Incredible Albariño grapes harvested from Doug Bell’s vineyard in Gisborne. These are the very first 18 rows planted in New Zealand – make that Australasia! Planted in 2009 with a mass selection of Albariño vine plantings and dry-farmed on clay loam soils.

VINEYARD AND FARMING
Planted in 2002, Doctors Flat is a single 3-hectare vineyard in Bannockburn. The schist subsoil was ground off the Cairnmuir Mountains by glacial ice and deposited here about 480,000 years ago. The glacial action and millennia of weathering have
generated an abundance of clay and fine silt in the vineyard gravel. We know soil texture drives wine texture and this vineyard produces Pinot Noir with density, fine tannin and great texture. We farm organically to help grow and sustain soil biology.
In turn the soil microlife harvest and transport nutrient and minerals to the vine. It’s this connection between vineyard and vine that gives Doctors Flat Pinot Noir its character and sense of place.

WINEMAKING
The winemaking is a simple programme of small open tanks, close attention, minimal inputs and a very light hand in the extraction process with only three punch downs. In 2021 20% of the fruit went directly to tank as whole bunches. Fermentation occurred spontaneously and after 21 to 24 days on skins the wine was drained to French oak barrels (22% new). Malolactic was delayed until spring and SO2 not added until late summer. After a full 12 months in barrel the wine was racked to tank for a second winter, then bottled 20 months after harvest.

White haven Pinot Gris is a versatile dry style with flavours of fresh nashi pears and crisp red apples, a medium body and textural finish. It's a great wine for everyday drinking with or without food, a lovely aperitif style to enjoy at lunch and early evening.

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.

We're big fans of dry Chenin Blanc and this is one of the best made in New Zealand with its ripe flavours of green apples, clover honey and notes of dried grass and hay  aromas. This is a great wine to drink with fish 'n chips by the river, on the beach or in the backyard. It's also a delicately refreshing drink on its own as an aperitif or late nightcap. John and Beth Forrest are Chenin Blanc devotees and it shows. 

Machine harvested grapes were fermented in large oak barrels (1000 litres) and extended lees ageing brings depth and layers of flavour to this wine.

Chenin Blanc is one of the great white wines of the world, traditionally from the Loire Valley in central France, and also a grape that has found its home happily in many cool climates of the wine world, such as parts of New Zealand.

This is a light, dry and fresh Pinot Gris with flavours of white fruit and a lingering finish. Good value. 

A field blend of Pinot Blanc from the Bentwood Vineyard and Pinot Gris from the neighbouring Cross Hares vineyard. Picked on the same day.

Whole bunch Pinot Gris placed gently in amphora with direct press Pinot Blanc pressed atop. Fermented on skins in amphora for 6 months. The wine was then settled and blended with a puncheon of pinot blanc.

Apricot yoghurt, soft chalky tannin, crystallized ginger, peach ice tea salivating acidity.

Te Mānia’s vineyards, established in 1990, are located near the beautiful coastline of Tasman Bay on free draining, stony clay loam soils which have proved excellent for producing wine grapes of exceptional quality. Te Mania is a two-time winner of the prestigious Bragato Trophy for Best of Show.


Nelson Riesling 2024
When young our Riesling produces fresh, lively wines which are great for relaxed summertime drinking; however this wine also has a wonderful ability to age, allowing a wider spectrum of flavours to unfold.

Nose: Honeysuckle and citrus/lime characters on the nose with some underlying mineral notes.  

Palate:  Luscious and juicy sweet apple is balanced beautifully with fresh lemon zest. Some delicious honey notes and a long fresh finish.
Vintage:  Fruit was hand harvested with the grapes being whole bunch pressed and the juice cool fermented to preserve primary fruit characters.

Diet: This wine is suitable for a vegan diet.

The Main Divide is the name of the Southern Alps and a range of great wines made by the Pegasus Bay winemaking team. These wines consistently over deliver, drink beautifully when young with their rich and opulent house style - and also age surprisingly well, given the modest price they cost.

The Riesling grapes in this wine were picked over several weeks at between 23-25 brix, which creates rich, tasty Riesling. Fermentation was in stainless steel at cool temperatures and the finished wine retains a little carbon dioxide, which accentuates fresh zingy flavours in the wine, which contains 24 grams of residual sugar.

It's a full bodied, opulent style with a crisp finish.

Te Mānia’s vineyards, established in 1990, are located near the beautiful coastline of Tasman Bay on free draining, stony clay loam soils which have proved excellent for producing wine grapes of exceptional quality.  Te Mania is a two-time winner of the prestigious Bragato Trophy for Best of Show.

Nelson Chardonnay 2024
The Nelson region has established a strong reputation for this classic variety producing many top award-winning wines. Te Mānia Chardonnay is an elegant wine made with just a little oak to compliment and show case the fresh fruity flavours.  It can be enjoyed on its own or with a wide variety of dishes.  It’s particularly good with seafood and white meat dishes.

Nose:  Rich ripe peach aromas with floral citrus blossom. Freshly baked bread and melted butter notes with brown spices and toasted nuts from French oak barre

Palate: A concentrated rich wine with silky texture. Has savory, toasted nut flavour’s and a long fresh finish. Ripe peach and zesty grapefruit flavors.     

         
Vintage:  After pressing, the juice was fermented in French oak barrels with wild yeast.  The lees were stirred once a week for 3 months to add texture and complexity to the wine.  The wine was allowed to go 50% through a secondary malolactic fermentation.

Organic Status:  Certified Organic BioGro New Zealand.
Diet:  This wine is suitable for a vegan diet.

This is one of New Zealand’s best bubbles and comes from Pinot Central; also known as Central Otago, a region that is characterised by having 80% of its vineyards planted in Pinot Noir. 

Quartz Reef Brut NV began life when winemaker Rudi Bauer teamed up with a visiting French winemaker Clothilde Chauvet (daughter of champagne maker Marc Chauvet). Together they pioneered this high quality, traditional method sparkling wine, using mostly Pinot Noir (now 72% of the blend) with the balance being Chardonnay. The wine is typically aged for two years on lees in bottle following its second fermentation - longer than most champagnes. No wonder it massively over delivers on both taste and price. This is a stunning sparkling wine. Ignore at your peril.

An excellent bouquet of purity and finesse, with aromas of white peach and nectarine layered alongside lemon curd, subtle brioche, and a whisper of toasted hazelnut. A gentle thread of flinty minerality and saline freshness weaves through the nose, complemented by delicate floral notes and a touch of spice from well-integrated oak. On the palate, a dry wine with medium+ intensity, showcasing stone fruit and citrus flavours framed by fine acidity and a creamy, poised texture. The oak is understated yet supportive, adding complexity without overshadowing the fruit, while a mineral backbone and hints of struck stone speak clearly of site and season. Harmonious and precise, with a long, refined finish and excellent structure for ageing. Best drinking from late 2026 through 2035.

A finely composed yet generous Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2025 displaying aromas of citrus blossom and grapefruit, seamlessly interwoven with subtle French oak spice.  Weighty palate and beautifully textured, layered flavours of ripe lemon curd, ginger and fresh nectarine.  Delicious!

Perfectly sized for modern life - Brilliant ruby colour.  Juicy, savoury deliciousness. Ripe cherry and plum with twings of spice, nut and dark chocolate.  Black tea tannins.  Premium Pinot Noir. Made for contemplation and unwinding.

Unfined.  Unfiltered. Hand harvested.    13% alc/bV