This is a pronounced skin contact expression of the Amphora Albarino with dried apricots, quince & orange rind notes. Appealing phenolic texture with treacle & marmalade, finishing with freshness.

As I was pressing the Albarino, (which had been macerating on skins for two weeks) the 'skins' portion began to turn a bright orange colour. I separated this amber portion into puncheon & barrel.

Later down the ageing track the pressings component from the Amphora Albarino announced itself as its own wine. So I paid attention and gave it its own voice.

The whole bunches were hand harvested, de-stemmed and macerated on the skins for two weeks time. A very light daily hand plunge and the addition of my active vineyard starter yeast which fermented underneath the vines. Biodynamic preparations 500, CPP were applied to the soil through out the year, as well as silica quartz (501) to the canopy.

15 Minute Bottles is Tom & Anne (Central Otago) alongside Dave & Lana (North Canterbury). Their eclectic backgrounds in wine, hospitality and agriculture have culminated in this project, producing the kind of lively, energetic wines that they love to drink.
15 Minute Bottles sources fruit from family owned and operated vineyards who are both certified and practising organic.
Their exposure to energetic and thought-provoking natural wines coined the phrase “15 Minute Bottle,” which represents their collective ethos towards drinking wine, where a bottle is shared around a table, inspiring conversation, conviviality and connection.

Certified organic fruit from Terrace Edge Vineyard, free draining gravels on the south bank of the Waipara river.
Gently direct pressed, fermented dry in large format neutral oak. Settled and stabilised over the winter, bottled in thespring with the addition of frozen juice to reach 13 g/l residual sugar before fermenting dry in bottle. Fine bead and generous mouth feel. Lively, rich and so much fun.
Unfined and unfiltered. Minimal added sulphites.

Superb savoury Central Otago Pinot Noir with fragrant perfumed flavours of red cherries, cranberries and wild thyme, made from hand picked grapes grown on the Te Kano estate vineyard in Bannockburn, home to the winery's new cellar door and tasting room.

The grapes are fermented in separate vineyard lots then blended together and the finished wine is aged in French oak for 10 months, developing spicy notes which complement the wine's red cherry, red berry and wild thyme flavour notes. 

It's dry and medium bodied with a smooth soft character.

Central Otago at its liveliest and at an affordable price.

Rippon Vineyard is one of the first in Central Otago and remains the most beautiful in this southernmost wine region on Earth. It was originally planted by Rolfe and Lois Mills at Roy's Bay on Lake Wanaka on a north facing slope with gravel and schist soils and with a wide range of experimental grape varieties. These included, most famously, Pinot Noir, which continues to grow on this site and goes into this smooth, dry, complex wine. 

The winemaker today is the son of the founders, Nick Mills, who continues to refine all aspects of winemaking here and has also spearheaded biodynamic farming of the land. This and all Rippon wines are biodynamically certified. 

The Charles Wiffen Pinot Gris, is grown in the “Home” Block, which surrounds the Homestead on the farm, which was built in 1882. The block is spur pruned, with a targeted yield of 9 tonnes to the hectare. The grapes are machine harvested in the cool of the morning, transported to the winery, where it is gently destemmed, pressed and clarified. The juice is then fermented with selected yeasts, with the fermentation stopped at the desired residual sugar content.

This estate grown Pinot Gris exhibits aromas of beurre bose pear, hazelnut and white lily with hints of meyer lemon and rosewater on the palate and is refreshingly textured.

RS 5.5 g/L

Stone fruits and green fruits such as pear and apple combine beautifully with some phenolic texture in this luscious wine.

Commercial description

The ancient, dark-skinned grape variety from Georgia delivers wines that command attention and, at our tiny yield level, devotion. At such concentration, Saperavi with its natural high level of fruit sugar, tannin and acidity turns in a seductive powerhouse like no other wine. Complex, multi-dimensional, structured, and elegant - a wine to truly cherish.

This wine will bring the most critical wine lover to wine heaven. The gorgeous intense, inky colour metamorphoses into a savoury lusciousness. One of the tasting team called it a sexy Georgian in a glass. Deep, rich and packed with black fruit almost jumping out of the glass. Maturing in new barrels refined the powerful tannins to a classy elegance. Rich and complex, multi-layered with an staggering backbone of fruit, acidity and tannin, each sip giving you more and more pleasure. A dazzling wine experience for a wine to cherish. Tasted July 2022.

From Marlboroughs' Ukrainian wine making duo Alina Tenetka & Masha, bringing their experience from Europe to make really elegant wines out of different sites in Marlborough, teasing the potential out of grapes in ways we don't often see in New Zealand wines. These wines are full of poise, elegance & are hot off the lips of many a wine critic. 

When Alina turned up with her wines at Regional's we were taken aback, why hadn't we heard of this any sooner? The wines all were a departure from the styles New Zealand had previously offered & placed themselves in some of the best examples of each variety they make that NZ has to offer!

Region: Lower Wairau Valley, Marlborough

The Story
Viognier is a winemaker’s gamble, a fussy grape that rewards patience with aromatic opulence. We aimed to capture its rich, silken texture, a contrast to the sharp-edged Marlborough whites. Our goal was to coax out its exotic perfume, creating a wine of texture and grace—like sunshine woven into a golden thread.

Tastes Like
Lush Apricot, ripe Peach skin, and fragrant Honeysuckle, with a rich, textural palate that finishes with a hint of toasty oak.

Pair With
Sublime with Moroccan chicken tagine, creamy lobster risotto, or a cheese board featuring soft, pungent cheeses like Epoisses or Taleggio.

For the Geeks

Bathed in sunlight, this ideal site allows our Viognier to ripen perfectly. We harvest in two distinct stages: an initial pick for crisp, natural acidity, followed by a later pass for the grape's full, aromatic bloom. Fermented and aged on fine lees in seasoned French barrels for 10 months. Complex, powerful, and elegantly refined.

Residual Sugar: 3.2 g/L (Dry)
Acidity (TA): 7.1 g/L
pH: 3.37
Alcohol: 14.2%

Accolades: Cam Douglas MS - 95 points Outstanding

Commercial description

Zweigelt, one of the most exciting Austrian varieties combines the best qualities of its parents St Laurent x Blaufrankisch. Think of the spice character of Syrah and the floral notes of Malbec. Stunning complexity, wonderful vivid acidity - a flavour powerhouse with elegant structure and a lingering finish. Built to last…

The vitality and exuberance of aromas is mouth-watering before the wine even reaches your palate. Intense ripe blackcurrant and plum jumps out at you like a sucker punch, enveloping Szechuan pepper, cloves, and a hint of nutmeg. Perfect balance in a powerhouse wine as it bursts with vibrant acidity, dark fruit at the core and firm tannins. dark, brooding and savoury melt with freshness on the long, long finish. A wine drinking wonderfully now in its youth but will soften as it matures. A collectors dream...

Ian and Linda Quinn are among the few growers of the Gamay grape in New Zealand at their Two Terraces Vineyard in Mangatahi, Hawke's Bay. This lovely wine made by Haydon Penny is the made from their vines and in relatively small volumes.

It's extremely aromatic with red fruit flavours and offers a beautiful mix of bright red fruit and earthy notes. Light and lively on the palate, with a crunchy texture and loads of cherry and strawberry, with just a hint of spice. Move over rose…… Gamay is here! Serve slightly chilled.

Region: Seaview, Awatere Valley,+Upper Wairau Valley (15%), Marlborough

The Story

Albariño is the voice of the Galician coast. We asked: what would it say on New Zealand's shores? We found our answer in a coastal vineyard, where cool sea breezes give the grapes a unique saline note. The resulting wine is linear and direct—an arrow delivered straight to your glass.

Tastes Like

Expressive Elderflower, zesty Grapefruit, Apricot Blossom, and a distinct sea-salt minerality on a textured, refreshing palate.

Pair With

The ultimate seafood wine. Try it with grilled prawns, mussels, fresh ceviche, or simple pan-seared scallops.

For the Geeks

Saline wind, plenty of sunshine and well-drained soil made our Albariño distinctive and memorable. Fermented and aged on fine lees in old seasoned French oak for 5 months.

Exhibits typical regional characters of red berries and cherries mixed with spicy and earthy notes. The texture of the wine is soft with supple tannins and carries flavours of red fruits and spice through the palate to a soft, persistent finish.

Provenance is the name of the top Pinot Noir from Big Sky, one of the most spectacularly beautiful wineries in Martinborough. This wine is a stunning expression of New Zealand Pinot Noir at its best; savoury, full bodied and over flowing with gorgeous ripe dark fruit flavours underpinned by firm tannins giving the wine structure and a commanding presence in the glass. 

This is a wine to drink now and cellar into the future. 

The Big Sky story

Jeremy Corban and Katherine Jacobs founded Big Sky Wines in the Te Muna Valley, Martinborough, in 2005. They have since expanded their small vineyard, which is predominantly planted in Pinot Noir and also has a little Sauvignon Blanc, which they give extra textural complexity to with a little time in old oak on lees. 

Celestia is the apt name for one of Martinborough's most structured, serious and age worthy Pinot Noirs made using 100% whole bunch fermentation, a technique that adds structure and depth to the wine. This is the first vintage of this wine is from the superlative 2020 vintage and name comes from the big sky views from Big Sky Vineyard in Te Muna Valley, Martinborough. Celestia Pinot Noir is made with 100% whole bunch fermentation in seasoned puncheons with ageing for two years. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered. The result is a very perfumed wine with aromas of rosehips, black tea, black fruit and undergrowth, with a dense and dark palate, fine tannins and a satiny texture.

The Big Sky story

Jeremy Corban and Katherine Jacobs founded Big Sky Wines in the Te Muna Valley, Martinborough, in 2005. They have since expanded their small vineyard, which is predominantly planted in Pinot Noir.