WINES
Albariño
Albariño is pronounced Al-bah-ree-nio. Albariño originally hails from Galicia in Northwest Spain and is common in the Vinho Verde region of Portugal. It was originally believed to have been bought to Iberia by Cluny monks in the 12th century, and the word Albariño means “white, whitish”. Albariño is refreshing and loved for its rich stone fruit flavours, a hint of salinity, and zippy acidity. Superb with seafood dishes and white meats, Marlborough is a perfect home for this sassy grape.
Learn More About This Varietal
Tasting Notes
Vintage Overview
A dry winter was followed by periods of cooler unsettled weather during flowering and fruit set, which resulted in reduced numbers of berries
per bunch. This combined with a return to the classic dry windy weather
Marlborough is renowned for led to a significant reduction in yield from
the long-term average.
The ripening period was characterised by long hot days and cool nights
which were crucial to retaining vibrant acidity in such a dry year.
Without any significant rainfall events throughout the growing season
the viticulture and winemaking teams were afforded the luxury of
perfect ripening conditions for the production high quality fruit without
any weather or disease concerns.
Targeted irrigation management ensured the vines maintained a
healthy canopy throughout, with overall vine health unparalleled,
resulting in wines of intense concentration, balance, and tension.
Picking commenced earlier than in previous vintages at the beginning
of March, with the fine settled weather continuing through to the end
of harvest in mid-April, allowing a more relaxed picking schedule and
extended hang-time for later ripening varieties. Certainly, one of the
most outstanding vintages we have ever experienced.
Vinification
Sourced exclusively from our Angler vineyard on the banks of the Wairau River, select bunches were carefully hand harvested in the cool of the morning followed by destemming and overnight skin contact. Gentle pressing to extract only the finest free run juice, followed by fermentation in small volume stainless steel vessels to retain the elegant floral aromatics and bright acidity. The wine was kept on light lees for an extended period post fermentation to help build texture and complexity on the palate, followed by finishing and bottling on the Wairau River estate.
Flavour Profile
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Green apple
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Lemon
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Grapefruit
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White Peach
Technical Data
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Alc
13.5%
-
TA
7.9 g/L
-
pH
3.19
-
RS
9.17 g/L
Harvested 13 March 2024
Vineyard Composition
Regional Overview
The Wairau Valley is one of three zones – along with the Southern Valleys and the Awatere Valley – which make up the heartland of New Zealand's Marlborough wine region. It accounts for approximately 45 percent of plantings within the wider region. An extensive patchwork of vineyards surrounds the town of Blenheim in the north-eastern corner of the South Island, near where the Wairau River meets the Pacific Ocean.
The Wairau Valley is a wide river valley that follows the Wairau River from the Spenser Mountains in the west to the Pacific at Cloudy Bay. The Richmond Mountains in the north separate it from the sunny region of Nelson, and the Wither Hills in the south protect the valley from harsh weather systems from the south-east.
In the low-lying area along the Wairau River Rapaura and Renwick are the most established zones. However in recent years vineyard plantings have extended further west along the narrow valley floor.
Wairau Valley has a warm, dry climate that is moderated during the growing season by sea breezes from Cloudy Bay. Hot sunshine during the day and cold ocean winds at night extend the ripening period in the grapes, leading to a balance of fruit complexity and acidity. This diurnal temperature variation is essential to the terroir in the Wairau Valley – without it, much of the classic punchiness of the wines made here would be lost.
Reviews
Varietal FAQs
Where are your wines made?
All our wines are made on site in our winery. We draw fruit from our 15 estate vineyards, which means they are owned by us. We built our winery in 2002.
Can I visit your vineyard / winery and do you offer winery tours and tastings?
Our Restaurant & Cellar Door is closed for the time being, and unfortunately due to health and safety regulations we are unable to have visitors at our winery.
How can I keep the wine fresh once a bottle has been opened?
To keep an open bottle of wine fresh, ensure the cap is tightly sealed after every glass pour. Our white wines and rosé should be stored, cap on, in a refrigerator to slow down oxidisation. For our red wines, keep the wine bottle out of light and stored at room temperature (below 21 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit), or in a refrigerator.
How long will your wine last when opened?
White wines are good for 1-2 days and red wines for 3-5 days if stored correctly.
