About Us
Our aim is to produce wines that reflect the unspoilt freshness, purity and cool climate of the south, while retaining in each its individual regional and varietal character.
The fruit for these wines comes from our Main Divide Te Hau vineyard situated on the Glasnevin Gravels of the Waipara Valley, North Canterbury. We also work with a handful of selected North Canterbury vineyards that have been chosen because of their unique situations or terroir and the quality of their grapes. Our intention is to work with the growers of these vineyards throughout the season to obtain quality fruit, all of which is then hand-crafted into wine by the Donaldson Family at Pegasus Bay.
Main Divide's philosophy is based on individuality and harmony. We wish to produce distinctive, vibrant, and complex wines that reflect the unique aspects of our region.
The Donaldson Family
The Donaldson family have been immersed in the wine industry since the early 1970’s and were pioneers of local grape growing and wine making. Associate Professor and Consultant Neurologist, Ivan Donaldson, first became interested in wine when his girlfriend at the time, Christine, gave him a book simply called - ‘Wine’.
Penned by English industry legend, Hugh Johnson, the book started Ivan on an exciting journey, that has never stopped. After travelling to explore the wine regions of Europe, Ivan returned home to plant one of the first vineyards of modern times in Canterbury… and to marry Christine, who has been an integral part of the Pegasus Bay and Main Divide story.
Their eldest son, Matthew, is Winemaker while another son, Edward (a trained chef) is Marketing Manager. Edward’s wife Belinda, managers the hospitality side of the business.
Michael was the last son to join the business after his return from overseas, finding a natural fit as Local Sales Manager, while the youngest son Paul, who has an MBA, is the winery’s General Manager.