Pinot Gris
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed fresh, within 1 to 3 years of vintage release to experience its vibrant fruit character and crisp acidity.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Complements light Asian cuisine such as mild Thai curries, roasted pork loin with apple compote, or fresh grilled seafood like prawns and scallops.
✨ Technical Specifications
Oyster Bay's Pinot Gris from Hawke's Bay captures the vibrant, sun-drenched character of New Zealand's oldest wine-growing region. While Oyster Bay initially gained global fame with its Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in the early 1990s, the winery turned to the warmer, alluvial soils of Hawke's Bay on the North Island to cultivate Pinot Gris. This terroir, defined by ancient river beds and a maritime climate, allows the grapes to develop rich stone fruit and floral aromas while retaining a crisp, balanced acidity. To preserve these delicate aromatics, the wine is cool-fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, avoiding oak contact. The result is a beautifully expressive, off-dry to dry white wine that showcases the pure, fruit-forward style that has made New Zealand wines famous worldwide.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1988 under the auspices of the Delegat family, Oyster Bay rose swiftly to international prominence following the triumphant reception of its inaugural 1990 vintage, which took the Marquis de Goulaine Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc at the 1991 International Wine and Spirit Competition. Viticulture spans the iconic alluvial river terraces and stony silts of Marlborough's Wairau and Awatere Valleys, extended by prime sites across Hawke's Bay on the North Island. High sunshine hours coupled with cool maritime night breezes promote prolonged ripening and natural acid retention. Farming adheres rigorously to Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand standards across all estate blocks. In the cellar, temperature-controlled stainless steel vinification preserves unvarnished aromatic freshness, defining its benchmark Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, alongside stone-fruit driven Pinot Gris and supple Hawke's Bay Merlot.