Wine Writer Mark Henderson recent wrote a delightful feature piece on New Zealand Pinot Gris. The 2025 Rockburn Pinot Gris was on feature and we wanted to share this exerpt from the 17 June 2026 edition of the Otago Daily Times:
"Wine Reviews Pinot Gris June 2026
It feels like it has been a while since my last Pinot Gris column which can sometimes simply be down to the cycles of new releases and samples have been coming my way: a couple of these have been waiting for their moment to shine amongst a line up.
The grape is an accomplished traveller across a swathe of Europe; probably best known in Alsace in France, though under its synonym of Pinot Grigio in Northern Italy possibly equally recognisable. Italy and Germany grow much more of the grape than France in fact with sizeable plantings also in Hungary. It is popular in Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia, and making an impact in the west of the US, Australia and of course in New Zealand.
2025 Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Gris
Price RRP $33
Rating Excellent
Deep colour with copper tinges. Engaging perfume, stonefruits and stewed apple with a dusting of icing sugar, stony mineral nuances as it opens up. Bright and zesty in the mouth, apple leads, nashi pear, ginger fudge, wisps of caramel. Brimming with flavour, textural impact and chewy grip suggesting skin contact, with a powerfully zesty close. Fruit rich yet dry."
