2024 Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris, Marlborough

Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris from Marlborough is a beautifully textured and aromatic white that captures the cool coastal freshness and expressive fruit character of this celebrated New Zealand region. The winery takes its name from the majestic Catalina flying boats that once graced the skies over Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, a fitting symbol for a wine that feels both graceful and effortlessly balanced. Winemaker Matt Ward focuses on producing wines that express the purity of the region’s climate and soils while building texture and depth through careful craftsmanship.

The fruit for Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris is sourced from a selection of Marlborough vineyards located in the Wairau and Southern Valleys. These sites offer a mix of gravelly alluvial soils and clay loams, providing both freshness and structure. The region’s long, sunny days and cool nights allow the grapes to ripen slowly, developing rich aromatics while retaining vibrant acidity. After gentle pressing, the juice is fermented in stainless steel to preserve clarity, with a small portion aged on lees to add roundness and mouthfeel. The result is a Pinot Gris that marries bright fruit with subtle savoury complexity.

In the glass it shows a pale straw colour with a silver-green hue. The aroma is fragrant and inviting, with pear, white peach and apple blossom lifted by hints of spice and honeysuckle. The palate is medium bodied and silky, offering flavours of nashi pear, citrus and quince layered with a touch of almond and mineral freshness. The finish is long, clean and gently creamy, a signature of Marlborough’s cool climate and meticulous winemaking.

Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris pairs beautifully with seafood dishes such as grilled snapper, scallops or salt and pepper squid. It is also excellent with chicken and apricot tagine, creamy mushroom pasta or Thai salads with lime and coriander. While best enjoyed in its youthful brightness, it has enough structure to develop further complexity over the next three to five years.