and Disease Management
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Beneficial Cover Crop Management
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Maintaining Vine Balance and Uniformity
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Healthy Soils
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Minimal Irrigation
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Natural Fertilizer use
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Vast Understanding of the Industry
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Forming Long Term Relationships with Wineries