Mud House have asserted a reputation for Pinot Noir in a crowded New Zealand marketplace by proving excellent varietal and terroir driven examples like this Golden Terraces Vineyard Pinot Noir from Central Otago at some great prices. With lifted aromas of dark cherry and berry fruit with underlying notes of mocha and cinnamon giving way to a sumptuous palate of bramble and spice characters with considerable length.

You are greeted on the nose with suggestions of bramble and spice, gradually opening up to reveal red and black berry fruits, spice, leather and subtle floral notes.The palate is soft and supple, with cranberries and sweet red berry fruits upon entry. Fine silky tannins entwine a concentrated core of juicy black cherries, dark berry fruits, dried herbs and cocoa before trailing off to a long even finish.

This Pinot gris by Hugel et Fils is rich and rounded, although still dry, it is ideal with terrines, white meats and fish in sauce. Of all the Alsace varieties, Tokay Pinot Gris has the greatest ageing potential.

Straw yellow; varietal ripe apple-led fruit fragrances; dry, well-structured palate sustained by pleasing acidity through to a long-lingering finish. It pairs very well with steamed small crustaceans, spaghetti with clams and grilled zucchini.

An off-dry lower alcohol style, Felton Roads Bannockburn Riesling displays floral lift and fleshy stone fruit richness balanced by taut racy acidity. The fruit comes from Calvert & The Elms vineyards in the Bannockburn sub-region of Central Otago. The grapes are whole bunch pressed and fermented with indigenous yeasts, with the ferment arrested when the desired balance between acidity, alcohol and residual sugar is reached.

Josef Chromy's Pinot Gris delivers a fresh, zesty flavour profile of ripe apricot, pear and subtle hints of ginger. The grapes are harvested quite ripe in order to give the palate its full, rich weight and texture with a beautifully balanced, lingering zesty finish. A great pairing with a Risotto or Calamari.

The Pinot Gris from the Long Road range of the Eden Road wines has lifted aromas of strawberry shortcake and ripe pears. These delicate characters are balanced with fine natural acid and textural palate. The slightly extended skin contact prior to pressing gives the wine the lovely pink colour, making it evermore appetizing. The finishing is crisp and clean. Simply seamless.

White gold in colour the Prophets Rock displays floral and citrus aromas and flavours with a strong underlying minerality. These aromas are echoed on the concentrated, crisp and lingering palate. The freshness and aromatics make this a great food wine which will harmonize with a diverse range of fish, seafood, salads and white meats.

Forrest Estate now have vineyards in premium Otago and Gimlett Gravels but grapes for Field of Stones Sauvignon are pure Marlborough, grown on the very stony soil adjacent to the Forrest winery, hence the name ‘Field of Stones’. The fruit is harvested in the cool of the night and early morning to maximise the mineral freshness and the lemon thyme, elderflower and guava flavours. Bring on the seafood platter!

All the hallmarks of classic cool climate Pinto Gris, but blessed with the nuances of fruit character, brought out by the Aussie sun, and lightly oaked.