Native & Ancient explores the interaction between microbiology and human intervention, of man and nature, through a series of natural wines.The fruit for this wine is organically farmed Chardonnay and Pinot Gris from Blocks 3 and 6 on the Isabel Estate Vineyard. The wine is made in as natural a way as possible, harking back to ancient winemaking techniques. Destemmed and co-fermented on the skins, 54% Chardonnay 46% Pinot Gris. The colour of a gingerbread man and tastes a bit like one too. Aromas that remind you of a turkish market. A mix of baking spice and dripping rock melon on a hot summer's day. Juicy with a textural edge. A food wine.

FOXES ISLAND By John Belsham Chardonnay, Marlborough

When it comes to premium chardy, complexity is king. This plays all the shots; tropical melon fruits, grapefruit and mouthwatering citrus, and toasty, buttery, nutty breadth on the palate. Spice box and vanilla mark the quality oak, and the acid persists through the enduring finish. If you're looking for the quintessential NZ chardy, then this is your eureka moment, Mofo.

Founded by Steve Planthaber, originally from Adelaide but post school left for the South Island of New Zealand. A move to Marlborough with his partner Kirsty Sutherland cemented his love for all things wine. Hard not to be inspired when meeting the Sutherland’s who were one of the pioneers of viticulture in the region, part of the original success of Cloudy Bay followed by establishing their own estate Dog Point. Steve was keen to find his own path and after 12 years running the production and operations at Cloudy Bay decided to begin his own wine brand, Settlement. Settlement, named after the stunning Amphitheatre single vineyard site in the Omaka Valley, is dedicated entirely to the production of organic, old vine single vineyard expressions of very special sites in Marlborough. Poplars vineyard is further south in the Brancott Valley, just next to the famous Section 94 vineyard. Named after trees surrounding the site the vines were planted in 1992, Mendoza clone (now 28 years old). Alluvium soils over a clay subsoil as opposed to the river rock/silt of the Wairau valley floor. Hand-picked, racked of solids, wild ferment in barrel, then elevage for 12 months, 15% new.

• Layers of citrus peel and juicy stonefruit flavours • Subtle hints of hazelnut, flint and spicy oak • Richly textured with a creamy mouthfeel • A delightful long and lingering finish

Small-batch Chardonnay from Marlborough negociants Novum. Stonefruit, cream and mineral on the nose. Flintiness meets fruit on the palate, making for a distinctive medium-bodied wine. An appealingly long finish shows this to be a top tier Chardonnay. Novum use small parcels of fruit from specially selected sites on established Marlborough vineyards to craft the best wines and expressions of terroir possible. Their first vintage arrived in 2016. Novums primary focus is on Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

In times past, giant, flightless Moa roamed the fertile soils of Marlborough. Big, bold and totally unique as were the legendary Moa, so are the flavours of our Land of Giants wines. The Pinot Gris is rich in aromas of pears, white peach and blossoms. The wine is zesty but balanced with lovely fruit flavours and a lingering finish. Perfect with seafood dishes and creamy pastas.