Wairau River Botrytised Riesling

Wairau River’s Botrytised Riesling is a single vineyard wine and grows in the Rapaura vineyard right outside the winery.   Only made when perfect conditions allow the Noble Rot (or botrytis) does two things to wine: it intensifies the sweetness level and adds flavour complexity.  Botrytis causes grapes to dehydrate while maintaining sugar levels. More grapes are needed to make the same amount of juice and therefore the juice has higher sugar content. Dessert wines made from Noble Rot grapes are more viscous and sweeter. It’s got the backbone of a great Riesling, with a glorious gold glint, orange marmalade, apricot and toffee aromas, sweet opulent palate and a clean lingering finish – perfection especially with blue cheese or crème brûlée.

Marlborough is by far New Zealand’s largest grape growing region with more than two-thirds of all plantings. First planted in 1873 it is known in the region by the Maori name, Kei puta te Wairau meaning ‘the place with the hole in the cloud’ due to its very high 2,410 sunshine hours a year. High sunshine and a dry growing season help to create the famous intense flavours. Generally, plantings are in two main valleys of Wairau and Awatere. Much of the land is alluvial river basin with well-drained soils that provide an ideal for Sauvignon Blanc and clay slopes better suited Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

Wairau River wines take their name from the river that runs through the heart of the Marlborough wine region. (Wairau is Maori for `many waters`). The Rose family were pioneers in planting vines in the 1970`s and after originally selling the grapes to other wineries (like Cloudy Bay) they launched their own label in the early 1990`s. Today their foresight has created a very successful company which remains family owned and run. Wairau River is one of the largest independent wine estates in Marlborough, and the range of elegant wines is characteristically expressive of its Marlborough roots.