Bird ~ Steve Bird Winery & Vineyards Ltd

Pinot Gris is a classic cool climate variety that has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years to become the fourth most widely planted white wine grape in New Zealand (1500 acres) behind Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling.

2006 Pinot Gris - Tasting Note:

An intriguing wine with an abundance of fresh peachy fruit and spicy aromas. The palate has outstanding weight with a beautiful fleshy texture. Concentrated flavours of stone fruit and spice persist through the length of the wine giving a lingering elegant finish.

Traditionally this grape is cultivated in the old world (Germany, Italy, France), and belongs to the Pinot family of vines.

In cooler areas such as Alsace it produces luscious wines with spice and peachy fruit.

The history of Pinot Gris in New Zealand dates back to the beginning of last century when, in 1906, legendary viticulturalist Romeo Bragato gave the variety high praise.

In 2006 more than 50% of New Zealand's Pinot Gris production came out of Marlborough where the variety is thriving on the coarse, free draining alluvial soils.