Peregrine Pinot Gris 2010

Winery: Peregrine

Varietal: Pinot Gris

The grayish blue fruits of the Pinot Grigio grape varietal are used in the production of a very wide, and seemingly ever widening, range of quality white wines. These grapes pick up much of the features of their terroir, and as such, it isn't unusual to find find Pinot Grigio wines which have something of an alpine character, or hold slightly ashen, smoky flavors soaked up from various soils. They have a naturally high sugar content, which, depending on how they are handled and processed either leads to them producing semi-sweet wines, or drier, more fermented wines, or even wines with a relatively high alcohol content. These grapes prefer cooler climates, and as such are grown in several countries around the world which have strong oceanic breezes or shady valley regions.

Region: Central Otago

The beautiful region of Central Otago in southern New Zealand has received plenty of attention over recent years, as it ramped up its tourism industry in order to demonstrate its stunning natural beauty to the world. However, fans of interesting and flavorful New World wines have long been familiar with the region, which is renowned for being the most southerly wine region on earth, situated at forty five degrees south. The vineyards of Central Otago benefit enormously from the micro climate created by the impressive mountains which surround it, which provide hot, dry summers and gorgeously balmy autumns. Alongside this, the region features volcanic soils which provide plenty of nutrition to the Pinot Noir grapes, which make up for seventy percent of the vines grown there.

Country: New Zealand

When it comes to New World wines, few countries can compete with Europe quite as well as New Zealand, where modern techniques and technologies are allowing wineries to get the very best results from the wide range of imported grape varieties which flourish there. The warm, sunny climate coupled with brisk oceanic winds and remarkably fertile volcanic soils produce grapes of exceptional quality, and New Zealand wines are notable for their ability to carry the terroir they are grown on into the bottle. Whilst the Sauvignon Blanc wines are probably the most widely exported and popular to come out of new Zealand, fantastic results have been produced from the Bordeaux style wines made in the Auckland region, and the Pinot Noir wines of Central Otago. These Pinot Noir wines are far more fleshy than their Burgundy counterparts, and are probably best enjoyed when young, and bursting with the fruit flavors they carry so well.