2023 Greystone Pinot Gris

The Greystone Pinot Gris from Waipara, North Canterbury, New Zealand showcases luscious notes of ripe pear and zesty citrus, dancing harmoniously on your palate. With a touch of spice and a refreshingly crisp finish, it's like a symphony of flavours that leaves you wanting more.

Our Pinot Gris is grown on the flat blocks at the west of the vineyard, on windblown loess and clay soils. Here we grow two Pinot Gris clones 2/15 and 2/21, originally from Giesenheim. The 2022/23 season was one of great balance, it was slightly warmer, slightly wetter and slightly sunnier, giving us wonderful conditions for growing grapes. After a temperate winter, budburst was slightly earlier than usual, and although spring frosts were frequent, they were mercifully mild. Regular spring rainfall mixed with good sunshine hours through Nov. and Dec. helped ensure healthy vine growth and moderate bunch sizes. Some classic warm North Canterbury summer days followed through December, January and February pushing along fruit development. More moderate temperatures through March and April prolonged the ripening period and allowed us to harvest at the optimum quality level. 

Picking decisions were taken to maximize fruit expression whilst still maintaining the delicate balance between ripeness & acidity. The fruit was gently pressed with only the free run juice going to tank & a small portion being run to neutral French oak barrels. A slow cool fermentation followed to ensure a purity of fruit & then aged on yeast lees for approximately 3 months to add texture and mouth feel. Both parcels of wine were then blended together adding different layers of texture & additionalcomplexity to the finished wine before being estate bottled here at the Greystone vineyar