Our Wines
Waipara River Estate is a new label specialising in producing a select range of boutique, artisan premium wines using grapes from our own estate vines.
Our first release was Waipara River Estate, 2009 Riesling, with silver and bronze awards and considerable acclaim it is selling fast. Garth Gallaway in Avenues magazine (August 2010) describes it as 'stunning.'
A Limited Release of our single vineyard estate grown Waipara River Estate 2009 Pinot Noir & the Waipara River Estate 2009 Cabernet/Merlot have now been released. Order now before they are gone.
At harvest time, to ensure premium quality wines, viticulturist Gwyn Williams liaises closely with winemaker Kym Rayner to ensure our grapes are picked at their optimum for sugar levels (brix). We are fortunate that the whole winemaking operation - from crush to bottling and storage - is handled by Torlesse winery which is less than 2km away from the vineyard. Mat Donaldson also liaises with Gwyn to ensure the best possible Gewürztraminer crop for the Pegasus Bay label.
Mat Donaldson from Pegasus Bay also liaises with Gwyn to ensure the best possible Gewürztraminer crop.
Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are all hand-picked.
Riesling and Gewürztraminer are machine harvested.
Grapes are immediately crushed with white wines fermented as juice in stainless steel tanks.
Red wines are juiced with skins on and fermented in oak barrels - Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon for at least a year.
Our 2010 Single Vineyard Release Riesling and Late Harvest SVR "Sticky" Riesling will soon be released.
Waipara River Estate Riesling 2009
Comments from Winemaker Kym Rayner:
With grapes from one of the oldest vineyards in Waipara, this Riesling represents the best from the excellent 2009 vintage.
It shows ripe lime citrus flavours contrasted with fresh granny smith apple and hints of mineral characters.
The wine has medium residual sweetness well balanced by the crisp acidity to finish clean and fresh.
Perfect for drinking now, but may cellar for up to 10 years.
Enjoy with chicken, pork or seafood dishes.
Machine Harvested in late April 2009; Brix (sugars)- from 20 to 21
Bottle Details: Alcohol 11.0 % by volume; Acid 8.0 gm/L [as tartaric]; Residual Sugar 25gm/L
Awards
Silver Medal: Bragato Wine Awards, 2010
Bronze: Air New Zealand Awards, 2010
Waipara River Estate Pinot Noir 2009
Our Pinot Noir contains only estate grown grapes from our boutique vineyard, hand-picked in excellent condition. This artisan wine is hand-crafted, small vessel fermented, hand plunged and goes through the traditional basket press that adds to its complexity. After pressing, the wine is matured in French barriques (barrels) for over a year.
The wine presents a classic Pinot Noir character, focusing on balance and elegance, yet full bodied. It has cherry and berry fruit flavours with a rich full middle palate showing hints of black forest cake and dark chocolate, finishing firm with a lingering after-taste. A stylish Pinot Noir that will evolve and become more complex with further cellaring. This wine has used the screw top closure to preserve fresh fruit flavours or allow the wine to age gracefully and reach its full potential with no bottle variation.
Picked April 17 2009 at 24.2 brix. Alcohol content: 14.5%. Could cellar for 5 years or more.
Waipara River Estate Cabernet/Merlot 2009
Our Cabernet/ Merlot contains only estate grown grapes -- 25 year old old Cabernet Sauvignon vines from our boutique vineyard, plus Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the neighbouring Mackenzie Vineyard, all hand-picked in excellent condition. This artisan wine is hand-crafted, small vessel fermented, hand plunged and goes through the traditional basket press that adds to its complexity. After pressing, the wine is matured in French barriques (barrels) for over a year.
The wine presents a classic Bordeaux style character, focusing on balance and elegance, yet full bodied. With classic fruit flavours this traditional blend, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot and some Cabernet Franc, will develop classic cigar box bouquet flavours over time. A screw top closure has been used to preserve fresh fruit flavours and allow the wine to age gracefully and reach its full potential with no bottle variation.
Could cellar for 5 -7 years or more. Alcohol content: 13.5%, 750ml.
