Awatere River Pinot Noir

Standing proud at the head of Marlborough’s Awatere Valley is Mount Tapuae-o-uenuku - the highest peak outside of New Zealand’s Main Divide. Its glaciers feed the Awatere River which meanders its way through some of New Zealand’s best wine growing country. It was on this country that the Vavasour family settled in 1887, pioneering commercial grape-growing and winemaking. Peter and Anna Vavasour planted the first vines in the Dashwood district in 1986 and established the region's first winery.

Awatere River, by Louis Vavasour (Peter and Anna Vavasour's son) is a collection of award winning, low yield, premium quality wines that reflect the distinctive terroir of the alluvial river flats on which they were grown. Focusing on length, structure and complexity, Awatere River produces exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Rosé and Pinot Noir.

Awatere River is the culmination of 15 years immersion in winemaking and draws on over a century of Vavasour family tradition. It also reflects a little of the winemaker's own history and personality. Louis opted to trade, not on family name but on everything he loves most about living and working in the region.

Awatere River Pinot Noir is made from grapes from three Awatere sites that display complimentary characteristics in terms of flavour and tannin profiles. Handling through the winemaking process has been gentle to showcase the excellent cherry and berry-fruit flavours that Marlborough develops, and to keep the elegance and finesse on the palate that a good Pinot Noir should have.