Riesling “Origin” 2021 – Saint Clair

The Riesling Origin Saint Clair parcel fruit  was fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks to retain freshness and intensity of fruit flavour and varietal characteristics. After fermentation Riesling Origin Saint Clair  was carefully prepared for bottling, with minimal handling.

The grapes were harvested from a single vineyard in Marlborough’s Blind River area of the Awatere Valley. The Blind River area is building a very good reputation for its ability to produce wines with concentrated citrus expression. The climate for this area is typically very dry. The grapes were harvested at the peak of flavour development in the cool of the evening.

The Saint Clair winery is run from Neal and Judy Ibbotson were pioneers in the Marlborough wine industry, first planting vineyards in the valley in 1978 and then establishing Saint Clair Family Estate in 1994. They own 160 hectares of vineyard in 10 different Marlborough locations chosen specifically for the attributes of their individual “terroir” and ability to produce top-quality grapes. Neal Ibbotson combines his extensive expertise in viticulture with the talent of one of New Zealand’s leading winemaking teams led by Hamish Clark. Since 1994, when wines from the first vintage all won medals including gold, the name Saint Clair has been synonymous with quality and its award-winning record continues today. This is a sentiment shared by Bob Campbell MW, who says “Saint Clair now makes the country’s and perhaps the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc”.