Peregrine Pinot Gris from Central Otago in New Zealand overflows with ripe pear, peach, mango, grapefruit and has an underlying steely minerality. It is well balanced and mouth filling with great persistence. Lovely drinking now, this wine will continue to develop over the next few years.

Central Otago Pinot's are generally more user-friendly than Burgundy; Rabbit Ranch is very soft fruit-forward style with soft tannins; best enjoyed young.

Catalina Sounds is a truly classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc! Think back back to the early days when Kiwi Savvy was just starting to hit our shelves and how gob-smacked we were over the quality, vibrancy and sheer drinkability of such an aromatic wine. Catalina Sounds still exudes all of those fantastic qualities that we all fell in love with. Perfumed aromas of gooseberry with hints of tropical fruit, the palate follows with fresh and zingy characters that display ripe passionfruit and citrus flavours all complimented by lingering acidity.

This wine has an intriguing, bright garnet hue, captivating on the nose with ripe cherry, wild strawberries and bramble notes. On the palate, the wine is rich and flowing with tantalising bready sweetness. Rich boysenberry flavours are supported by elegant French oak, lending spice and toasty notes. The finish is lingering and complex, bright with natural acidity.

Nanny Goat Vineyard is the clear leader of the pack when it comes to affordable Central Otago Pinot Noir. Made in a fruit forward style with mounds of fresh berry fruit and intense lifted perfume notes of violet and blueberry. Still medium-bodied on the palate with soft, powdery tannin, this is a Pinot for the moment.

Cloudy Bay has produced a Sauvignon Blanc of vibrant intensity. The characteristically uplifting aromas of kaffir lime, lemon zest and nectarine, with the floral notes of orange blossom on the nose; A weighty texture of ripe citrus and stone fruit flavours balanced by a minerally-citrus acid backbone with a finish that is crisp and clean on the palate. The wine has elegant line and length; refined, fleshy yet focused and refreshing.

You are greeted on the nose with suggestions of bramble and spice, gradually opening up to reveal red and black berry fruits, spice, leather and subtle floral notes.The palate is soft and supple, with cranberries and sweet red berry fruits upon entry. Fine silky tannins entwine a concentrated core of juicy black cherries, dark berry fruits, dried herbs and cocoa before trailing off to a long even finish.

This wine highlights the slightly cooler season with lovely perfumed dark red forest berries and cherry fruits along with a hint of dried herb, adding complexity. The wine has a sweet berry entry which displays these same characters in abundance. Lovely ripe textural tannins rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine. These are balanced by the wines acidity and fruit, to produce a long fruit-driven finish.

Wonderful aromas of lime and lemon sherbet with hints of apricot. The palate expresses passionfruit and citrus flavours with a hint of oak influence which adds complexity and roundness. Perfect with Pad Thai.

It’s this trade-off of acid for tannin that makes pinot noir so food friendly. Pinot works well with salmon and ocean trout, their (Omega 3-rich) oiliness lapped up by pinots exuberant acidity and is the perfect red with soft brie-style and washed-rind cheeses, coming into its own with blue cheese. Try a soft Saint Augur cheese from the Auvergne with the Celsius Pinot Noir for a new flavour sensation.

Mt Difficulty is one of Central Otago's oldest and most prestigious vineyards. Having tamed the rugged region since 1992, Mt Difficulty produce wines of utmost character and charm. Their Roaring Meg Pinot Noir shows lovely perfumed blackberry and dark cherry fruits along with a hint of spice. On the palate the wine has a sweet berry character along with balanced, ripe textural tannins that rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine.