Stories and Latest Releases
Garden of Significance
From a bare paddock in the mid-1990’s, the gardens at Pegasus Bay have been a 30-year passion project for matriarch and co-founder, Chris Donaldson. Now her green fingered prowess has been further enhanced by the NZ Garden Trust officially recognising it as a Garden of Significance. Comprised of approximately 15 acres, there are sweeping lawns, picturesque walkways, water features and plantings of all types and textures.
As the gardens have grown, working on them has become a team effort. Chris is helped by seasoned gardener Paula Kelly and a regular helper, Nicky Matthews. When it comes to professional advice, they also turn to plant sculpture extraordinaire, Greg Bloomer. Experiencing the wonders of the garden throughout all seasons has become an essential part of any visit to Pegasus Bay.
Hats off to Chris and the team for their incredible vision and efforts.
After its last outing in 2021 was scuppered by Covid, this four yearly conference of all things Pinot was finally re-staged in February, much to the delight of Aotearoa’s wine community. The fact it was hosted in our home city of Christchurch at the new Te Pae Convention Centre made it feel even more special.
Celebrating the close relationship of people and their land, this was a unique gathering of passionate NZ Pinot producers and global experts, discussing why our distinctive cool climate Pinot has a place on the world stage, and looking at how the industry can adapt to challenges and take advantage of opportunities in future, so it continues to thrive. It was a truly inspiring event that made us all feel proud to be a part of the NZ Pinot Community.
A Game of Two Halves - Harvest 2025
The phases of this year’s growing season have certainly been contrasting, and fair to say, it has kept our vineyard team on its toes! An extremely hot and settled spring resulted in prolific flowering and a bumper fruit set. Everything was accelerating quickly in the warm weather, and we anticipated an early harvest, especially as the meteorologists were predicting a classic El Nino summer to follow, with a high number of Nor’west days.
What unfolded was very nearly the opposite. January proved to be the wettest such month since records began, prompting even more aggressive crop thinning in our vineyards, to maintain fruit quality and give our vines the best change of ripening. While the rest of summer was an improvement, overall, it was still cooler than average, with plenty of Southerlies, meaning a nervous wait for brix levels to climb. In the end, the ensuing harvest called for judicious management in the vineyard and some vigilant decision making around pick dates and bunch selection, to ensure the fruit arriving at the winery was kept to the highest quality possible. Despite the challenging season in the vineyard, we’re optimistic that our efforts will result in some excellent wines from 2025.
NEW Stadium Partnership
Over the last 5 years, the Donaldson Family has quietly been forging an enduring relationship with Christchurch City Council-owned Venues Ōtautahi (VŌ), providing Pegasus Bay and Main Divide wines for events at its portfolio of locations around the city, including the Christchurch Town Hall and Wolfbrook Arena.
Added to this, we’re absolutely delighted and humbled to now announce our partnership with VŌ at the city’s new One New Zealand Stadium. Due to open next April, this mixed-use state of the art facility boasts a capacity of 40,000 and will be a major drawcard for our city. We’re thrilled to be supplying our premium wines at the stadium and look forward to strengthening our connection with VŌ further.
Aged to Perfection
We’re ecstatic to welcome the latest recruits from our aged release Pinot and Riesling Academy, this time the class of 2015. Hailing from a sublime season worthy of Prima Donna status, the exceptional wines from this year are the perfect showcase of fruit and tertiary complexity. These limited-edition beauties will not last long, so delay at your peril!
Mini Deli & Cellar Door
As we head into the cooler months and global turmoil reigns, it’s comforting to know that one constant remains. The predictability of a glass of heart-warming wine, in front of our roaring Pegasus Bay fireplace, accompanied by a platter of artisan deli nibbles. So why not treat yourself to a carefree day in the countryside with family, friends or colleagues.
Pegasus Bay Mini Deli
Winter Hours
Thursday to Monday
10.30am - 4.30pm
No bookings. Max group size 10.
Pegasus Bay Cellar Door
Thursday to Monday
10.00am - 5.00pm
Bookings advised. Max group size 10.
Both closed Tuesday and Wednesday
The Prescription Pad
Fashions come and go and over my life I’ve seen countless changes in attitudes, beliefs, customs and the like. When I was a boy the churches were full, marriages were endemic, tattoos were looked down on, smoking was rife, women were doomed to be housewives or secretaries, skirts above knee height were scandalous, dietary requirements were unheard of, and the “wellness” industry hadn’t kicked in. Take exercise, for example, 50 years ago gyms hadn’t been invented, and running was restricted to competitive races. Anyone would have thought you were soft in the head if you jogged around the park in a pair of shorts. Now, I’m not saying that some changes don’t have a rational basis and may be thought of as advances, but many are lifestyle choices, i.e. fashions.
The world of wine has not been immune to such changes. When I first became interested in wine in the 1960s most men drank beer while women sipped cocktails. Wine was for geeks, apart from in Europe where wine was seen as a treasured food and regularly consumed with meals by both sexes. When the English-speaking countries discovered wine it became a beverage in its own right, a party drink, and the fashion shifted to lighter, fruitier wines. Along with this, there were changes in viticulture and winemaking. It used to be said that to make top quality wine the vine had to struggle. This usually meant arid inhospitable sites of low fertility where growth would be restricted and berries small. It was thought that fertile soil meant excessive vegetative growth and big berries with little flavour.
In the 1960s, concerns about pesticides, kick-started organic agriculture and viticulture. Other such systems have been developed, including biodynamic, sustainable and more recently regenerative, each having their own philosophies and requirements. All recognise that to produce good wine grapes a vine needs to be healthy, in good balance and not struggling. To be healthy, a vine, like other plants, needs the aid of microscopic fungi and other microorganisms growing on its roots, particularly in the top 50 or so cm of soil. These enhance the uptake of vital minerals and nutrients by the plant, which in return releases liquid carbon to feed them and to develop energy rich topsoil. Worms and other small creatures aid this and maintain the structure of the soil. Regenerative viticulture aims to develop and enhance this. One of its tenants is to avoid all ploughing, tillage or other sorts of mechanical interference with this symbiotic relationship.
Other regenerative principles avoid bare soil, keeping it covered with vegetation, encouraging biodiversity by growing other plants in the vineyard and integrating animals into the ecosystem.
At Pegasus Bay we follow these principles. We haven’t turned our topsoil in 20 years, we plant a wide variety of beneficial plants in our sward, and we compost our vine prunings and grape pressings, returning them to our vineyards where we graze sheep at every opportunity. But let’s not be too carried away with the means and forget the ends. There is an old Roman saying, in vino veritas or in wine there is truth. I can’t guarantee the veracity of that, but I can endorse the saying of a late friend of mine, the truth lies in the glass. At the end of the day, whatever viticultural philosophy we follow, we will always strive to make the best possible wine from our site and the quality of what’s in the glass will guide our decisions.
We leave you to judge us on that.
Cheers,
All bottles 750ml unless otherwise stated
SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - New Release
Whole bunch fermented and aged on skins for around 200 days, this wine has a dialled-up structure with increased phenolics that add complexity and focus. A serious Sauvignon Blanc not made in a typical Marlborough style.
19/20A soulful Sauvignon Blanc with impeccable structure, liveliness and complexity.
Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
93/100 Pure and powerful wine with a distinctive, individual and recognisable personality.
Bob Campbell MW, therealreview.com, AUS
RIESLING 2024
Off-dry and fermented at low temperatures to retain zesty aromas and flavours. Bottled with a little naturally dissolved CO2 to give a hint of spritzig and tangy freshness.
95/100 A wine of complexity and purity … salivating freshness and a long finish.
Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
95/100 Gorgeously styled and expressed, the elegantly perfumed bouquet shows pineapple, lemon sorbet, crunchy apple and rich floral aromas.
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, wineorbit.co.nz
RIESLING 2015 - Aged Release
It’s with great fanfare that we bring you our latest aged Riesling, from the stellar season of 2015. A long, hot, and settled growing season has produced a wine with intense flavour and concentration. Imbued with the unique qualities of maturation that prompt Riesling lovers to rejoice, if you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing an aged version, it’s time to get on board.
96/100Long, flavourful and very, very textured.
James Suckling Wine Reviews, jamessuckling.com, USA
19/20Well-integrated and harmonious … a juicy Riesling with well balanced strength and complex development.
Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
RIESLING 2023 - New Release
1.5L Magnum
Attractively scented and finely poised …. lovely vibrancy, depth and harmony.
Michael Cooper, Wine Writer, NZ
MUSCAT 2019
We have a tiny plot of muscat à petits grains, a variety that is used in Alsace and the Rhône Valley. Made in an off-dry style, this latest addition is wonderfully aromatic, full of perfume and spice.
95/100 The inviting nose has aromas of Turkish delight, limes, ginger and marshmallow … On the generous and engaging palate your senses are fully occupied.
Gavin Hubble, grape-to-glass.com, NZ
95/100 Voluptuous, exotic, varietal and intense.
Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
CHARDONNAY 2022 - New Release
750ml & 1.5L Magnum
Made from ultra-low cropping Mendoza clone, this concentrated Chardonnay has power and intensity. Following traditional Burgundian techniques, the juice was fermented with natural yeasts in French puncheons and aged on lees for 12 months.
94/100 A good example of a consistently high-quality Chardonnay.
Bob Campbell MW, therealreview.com, AUS
95/100 Terrific weight and fleshy texture, supported by beautifully pitched acidity.
Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz
CHARDONNAY 2020 - New Release
1.5L Magnum
94/100 Classic Peg Bay bouquet of power and richness, no mistaking the intensity of style.
Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
A great, complex, layered South Island Chardonnay, one of NZ’s best.
Joelle Thomson, joellethomson.com, NZ
PINOT NOIR 2022
Following traditional Burgundian techniques, wild ferment then aged in oak for 15 months. Structured and concentrated, while retaining elegance and finesse.
This is one of North Canterbury’s greatest Pinot Noirs … Deliciously savoury, harmonious and smooth.
Michael Cooper, Wine Writer, NZ
18.5+/20 This earthy, savoury Pinot Noir is refined and has well-balanced freshness and precision.
Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
PINOT NOIR 2015 - Aged Release
Drum roll please … behold the latest alumnus from our aged Pinot collegiate, a prodigy of our splendid 2015 vintage. Still bright and vibrant but showcasing the intricacies of bottle age, we believe this aged release is among our best. Patiently maturing, it now possesses the perfect balance of fruit weight, concentration and savoury complexity.
97/100 A wonderfully integrated and refined new-world pinot with some old-world charm.
James Suckling Wine Reviews, jamessuckling.com, USA
96/100 Beautifully maturing with delectable flavours, offering terrific drinking.
Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz
PINOT NOIR 2021
1.5L Magnum & 3L Jeroboam
95/100 Youthful, powerful, enticing … a quality wine from start to finish.
Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
19/20 Pegasus Bay winemakers consistently make powerful Pinot Noir.
Joelle Thomson, joellethomson.com, NZ
MERLOT CABERNET 2021 - New Release
This season’s hot summer and lingering dry autumn was perfect for ripening our Bordeaux reds. Aged in oak for 18 months, the finished product is made up of predominantly Merlot, with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon, and a small amount of Cabernet Franc.
The 2021 vintage is arguably the best yet and a red any Hawke’s Bay producer would be happy to own.
Michael Cooper, Wine Writer, NZ
94/100 Dark berries, plums and violets, then layers of wood spice and smoke. Excellent tannin and acid line surround the core fruit flavours.
Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
MERLOT CABERNET 2020
1.5L Magnum
94/100 Wonderfully flavoursome palate … bold yet stylish.
Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz
94/100 I really like the flower and red fruits here that flow across the palate. Very classy.
James Suckling Wine Reviews, jamessuckling.com, USA
GEWURZTRAMINER 2024 - SOLD OUT awaiting next release
VERGENCE WHITE Mk 3
Vergence is our non-traditional label where we enjoy pushing the boundaries of conventional winemaking. As with our MK1 and MK2, the core of the White MK3 is barrel aged old vine Semillon that gives body and palate weight, blended with a selection of aromatics. This time however, we’ve left out the Chardonnay and added more Gewürztraminer, accentuating its distinct varietal character of floral and spice. Once again this is a multi-vintage wine to realise its full potential.
Fresh, distinctive, highly appealing … it’s not at all a traditional recipe, but it works!
Michael Cooper, Wine Writer, NZ
Excellent Richness and viscosity that caresses the palate .... Incredibly moreish, undoubtedly complex.
Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ
VERGENCE RED Mk 3
Our MK3 Red takes another radical departure from tradition. Emboldened by the surprise results of the MK2, we decided to trial blending Pinot Noir with a small portion of Malbec this time (approximately 5%). Clean and focused, with a bigger mouthfeel and tons of juicy fruit weight. Think Pinot Noir on steroids.
94/100 It’s robust and sturdy, yet beautifully framed by layers of fine tannins, making it harmonious and persistent.
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, wineorbit.co.nz
18.5+/20 Powdery smooth tannins carry spices and linger with dark earthy minerals.
Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
All bottles 750ml unless otherwise stated
MINUETTO SAUVIGNON SEMILLON 2021
750ml & 1.5L Magnum
We selected the best parcels of fruit from this epic harvest to create our very first Sauvignon Semillon under its new reserve moniker. Made in the traditional style of a white Bordeaux, it contains approx. 60% tank fermented Sauvignon Blanc and 40% barrel fermented Semillon, the latter adding richness, texture and length.
96/100 Wax and peach, lemon and flowers … a complex and lengthy wine with a salivating mouthfeel.
Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
Ripely scented, it is mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and vigorous. A highly distinctive wine.
Michael Cooper, Wine Writer, NZ
BEL CANTO DRY RIESLING 2023
Only possible to make in seasons that are favourable to botrytis. The grapes have almost the same ripeness as those used for Aria, but fermented to dryness, resulting in a wine that is richly textured, yet still possessing focus and drive.
94/100 Dense and spicy … One of the best Rieslings in New Zealand.
James Suckling Wine Reviews, jamessuckling.com, USA
An outstanding wine with beautiful balance, great flavour and the ability to age for at least 10 years. Consistently fabulous.
Joelle Thomson, drinksbiz.co.nz
BEL CANTO DRY RIESLING 2022
1.5L Magnum
94/100 Alsace style Riesling with energy and impressive complexity … dry but not austere.
Bob Campbell MW, therealreview.com, AUS
18.5+/20 Full and complex, with aromas of gunflint overlaying citrus, orchard fruit and crunchy minerals.
Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
VIRTUOSO CHARDONNAY 2021 - New Release
This exceptional season has delivered one of our most remarkably harmonious Virtuoso’s. Sumptuous and textural, it is powerful and complex, while oozing with precision and finesse. A selection from the best barrels of Chardonnay, coming from some of the oldest plantings in the vineyard. This release is hot off the press, so we don’t have any reviews yet, but here’s a teaser from the tasting note:
There is great harmony between tension and texture on the palate, with a rich and lavish mouthfeel complimented by invigorating acidity that adds length and breadth. Powerful yet infinitely elegant, this is a multi-layered and engaging experience with a prolonged, gratifying finish.
VIRTUOSO CHARDONNAY 2020
1.5L Magnum
96/100 Full-bodied with rich, toasty and tropical fruit, with an underlying smokiness … Muscular and compact.
James Suckling Wine Reviews, jamessuckling.com, USA
94/100 A tremendously powerful wine … the climax of Mozart’s Symphony 41, Jupiter, comes to mind.
Erin Larkin, robertparker.com, USA
PRIMA DONNA PINOT NOIR 2020
750ml & 1.5L Magnum
We only produce Prima Donna Pinot Noir in exceptional years, such as this one. It is a blend of the barrels we feel best reflect the vintage and our unique terroir. It mainly comes from our oldest, lowest cropping vines that are non-grafted.
19.5/20 An exceptional Pinot Noir, possessing elegance, power and complexity.
Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
PRIMA DONNA PINOT NOIR 2015 - Aged Release
Every now and then, something comes along that completely blows your mind, and this is one of those moments. Richly textured and mouthfilling, exhibiting intensity and power, melded with sophistication and focus, this latest aged Prima Donna has it all. Hailing from a low yielding, fantastic season, it is drinking superbly now, but still has potential for further aging. Stocks extremely limited, this won’t hang around long.
98/100 A magnificent rendition of the variety … sumptuous and expansive, yet structured and robust.
Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz
MAESTRO MERLOT CABERNET MALBEC 2020
750ml & 1.5L Magnum
Maestro is the heavyweight in our reds division, and as with Prima Donna, produced only in very special years. It’s a blend of the barrels of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon that we feel best reflect the vintage and our terroir.
19.5/20 Fine-grained, opulent tannins that generously coat the palate, unveiling rich herbs and stony minerals … a masterpiece.
Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
ARIA LATE HARVEST RIESLING 2024 - New Release
750ml & 1.5L Magnum
In favourable years such as this one, the bunches are left on the vines until late in the season then hand-selected with extra flavour nuances, that give a mouth filling lusciousness, similar to Auslese wines of Germany.
The palate is pleasingly engaged, with a luscious landing on the dancefloor.
Gavin Hubble, grape-to-glass.com, NZ
ENCORE NOBLE RIESLING 2017
375ml
Made in a similar way to Aria, however picked later so that all the bunches have fully developed botrytis. The autumn of 2017 proved favourable in this regard.
A wine of great depth, beauty and harmony. Abundant sweetness, good acid spine and an enduring finish.
Michael Cooper, Wine Writer, NZ
FORTISSIMO SWEET FORTIFIED MUSCAT 2023
375ml
This wine is made in the style of Muscat Beaumes de Venise. A small amount of neutral spirit is added to stop the fermentation and retain some of the late picked grape’s natural sugars. We have made only a tiny amount, and as with our previous editions, it is solely available through our cellar door and wine club.
94/100 A delicious wine, perfect with cheese and quince paste … well made, lengthy and excellent.
Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
FINALE NOBLE SEMILLON SAUVIGNON 2021 - SOLD OUT Awaiting next release
SWANNDRI PEGASUS BAY VEST
This unisex, limited-edition vest will quickly become a go-to item in your wardrobe.
Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
MONOPOLY ŌTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH EDITION
Pegasus Bay are proud to have been selected as the winery to represent
Canterbury in the Monopoly Ōtautahi Christchurch Edition board game.
