The real hop Heroes

The story of hops craftsmanship spans 150 years in the Nelson region, with many of today's growers continuing the legacy and knowledge handed down over many generations. Luck had nothing to do with the early success of these pioneers, who were motivated by grit and fortitude. And today's hop cultivars and those still to be perfected, are a result of provenance, continued clever thinking, hard work and a passion for uncompromising quality.

In fact, today's generation of growers collectively share more than 500 years of hop growing experience.

Below is a growing collection of their stories.