Esk Valley Pinot Gris

Esk Valley is a boutique Hawkes Bay winery, led by veteran winemaker Gordon Russell. It is renowned for hand-crafted premium reds and elegant whites.

Esk Valley Estate was first established by Englishman Robert Bird in 1933 under the name Glenvale. Bird constructed the original winery and cellars and focussed on producing fortified wine styles that were popular at the time. Glenvale grew quickly and at its peak was the 5th largest winery in New Zealand.

Sir George Fistonich owner of Villa Maria saved and renamed the estate in 1986 with a focus on high quality wines from local Hawkes Bay vineyards. In 1988 a program to re-establish an abandoned terraced vineyard was undertaken. This vineyard on the north facing valley wall of the old winery site was planted in 1989 and the resulting wine, The Terraces, has become one of New Zealand’s most highly sought-after wines.

Our long-standing winemaker, Gordon Russell, was appointed in 1993 and has dedicated the last 25 years to developing our reputation as a boutique winery, renowned for hand-crafted premium reds and elegant whites made in a traditional fashion with as little intervention as possible to reflect site and season.

Esk Valley has always crafted award winning boutique wines using traditional hands-on techniques. This simple and artisanal approach was born of the original winery site with its old concrete vats, unique layout and absence of modern technology. In 2018 the limitations of this 85-year-old winery were reached and Esk Valley relocated its winemaking operation to an all new site situated in the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District of Hawkes Bay.

Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Albarino

This is a single vineyard wine from the Keltern Vineyard situated near Maraekakaho on a stony river terrace formed by the Ngaruroro River. With warm daytime temperatures and cool nights this is an ideal site to grow premium Pinot Gris. The old vines are spur pruned and intensively managed to provide ripe fruit from low yielding vines.

The grapes were harvested in the morning while temperatures were cool and processed as quickly and gently as possible to avoid colour and tannin pick up from the pink Pinot Gris berries. The juice was settled bright before fermentation in both tank and large old oak barrels. The finished wine was left on its yeast lees with regular stirring until bottling (8%).

This is a dry style Pinot Gris with aromas and flavours of Nashi pear, peach, citrus and honey. A small portion of barrel fermentation has added richness and complexity to this delicious and highly drinkable wine.

Very versatile. Can be enjoyed on its own or with soft cheeses, pork, chicken and seafood dishes.