Dunnolly North Canterbury Pinot Gris 2025

Description

Dry, Pear, Spice

"Beautifully fruited and inviting, the bouquet shows rockmelon, poached pear, crisp apple, and subtle spice aromas. The palate delivers succulent fruit flavours with silky texture and well-pitched acidity, making it harmonious and lingering with tasty flavours. At its best: now to 2028" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"Beautifully expressed with elegance and energy, the pristine fruit shows good intensity, the ginger nuance elevates the juicy finish" Candice Chow, Wine Chat

"Lightly spiced and floral, with aromas of ginger, green pear, white peach, and citrus blossom. Subtle quince and a flinty edge. Medium-bodied with a light oily texture, ripe orchard fruit balanced by fresh acidity. Seam of grip carries pear and ginger spice into the mineral finish. Tarragon notes add savoury lift. A lovely drop" Sammy Wilkinson, The Wine Writer

"Juicy, fleshy, ripe and varietal with flavours of fresh green pear and quince, there’s a layer of lemon and honeysuckle then white spice and a savoury limestone mineral quality. Well made, fresh, crisp and dry with best drinking from late 2025 through 2028" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

"Offering good value, the 2025 vintage (****) is enjoyable from the start.  Light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, with generous, peachy, gently spicy flavours, a sliver of sweetness and balanced acidity.  A very lively wine, it should be at its best 2027+" Michael Cooper

Aromas of ripe pear, white nectarine, and soft honeysuckle lead into a generous palate with a touch of spice. A delicate balance of fruit richness and fresh acidity gives a smooth, lingering finish.

After 30 years in the wine trade in the North Island, Peter Parish returned to North Canterbury, the region of his childhood home in 1995. With sheer determination and hard graft, he planted his first vineyard and launched Dunnolly Estate Wines, named after the family villa, Dunnolly. Today, daughter Nicky is the hands-on winemaker and her brother Matt, now an overseas winemaker, supports as an advisor and consultant.

Located on the East of New Zealand’s South Island, North Canterbury wines are renowned for their concentration and expressive qualities. The region’s combination of clay soils and diurnal temperature range brings purity to the fruit, producing wines which retain natural vibrancy and complexity.

2025 was another memorable vintage in North Canterbury. The long dry autumn and extended ripening period produced pristine fruit that was perfectly ripened. We harvested our Pinot Gris on April 11.

Grape were whole-bunch pressed to preserve purity and delicacy, with minimal settling to retain natural texture. Fermentation was carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks using carefully selected cultured yeasts to ensure a clean, consistent expression of fruit. No oak was used, allowing the vibrant aromatics and fresh acidity to shine through.

Food Pairing: Enjoy as an aperitif or alongside fresh seafood or dishes with spice. I love classic barbequed scallops wrapped in bacon and a watercress side salad.