Description

Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio

Oyster Bay’s philosophy is to produce fine, distinctively regional wines that are elegant and assertive with glorious fruit flavors. Founded on the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard, the winery sources fruit from cooler growing sites where grapes ripen slowly over the season, building flavor intensity and hallmark aromatic character. Oyster Bay is a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, working to protect wetlands, streams, and native vegetation while minimizing water use through soil moisture probe technology and maintaining botanically diverse ground cover to encourage beneficial insects.

New Zealand’s position in the Pacific Ocean provides a unique temperate maritime climate, and its alluvial soils, deposited over thousands of years by glaciers, floods, and wind, give the country’s wine regions their distinctive character. Hawke’s Bay, located on the East Coast of the North Island, is one of New Zealand’s warmest grape-growing regions, but its inland elevation brings cooler overnight temperatures that slow ripening and keep acidity high through the crucial harvest window. Fruit for this wine was grown on the Crownthorpe Terraces in deep, naturally free-draining alluvial soils ranging from stony riverbeds to fine sandy loam over low-fertility gravels. The 2025 growing season was dry and warm overall, with a cooler period through January and February that eased vine stress and supported steady fruit development. Fruit was harvested in excellent condition with vibrant flavor concentration and beautifully balanced natural acidity.

To capture the delicate aromatics of Pinot Grigio, the fruit was destemmed and gently pressed, with the free-run juice clarified and fermented in stainless steel at a slow, temperature-controlled 57 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit over approximately 21 days using a selection of yeasts chosen to retain varietal character and enhance complexity. Post-fermentation, the wine was lees stirred to add softness and texture, then racked and bottled young to preserve its aromatic freshness. No oak or malolactic fermentation was used.

Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio Notes to Your Senses:

• Appearance: Pale straw with a bright, clear rim
• Aroma: Delightfully fragrant summer florals with subtle spice and refreshing citrus
• Taste: Crisp and elegant, with fresh citrus fruit, gentle floral character, and a soft, textured palate from lees stirring
• Finish: Clean and refreshing with lively natural acidity and a pure, lingering varietal character
• ABV: 12.5%