Wairau River Reserve Viognier

High sunshine and dry growing seasons in Marlborough help to create the famous intense flavours, and exceptional harvests throughout the region. Due to the warm weather and the drawn-out nature of harvesting, the winemakers can pick at optimal levels of sugar ripeness and physiological ripeness. Additionally, the warm and fine weather through the late summer months allows the development of a riper spectrum of tropical flavours. The resulting wines have wonderful fruit concentration, aromatic power and primary complexity that has helped Marlborough become as famous as it has.

Wairau River wines take their name from the river that runs through the heart of the Marlborough wine region, Wairau is Māori for 'many waters'. The Rose family were pioneers in planting vines in the 1970`s and after originally selling the grapes to other wineries, such as 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. Produced from The Angler vineyard on the banks of the Wairau River. The grapes were hand harvested in small bins in the early hours of the morning and returned to the winery. After gentle whole-bunch pressing the juice was fermented in seasoned French oak barriques. Free run juice was kept separate from the pressings and eighty percent was fermented with cultured yeast while the remaining when through wild fermentation. After aging in French oak, the wine was blended and bottled on the Wairau River Estate.

The blending of the two styles allows for a more complex and unique wine. It gives the winemakers the opportunity to not only keep consistency but to maintain their own style and approach to wines. This Viognier is a perfect option because of that. Displaying intense aromas of lime, apricots and marmalade. The palate is rich and full, with powerful fruit weight balanced by fine mineral acidity, resulting in a wine with refined texture and a lingering finish.