Matahiwi Estate ME Pinot Gris 2022

Wairarapa's cool climate and diverse soils create perfect conditions for Pinot Gris, allowing the grapes to retain natural acidity while developing complex fruit flavours. The region's continental climate with warm days and cool nights helps preserve the variety's characteristic fresh, crisp profile while building the generous spice notes that make this wine so distinctive. This terroir expression is exactly what Jane Cooper captures in her winemaking approach at Matahiwi Estate.

This Pinot Gris is crafted in the 'drink now' style, designed to showcase vibrant primary fruit flavours at their peak freshness. Unlike wines built for cellaring, the appeal here lies in the immediate expression of juicy apple and ripe pear characters, which can diminish over time. The wine's light body and fresh acidity are optimised for current consumption, delivering maximum enjoyment while the fruit flavours remain bright and lively.

The wine's musky aromatics and balanced spice make it exceptional with seafood, particularly the recommended Moules Marinières where the wine's acidity cuts through creamy, garlicky sauces beautifully. The citrus and melon notes complement Asian cuisine, especially dishes with ginger or lemongrass, while the pear flavours pair wonderfully with soft cheeses and charcuterie. Its light body makes it versatile enough for casual lunches or more sophisticated dining occasions.

Jane Cooper, who has been Matahiwi's winemaker since 2002, focuses on capturing the purity of fresh fruit in the bottle, which explains this wine's vibrant, unadorned style. Her approach emphasises minimal intervention to let the Wairarapa terroir speak clearly through the wine. Working alongside vineyard manager Karina Southey, Jane ensures the fruit quality from vineyard to bottle maintains the integrity that makes this Pinot Gris such an authentic expression of New Zealand winemaking.

The 90-point Five Stars Wine Orbit rating indicates this Pinot Gris represents excellent quality and outstanding value within its category. Wine Orbit is known for rigorous tasting standards, so this score reflects the wine's successful balance of fruit purity, structural integrity, and regional character. The rating validates Jane Cooper's winemaking approach and confirms this wine delivers the complexity and satisfaction expected from premium New Zealand Pinot Gris.