THE FAMILY

The Donaldson Family have been seriously involved in viticulture and winemaking for over 40 years. Founder Ivan Donaldson planted the first Canterbury vineyard in 1976 and went on to establish Pegasus Bay in 1986 with his wife Christine. It is a true family business, with all four of their sons involved.

THE VINEYARD AND VINES

The vineyard is located within the Waipara Valley of North Canterbury, on free draining, north facing terraces. It benefits from being in the lee of the Teviotdale Range, giving maximum protection from the Pacific’s easterly breezes and thus creating a unique mesoclimate. The vines are over 30 years old, with a large proportion planted on their own roots. They are located on the “Glasnevin Gravels” where greywacke stones, silt and loam have been washed down from the mountains over the millennia. The soil is of low fertility, resulting in naturally reduced vine vigour. This produces low yields of optimally ripened, high quality, flavourful grapes, which fully express the qualities of this unique terroir. The vineyard has warm days, but the nights are amongst the coolest in the Waipara Valley, drawing out the ripening period of the grapes, while still retaining good natural acidity.

THE SEASON

Unsettled weather over flowering resulted in a lighter than average set, meaning that no further fruit thinning was necessary. A classic North Canterbury summer then enabled this smaller crop to mature beautifully. Accelerated ripening allowed harvest to take place slightly earlier than usual, and favourable autumn weather ensured the grapes were picked in perfect condition.

THE HARVEST AND WINEMAKING

With its large diurnal range and long lingering autumns, North Canterbury is an ideal playground for riesling, making it possible to create concentrated wines that still possess favourable acidity and finesse. Our house style involves giving the grapes an extended “hang time” and picking (when possible) with a portion of noble botrytis, to enable our site to express itself harmoniously through this variety. Following harvest, the free run juice was fermented slowly at cool temperatures to help the wine express the unique characters of our region. At all stages, the wine was handled very carefully to help retain a little of its natural carbon dioxide. This has resulted in a small amount of spritzig, which adds extra liveliness to the wine.

THE WINE

On release the colour is lemon-straw. The bouquet is a zesty fusion of quince, citrus blossom, lemon meringue and green apple, cloaked in a spicy mineral underlay. In the mouth the experience is also multi-layered, displaying both richness and precision, texture and poise. Charming sweetness is backed by refreshing acidity and a hint of spritzig that creates a vibrant tension, ensuring the wine remains perfectly balanced with a fresh and lively finish.

Download Tasting Notes


“A true New Zealand classic ..."
- Stephen Wong MW, Wine Sentience, NZ
Awarded Super Classic Status "This is classy stuff." 
- Michael Cooper's Buyer’s Guide, NZ
“Surely a classic in its own right”
- Michael Broadbent, Decanter, UK

“Canterbury with its sunshine and big diurnal shifts is the beating heart of NZ Riesling production with Pegasus Bay arguably the country's best-known producer for the grape.”

- Chris Losh, Imbibe Magazine, UK
“ … Pegasus Bay’s rieslings remain New Zealand benchmarks …” 
- Dr Jo Burzynska, NZ

2021

94/100
“ … Aromatic and brilliant. Full body. Vivid and medium-sweet on the palate. Steely and clear.”
- James Suckling Wine Reviews, www.jamessuckling.com, USA

2020

94/100
Complex, layered aromatics … A taut, salivating, and intense palate with concentrated lime fruit, a crystalline texture, and bracing zippy acid. A touch of sweetness on the finish provides the perfect balance.”
- New Zealand Wine Rater, Stephen Bennett MW & Lynnette Hudson, NZ
92/100
The 2020 Riesling from Pegasus Bay is a succulent and satisfying mouthfeel … well balanced, running the gauntlet between austerity and sweetness, sweetly.”
- Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
95/100
“Wonderfully fruited and immediately appealing Opulent yet harmonious long and luscious” 
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
94/100
“Fantastic bouquet, pure, ripe, zesty and fresh … Delicious, fresh and just dry on the finish.” 
- Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com, NZ
95/100
“… Sweetness is nicely balanced by tangy acidity giving the wine an exquisite tension. Complex and concentrated.”
- Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, NZ
19/20
“ … This complex, heavy-weight Riesling is packed with flavours, concentration and a long, balanced drive
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
Classy stuffit is weighty and rich a very harmonious finish".
- Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooperwines.co.nz, NZ
93/100
“ … Articulate and rounded with the sweetness adding definition and depth … Delicious.
- James Suckling Wine Reviews, www.jamessuckling.com, USA

2019

94/100
“ … Quite rich, full bodied and flavoursome with a spritz element and a zesty finish.”
- New Zealand Wine Rater, Stephen Bennett MW & Lynnette Hudson, NZ
92/100
“… A light CO2 spritz on the entry makes for a lively start … Satisfying weight and depth are accompanied by roundness from the residual sugar (28g/L) while the fine acidity and textural phenolics provide a sense of structure …”
- Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
19/20
“ … Pegasus Bay Riesling is one of New Zealand’s greatest white wines every year.  It’s a maverick, brave, adventurous white that is delicious now and ages for a decade and then some.”
- Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz Magazine, NZ
95/100
Immensely complex and enticing … ” gorgeously flavoursome palate that's filled with succulent fruit flavours and spicy nuances. It's generous and opulent yet refined and structured with a persistent delicious finish.” 
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
95/100
“ … Delicious, fleshy and long.” 
- Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com, NZ
19-/20
“ … vibrant and refreshing multilayered richness and precision
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
“ … delicious wine is full of youthful impactRich and vibrant, …”
- Michael Cooper, Listener Magazine, NZ

2018

94/100

“ … rich, luscious unctuous. A big, bold, beautiful statement wine.”

- New Zealand Wine Rater, Stephen Bennett MW & Lynnette Hudson, NZ
16.5/20
“ … a distinctive wine with notable persistence".
- Julia Harding, www.jancisrobinson.com, UK
95/100
Gorgeously ripe and inviting awesome concentration … Splendidly harmonious and filled with delectable flavours” 
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
94/100
“ … Restrained lusciousness with a lingering finish"
- Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, NZ

2017

“ … Concentrated, with gentle sweetness … good acid spine” 
- Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ
94/100

“ … The palate has a very supple and succulent feel … Very complex texture. Superb.

- Nick Stock, www.jamessuckling.com, USA

2016

“ … crisp but not high acidity, …   A very harmonious wine, it’s delicious …”
- Winestate Magazine, AUS
93/100
“ … long, fluid build of concentrated citrus and stone fruit flavours.  Terrific depth
- Nick Stock, www.jamessuckling.com, USA
18.5/20

North Canterbury is one of the world’s great Riesling regions … To call this wine ‘iconic’ is to wildly understate the greatness of both the region and of the winemaker….”

- Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz Magazine, NZ
95/100
“ ... irresistibly delicious … sumptuous palate … excellent depth and intensitybalanced and harmonious” 
- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ

2015

93/100
Off-dry and packed with richness, this has a wealth of ripe peach and mango fruits. The palate has bracing acidity that lifts really weighty …”
- Nick Stock, www.jamessuckling.com, USA
95/100
“… Rich, concentrated and flavoursome Riesling … Sweetness is balanced by fruity acidity and fine tannins. A powerful wine with character.”  
- Bob Campbell MW, www.bobcampbell.nz, NZ
16.5/20
Very nice balance for a Spätlese style of wine.  Real refreshment and vitality.  Nice savoury undertow.  Racy and with good length.
- Jancis Robinson MW, www.jancisrobinson.com, UK
94/100

“ Very aromatic bouquet … very fresh, lively - dancing on the palate …”

- Cameron Douglas MS, camerondouglasms.blogspot.co.nz, NZ
18.5/20

“ … The wine carries smoothly to an elegant, long lingering finish. … elegantly rich and luscious medium Riesling … a fine-textured, refreshing palate…”

- Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ

2014

18.5/20
“…is a soft, rich, medium Riesling with exotic flavours of limes, honey and musk  “
- Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
93/100
A richly-textured wine with benchmark varietal flavours.”
- Bob Campbell MW, www.bobcampbell.nz, NZ
92/100
“ … beguiling core of intensity and complexity … A delicious example of Riesling … ”
Cameron Douglas MS, camerondouglasms.blogspot.co.nz, NZ

2013

92/100
"This distinctive style of Riesling is jam-packed with honey, tree fruit/apricot and orange marmalade flavours (among many others)..."
- Bob Campbell MW, www.bobcampbell.nz, NZ
TOP WINE OF TASTING
“. . .  an absolutely outstanding wine with intense concentration of colour, aroma, flavour, body and acidity; The finish is very long finish and this wine shows an exceptional response to the climate that it comes from. . . serious and very complex….This wine was my favourite for its great balance and intense fresh flavours.” 
- Vino, www.joellethomson.co.nz, NZ
18.5/20
“… This has much more to unfold…. the palate features soft, ripe, up-front citrus fruit and honied flavours along with nuances of exotic yellow florals.  The mouthfeel is smooth-flowing with a fine phenolic line and discreet, lacy acidity guiding the palate….This is a soft, rich and gently succulent medium Riesling with citrus and honied flavours and toasty detail.”
Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ

2012

19/20
“…This has developed some secondary nuance and is quite complete in expression.  …  The wine has concentration and follows a very fine line leading to a very long and sustained honied finish.  This is a rich and harmonious medium Riesling with complex nuances, underlying vitality and a complete mouthfeel. . . .
- Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
"Bright, light lemon/green, with lovely poise and concentration.  Showing real depth through the palate, it is peachy, slightly limey, and honeyed, with gentle sweetness, good acid spine, and a touch of bottle-aged complexity.  Drink now or cellar."
- Michael Cooper’s Buyers Guide, NZ

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