This was an ideal growing season for sauvignon blanc as a warm spring and summer were followed by a long, dry autumn, which produced extra ripening, while at the same time allowing the grapes to retain good natural acidity.  Moderate crop levels has ensured the wine has good concentration.

An exceptionally early budburst was brought about by a very mild spring.  Warm summer days with cool nights and a balmy, dry autumn produced healthy, beautifully ripened fruit while retaining a wonderful balance of natural acidity.

An exceptionally early budburst was brought about by a very mild spring.  Warm summer days with cool nights and a balmy, dry autumn produced healthy, beautifully ripened fruit while retaining a wonderful balance of natural acidity.

The Donaldson Family traces its Kiwi roots back about 1000 years. In keeping with this we have chosen to honour this special New Zealand wine with an ancestral name.

The fruit came from an elevated vineyard on clay, limestone slopes looking north-west over the Waipara Valley. This was an ideal growing season for pinot gris with an early bud-burst, a warm summer and a long, lingering autumn.

With an early budburst and a warm summer this growing season was ideal for pinot gris. A long, dry autumn meant we were able to delay picking the grapes until they were perfectly ripe. They came from an elevated vineyard on clay, limestone slopes, looking northwest over the Waipara Valley.