2025 Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris, Marlborough

A wine that has cloudy pear at its heart, some subtle lychee and pineapple core. Burdock root and white pepper savoury notes unfurl with time in the glass. There is a glaze of sweetness that circles, driving natural acidity. A food-friendly wine that will pair with everything from spatchcock to fish and firm Alpine cheeses. Drink to 2030.

90 points Shanteh Wale for Halliday Wine Companion, August 2026

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 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.