Earthy flavours and velvety texture make this impressive Pinot Noir one of the best from Martinborough and it comes from one of the region's first three wineries - Martinborough Vineyards.

Te Tera is made from Martinborough Vineyards? more youthful vines, which range between nine and 24 years old from a vineyard south of Martinborough village but within the region's stony wine 'terrace' appellation. This vineyard, situated on Frater's Road, produces grapes that lend deep aromatic flavours of dark cherries,  dried herbs and spices, all of which instantly grab your attention on the nose of this elegant Pinot Noir. The palate shows soft, rich fruit flavours with a hint of spice. 

The grapes in this wine were 100% destemmed and fermented with wild yeasts in open top tanks for approximately three weeks. Hand plunging is followed by gentle pressing to barrels for 10 months aging on lees in French oak, 15% of it new. 

This is a lovely wine that consistently delivers rewarding rich flavours held in a smooth silky texture. 

This wine is from a BioGro certified organic and Demeter certified biodynamic estate vineyard located in the Bendigo subregion of Central Otago. The vineyard was first planted in 1998 and the Gruner Veltliner added in 2008. The soils on the beautiful north facing slope are Waenga fine sandy loam and Letts steepland soil with an elevation of 217 - 264 metres, on 44.55° south.

The wine is intensely golden-yellow in colour and the nose is an elegant combination of dried apricot and tropical fruit, followed by a hint of chestnuts. 

The palate offers flavours of toffee, vanilla and juniper berry, with typical Grüner peppery notes coming through. It is a well-structured, dry wine with balanced acidity, best enjoyed with a fried chicken salad or a hearty goulash.

Elegant Chablis-like Chardonnay with creamy notes and balancing acidity due to the cool climate of Central Otago's Inlet Vineyard in Bannockburn. Grapes in this wine were picked in two lots with the first pressed directly to barrel and the second lot left overnight then whole bunch pressed to barrel where they were fermented with wild yeasts and stirred weekly to encourage flavour integration from lees (yeast cells from fermentation) contact. The wine was aged in French oak, just 16% of it new and then bottled unfined but filtered.

Purity of ripe grapefruit, lemon and limes all intermingle in this bold and beautifully balanced expression of Riesling from Craighall Vineyard in Martinborough. This is one of the best Rieslings in the country and will absolutely improve with ageing for up to a decade, potentially longer in a cool dark cellar. 

Precious little of this lovely Gamay was made from a vineyard of just 1386 vines of Gamay in Northburn, Central Otago. This equates to 0.33 hectare. What this wine lacks in volume, it more than makes up for in high quality.
It?s a wonder that Gamay is only just beginning to be recognised as the plush little sister to Pinot Noir and here is another small volume, top notch example from Central Otago, which proves the point with its lush mouth feel and lively fresh dark fruit flavours.  

Silver Wing Ceramic Sauvignon ticks lots of boxes from the funky, earthy aroma notes to the fresh bright acidity that gives Sauvignon Blanc its refreshing edgy flavours. And it also ticks the vegan box. 

Winemaker Andrew Fox focusses on low intervention winemaking methods, including no filtration which may result in lees sediment in the wines, which is harmless and looks like small crystals. 

Silver Wing wines are made by Andrew Fox in the Waipara Valley, North Canterbury.  

Deep ruby in colour and impressively structured with great mouthfeel and lively acidity supporting the seductive tannins of Cabernet Franc. Grapes grown in the  Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District of Hawke?s Bay were cold soaked for four days prior to ferment to help extract maximum flavour and enhance colour stability. Fermentation included hand plunging for up to four times daily. The wine was pressed and then racked off gross lees to 14 per cent new French oak. 

This is modestly priced for such an impressive wine that is clearly a keeper, for those with willpower. 

Dog Point Vineyards Chardonnay is one of Marlborough's great dry, full bodied, creamy whites made by Ivan Sutherland and James Healy, who are two of the most talented winemakers in the country. 

Their vineyards are 100% certified organic and their winemaking is second to none. Barrel fermentation, creamy, nutty flavours are complimented with a freshness that sees these wines last for the long haul.

This drinks well now and can age for up to a decade. A delicious taste sensation and a keeper. Win win.

A laid back Pinot Noir with structure and a sense of lightness as the wine glides across the palate. 

This is made by winemaker Julian Richards, who buys grapes from Dog Point Vineyard's home black, the Ashmore Vineyard; an organically certified site. 

This wine is aged in older French oak puncheons (300 litres) for the 60 per cent of the wine with the balance in stainless steel. 

Whole bunch fermentation and foot crushing in tanks is followed by wild yeast fermentation to create interesting savoury flavours in the wine, which highlights a sense of smoothness and drinkability now and will hold for the next three to four years. 

SINGLE VINEYARD - PARKBURN VALLEY

DESCRIPTION:
The Pinot Noir from Viper Vineyard is crafted using grapes cultivated in the Grandstand Block, situated within the Viper Vineyard itself, nestled in the Parkburn region on the western shores of Lake Dunstan. This vineyard derives its name from the profusion of the wildflower "Vipers Bugloss" that blankets the surrounding area.

Perched upon an undulating terrace above the valley floor, the vineyard's soil predominantly consists of sandy loam layered over red clay fused with schist gravel. With the moderating influence of cooling daytime temperatures, the ripening process extends into the late season, imparting a spicy character to the wines, accompanied by deep fruit flavours and richness.

WINEMAKERS COMMENTS:
The wine exudes an aromatic and vibrant bouquet, showcasing notes of red cherry, pomegranate, and delicate, freshly bloomed florals. Fresh red fruit notes and herbal undertones rest on a foundation of silky tannins, evolving into a refined and enduring finish. Pronounced mineral nuances and acidity harmonize to create an invigorating and confident balance.

Whitehaven Wines began life in 1994 as a romantic business for a couple of corporate escapees, Sue and Greg White, who had given up life in the rat race of Auckland for another kind of life aboard their yacht. When sailing around the country, they took shelter in the Marlborough Sounds from Pacific storms and fell in love with the region. An easy thing to do when harbouring in the spectacularly pristine waters of the Sounds. They decided to settle there on terra firma once more and try their hands at wine production, hiring a winemaker and beginning a business which has now been around for 26 years. Greg has sadly passed away now, leaving a legacy as well as his wife and daughter, Sam, to run the winery. Their winemaker is Peter Jackson.

Terrace Edge is a family owned, certified organic winery based in the Waipara Valley wine growing region. This Syrah has a nose of ripe blackberry and plum with notes of liquorice and spice. The palate is rich with dark fruit, supported by elegant ripe tannins.

Terrace Edge was named the New Zealand Organic Vineyard of the Year in 2018 and this year was named Aotearoa New Zealand Organic Winery of the Year.

In Te Reo Māori, Waikoa translates to happy waters.

The 2023 Waikoa is a return to a blend of varietals. Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc from friends who own the Grava vineyard. This wine brings me joy for its salivating deliciousness and makes me think of spring and summer sunshine filled days.

Partial whole cluster inclusion and wild fermentation, time on skins give it beautiful aromatics & texture. Karla & Alistair who farm Grava are BioGro certified organic! So good!

A perfumed nose of florals, citrus, wild fennel and honeydew in a beech forest during summer. The palate is driven by refreshing citrus fruits, lime & pink grapefruit and a long pithy textured palate.

Serve lightly chilled on a warm day or served with fresh kaimoana.

This Single Vineyard wine is made from grapes grown at Auntsfield Estate. The style is aimed towards texture, complexity and length, balancing the typical Marlborough fruit spectrum and aromatics with richness and mouth feel. The nose shows intense and pure aromas of fresh passionfruit, ripe melon and lime. The palate is powerful, tight and elegant. This wine displays intense ripe fruit flavours of passionfruit and white peach, with citrus notes of lime and mandarin pith.