The Season

This was one of our cooler summers, which favoured this early ripening variety. By leaving the grapes on the vines until later in the season we achieved excellent flavour development with good natural acidity. A modest but reasonable crop level has contributed to good fruit concentration and body in the wine.

The Vineyard and vines

The grapes were grown on well drained stony soil in the Waipara Valley. The rows of vines are orientated in a north south direction to ensure good sunlight exposure on each side of the plant and to assist even ripening of the berries. A large proportion of "hen and chicken" (a small ratio of large to small berries) formation has added to the richness and opulence of the wine.

The Harvest and winemaking

The grapes were picked at different times during autumn, the harvest in each block coinciding with optimal ripeness and flavour development. A proportion of the crop was left on the vine to develop noble botrytis. The juice was fermented at a cool temperature to help protect the vibrant varietal characters that make this wine so distinctive and special. A portion of this wine was matured in old large barrels to help emphasise its mouth feel without altering its aroma and flavour.

The Wine

The striking aroma and flavour are reminiscent of Turkish musk, quince paste, candied pineapple, guava and tropical spices. The wine is big boned, mouth filling and unctuous. Its richness is balanced by crisp acidity and a lingering aftertaste of freshly crushed root ginger.

Download Tasting Notes


2021

19/20

“One of New Zealand’s best Gewürztraminers … full-bodied, medium-sweet style that is nicely balanced by refreshing high acidity.  A stunning South Island Gewürztraminer.”

- Joelle Thompson, Drinksbiz Magazine, NZ
This wine is so beautifully balanced … Clean yet richly complex, laced with manuka honey and gently, luxuriously oily to finish. Exotically excellent."
- Yvonne Lorkin, www.yvonnelorkin.com NZ
93/100
“Fantastic bouquet of exotic fruits and flowers … There’s no mistaking the texture - touching all sections of the palate with a light phenolic bitterness back palate reminding me of some noteworthy Alsace examples. I really enjoy this style of wine … Great acid line and finishing dry.”
- Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com, NZ
18.5+/20
“…The wine has excellent freshness enhanced by acid balance and spice; the fruit shows depth and persists to a long, spicy finish … persist harmoniously to a long, enticing finish.”
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
94/100
“It's wonderfully aromatic … ” deliciously appealing palate that's powerfully concentrated and mouthfilling. Opulent and plush with a prolonged satisfying finish.”
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
90/100
“… a full-flavoured, potent, luscious and powerful wine with viscosity ….”
- New Zealand Wine Writer, Stephen Bennett MW & Lynnette Hudson, NZ

2019

93/100
“… Delicious on the palate with flavours of spices and dried herbs … No mistaking the variety … very engaging” 
- Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com, NZ
Full of personality … a slightly oily texture and good complexity and harmony
- Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine, AUS
96/100

“… It's sumptuous and plush on the palatea wonderfully long gratifying finish

- Sam Kim – Wine Writer, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
18.5/20
“…textural Gewurztraminer shines with varietal characters and barrel-fermented complexities
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ

2018

“… the delicious 2018 vintage was handled for six months in old oak puncheons … it's full of personality” 
- Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ
94/100
This has such intensity and ripeness. Pegasus Bay really knows how to deliver aromatic white in full regalia. ….”
- Nick Stock, www.jamessuckling.com, USA

2017

EXCELLENT TO OUTSTANDING
“Leaps out of the glass with Turkish delight and rose petal … Intense, powerful, a long finish. A meal in a glass”.
- Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ
“… Delight, flint and fragrant … terrific fruit power and intensity … irresistibly delicious.
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
92/100
Very impressive …. palate has a rich, sweet style to it ….”
- Nick Stock, www.jamessuckling.com, USA

2016

92/100
Plenty of flinty rose water and luscious tropical fruits. The cool lychee palate is a thing of real beauty. Jasmine and rose water florals linger playfully.”
- Nick Stock, jamesSuckling.com, USA
94/100
“ … weighty and complex gewürztraminer … Impressive wine
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbell.nz, NZ
18.5/20
“..This is a rich and luscious, weighty and powerful medium-dry Gewurztraminer… 
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
“   a powerful but not heavy style with rich, citrusy, well-spiced flavours, gentle acidity, unusual complexity and a well-rounded, lasting finish. Full of personality, …
- Winestate Magazine, AUS
“ … Powerful it has a beautifully perfumed, spicy bouquet, leading into a weighty wine … unusual complexity and harmony … already delicious
- Michael Copper, michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ

2014

18.5/20
“ …. full-bodied, rich and opulent fruit flavours of tropical fruits, Turkish Delight, marmalade, honey and musk …. an unctuous texture and mouthfeel … .  The wine flows with vibrancy and energy …”
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
95/100
” … a full and rich bouquet of Gewurztraminer … On the palate - creamy, rich, salivating and packed with multiple fruit flavours … ; long rewarding finish
- Cameron Douglas MS, camerondouglasms.blogspot.co.nz, NZ
96/100
“ … Rich, Alsace-style Gewürztraminer with masses of flavour and richly textured … Seriously good wine …” 
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbell.nz, NZ
Wow!  The glittering yellow diamond colour of this wine is quite mesmerizing… an irresistibly un-put-downable example"
- Yvonne Lorkin, yvonnelorkin.com NZ

2013

95/100
Totally seductive Gewurztraminer . . . It is a triumph both texturally and in terms of complexity. Above all its a lovely drink”
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbellwinereviews.com
18.5/20
“… The mouthfeel is soft and unctuous with very fine textures, and good alcohol power and drive. Some complex reductive elements add interest and are carried to a long, soft, near-decadent finish. This is a rich, near-decadent, medium-dry Gewurztraminer with ginger and honied flavours along with some subtle funky complexities. …
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz

2011

… Alsace-like, with substantial body and excellent delicacy, complexity and length. Poised and youthful, it is already lovely, with rich peach, lychee and spice flavours, and a gentle splash of sweetness. Benchmark stuff.
- Michael Cooper’s Buyers Guide, NZ
The aromas and flavours suggest freshly sliced, ripe pear, intertwined with hints of quince, greengage and loquat. The palate is complex and multi-faceted, with an unctuous concentration of fruit and lusciousness, balanced by a spine of minerality and grapefruit-like acidity which draw out the length and complement the lingering aftertaste.
- Wine of the year finalist - Wine State magazine, Australia
Utterly drop dead deliciously good; obviously a Gewürztraminer in the hands of a master, in this case North Canterbury winemaker Mat Donaldson, who treats Gewurz’ like a great Riesling, giving it all the intensity and enhancing its acidity too. The result is an amazingly pretty, super tropical, ultra refreshing wine. A must try . . . this wine is a winner.
- Joelle Thompson, DrinksBiz , NZ
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Pegasus Bay

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Off Licence.
Licence Holder:Donaldson Family Limited T/A:Pegasus Bay Winery.
Licence no:57/OFF/458/2022 Exp:16/3/2025