The G. Benvenuti & C. Distillery was founded in the early years of the last century in Livorno. Over time, it expanded its production, settling in the Modena area. The production of Nocino began in this area, with all the right qualities for the harvesting of the best walnuts, and it soon became one of the most sought-after specialties of the Distillery. Nocino Benvenuti is made from Italian walnuts only. Tradition has it that the hulls are harvested on June 24 on the night of San Giovanni (Italian for St. John), and then undergo a 9-month long maceration process. The macerate is then tapped and the hulls, still soaked, are lightly pressed, in order to recover all the precious nectar that will form the base of the liqueur.

VINEYARDS: Cactus Merlot/Malbec, Lunatic Syrah, Owhiti Malbec, Ponui Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. 

BLEND: Malbec 35%, Merlot 32%, Syrah 28%, Cabernet Franc 5%

WINEMAKING

The vintage of 2023 was a challenging year climatically, very wet and humid with low sunshine hours and periods of intense rain culminating in flooding in late January and Cyclone Gabrielle in early February.  The weather improved for the harvest months, but low sunshine hours resulted in wines with a light elegant touch, fresh, lively and delicious in their delicacy. Our Pinque Rose is harvested from select coastal sites on Waiheke and Ponui Islands made up of individual vineyards planted in Merlot, Malbec and Syrah which are designed with Rose production in mind. Picking early in the season but still showcasing red berry characters, the f ruit is whole bunch pressed in the champagne style liberating only the cleanest and most pure of juice. Fermented cool in stainless steel tanks and blended in the winter. 

TASTING NOTE

Pinque is a pure expression of Rose. Beginning with a classic pale salmon colour the wine has aromas of crushed rose petal, musk candy (pink smokers) strawberry flesh and a maritime scent. The palate is fresh and delicate with shades of stone and citrus fruits with fresh herbs finishing clean, crisp and delicious. 2023 Pinque is an uplifting and refreshing response to a challenging vintage.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are gently pressed into production to make this dry, medium bodied bubbly from Marlborough, which was fermented with wild yeasts and aged for 18 months in bottle on lees; the decomposing yeast cells following fermentation in the bottle. It contains 8.8 grams of residual sugar per litre and alcohol of 12.5% ABV, giving it a medium body and lovely balanced flavours. It’s made by Allan Scott and his winemaking team.

Member of Methode Marlborough.

Bright and expressive aromas of lime zest, kiwifruit, passionfruit, and fresh nettle, delivering a vibrant and layered nose.

A refined yet intensely vibrant Sauvignon Blanc from the Awatere Valley, showcasing exceptional fruit purity and depth. Aromas of passionfruit, kiwifruit, gala apple and kaffir lime leap from the glass, leading into a boldly expressive palate layered with ripe melon, lime zest, and crisp green apple acidity. Full-bodied and beautifully textured, the wine is underpinned by striking minerality and a long, refreshing finish, flavoursome, elegant, and highly enjoyable.

• 5 Stars & 93/100 (Candice Chow),  92/100 (Cam Douglas MS)
• An elegant, dry style with just a kiss of sweetness
• Overseeing the Otu winery team is Jeff Clarke - ex-Penfolds, Montana & Church Road winemaker
• Jeff is a two time International Winemaker of the Year winner and rated as one of the top six winemakers globally by UK journo Tim Atkin MW!
• A fragrant floral palate of rose bud, sweet strawberries and ripe raspberry, is offset by a hint of citrus acidity. Crisp and fullbodied with luscious red berry and pomegranate notes, this wine showcases the delicate fruit subtlety of Marlborough, Awatere Valley Pinot Noir, with outstanding balance and a beautifully dry finish. Suitable for vegans & vegetarians

Flinty, fleshy, full bodied and deliciously dry. Bull Paddock Sauvignon Blanc is one of Marlborough's top expressions of its most planted grape and an outstanding take on Sauvignon with complexity, depth and great length all providing superb drinking now - this wine works in place of a Chardonnay and will appeal to all white wine lovers thanks to its savoury flavour notes with just a mere hint of tropical fruit. This wine is great drinking now, excellent when paired with food and can also age well for up to four to five years. 

Smooth, creamy and subtly nuanced with a savoury edge. This French Chardonnay comes from Saint Veran, which is the newest appellation in the Maconnaise, situated in the south of Burgundy, just north of Beaujolais. The warmer climate here and the chalky soils are considered ideal for producing high quality Chardonnay and the proof is in the bottle, as each creamy sip shows. 

The appellation of Saint Veran was established as an AC in 1971.