Wine from Waipara

Tasting Notes

Strong typical Pinot Noir characters are the distinguishing features of this wine, together with the balance of flavour. Made from just one small portion of Pinot grapes that are carefully spur pruned in winter, then meticulously looked after over the summer to eventually be handed from the vineyard team to the winemaking team to carry on the intense care and attention to detail that is needed to make the best Pinot Noir.

Winemakers Notes

The favourite wine of our winemakers to make as it really extends all of their skills from working with the small open-top fermentation tanks, which allow for constant hand plunging of the grape skins ( a small wooden plunger constantly pushes the skins below the surface of the juice) to selecting a variety of different French oak barrels that the wine will mature in for more than twelve months. The real skill is in the blending, as not all the barrels will make the grade for our top Pinot Noir. Days are spent tasting and re-tasting barrels and blends looking for the elusive blend that conveys the smooth velvet texture of Pinot Noir.

Alcohol %

14.5%

Food Matching

Best enjoyed with a leg of lamb on a Sunday with the family. 

Tasting Notes

This Pinot Gris is filled with great fruit intensity of ginger spice and pear drop aromas, beautifully balanced with a smooth juicy finish. A wine to be enjoyed on any occasion.

Winemakers Notes

Following harvest the fruit was fermented in batches using a number of fermentation techniques, including barrel fermentation (10%), on skins fermentation (90%), and lees aging for five months. The resulting blend of these techniques has resulted in a rich and complex Pinot Gris with concentration and balance.

Alcohol %

13.5%

Food Matching

Chicken Tikka Masala or sticky sesame prawns with a spicy sauce.

Sherwood Estate Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

Tasting Notes

Winemakers Notes

Most of the blend is tipped into open-top fermentation tanks for preferment soak prior to the fermentation starting naturally with indigenous yeast, another portion is tank fermented with pump over, then a very small portion is kept as whole berries and sealed for carbonic maceration fermentation. Once the fermentations have finished, a partial micro-oxygenation is started which helps the wine to remain softer and rounder earlier.

Alcohol %

13%

Food Matching

Summer BBQ’s, salads and fresh seafood pasta.

Sherwood Estate Riesling is made from 100 percent Riesling. 

Tasting Notes

A Riesling that captures the true essence of a Waipara Valley aromatic wine. Full flavoured with delicate fruit and floral elements balanced with a smooth mouthfeel and subtle sweetness.

Winemakers Notes

Grown on our Waipara Valley vineyards the grapes were harvested over a period of two weeks at varying degrees of ripeness allowing for a range of fruit flavours and complexity. This shows in the final wine with great depth of flavour throughout the palate with well-balanced acidity leaving you wanting more.

Alcohol %

12%

Food Matching

Fresh seafood, cheese dishes and spicy food.

Sherwood Estate Sauvignon Blanc is made from 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc. 

Tasting Notes

A fresh and zesty Sauvignon Blanc, bursting with juicy ripe flavours of gooseberry, guava and lime. The mouthwatering finish leaves you wanting more.

Winemakers Notes 

Only the most premium fruit was selected for this wine. Following harvest the fruit was gently pressed, allowed to settle and cool ferment for three weeks. Three months of lees contact has imparted a depth of fruit flavour. The parcels of wine were then blended before being lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling. The finished wine is delicate displaying fine fruit flavours and bright acidity.

Alcohol %

13% 

Food Matching

Herb crusted white fish, goat's cheese salad or fresh oysters.