This punchy bottle of white is made from Viognier, a grape that produces rich and spicy wines. This wines manages to maintain a lovely level of balance, despite carrying some of that richness. Look for flavours of white apricot, nectarine, lemon and ginger, tied to a round mouthfeel. Delicious.

The Wairarapa had the first plantings of Pinot Noir in Aotearoa in the 1880s, recognised for its potential to produce Burgundian-style wines and, more recently, the home of Hobbits. This ‘Tolkien’ terroir benefits from fertile alluvial soil, cool-climate to produce low-yielding, concentrated Pinot Noir. Interestingly NZ’s temperance movement led to vines being uprooted in 1905, and it wasn’t until the ‘70s that grape production resumed. After some expansion in commercial hands, today, Gladstone Vineyard’s ownership has shifted back to a family-run business adding Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier to their repertoire. The Yousry family are committed to producing exceptional wines harmoniously with nature and the local community. Gladstone Vineyard takes a holistic approach to grape growing, nurturing our vineyards. This includes special care with under-vine weed management to promote soil health and biodiversity, employing sustainable methods such as establishing cover crops and introducing sheep to eliminate the need for traditional weed management while promoting regenerative farming practices. In the cellar, winemaking is slow and steady; everything is done by hand, allowing the wines to highlight the true expression of this epic location. As Tolkien ‘definitely’ once wrote, ‘Where there's Vino, there's hope.’ Something like that.