{"title":"Wairarapa Wine","description":"\u003cp\u003eWairarapa sits at the southern end of the North Island, and while Martinborough gets most of the recognition, the wider region includes pockets like Gladstone that are quietly building their own reputations. The area shares Martinborough's dry, sheltered climate but with slightly more variation between sites, giving producers room to work with a broader range of varieties beyond the region's signature Pinot Noir, including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Viognier. Family-owned vineyards dominate here, with many wineries still run by the people who planted them. If Martinborough specifically is what you're after, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/martinborough-wine\"\u003eMartinborough Wine\u003c\/a\u003e narrows things down to the region's best-known sub-area. For Pinot Noir more broadly, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/pinot-noir\"\u003ePinot Noir\u003c\/a\u003e covers examples from every region we carry, and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/new-zealand-wine\"\u003eNew Zealand Wine\u003c\/a\u003e covers everything else on offer.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"gladstone-vineyard-soaring-skies-pinot-noir","title":"Gladstone Vineyard Soaring Skies Pinot Noir 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGladstone Vineyard Soaring Skies Pinot Noir\u003c\/strong\u003e is an elegant, expressive Wairarapa Pinot Noir with dark cherry and wild plum at its core. Subtle spice and earthy savoury notes add depth, while fine, silky tannins give the palate a smooth, composed feel. There is plenty of fruit, but the wine remains vibrant and balanced through the finish, reflecting the cool nights and long sunny days of its home region. Approachable enough to enjoy now, it is a versatile red for roast duck, mushroom risotto or herb-crusted lamb, and a strong choice for anyone after a polished New Zealand Pinot Noir without excessive weight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by the kāhu gliding across the wide skies of Wairarapa, Soaring Skies Pinot Noir is drawn from vineyards shaped by ancient river terraces, cool nights and long sunny days. The winery describes layers of dark cherry, wild plum and subtle spice woven with earthy savoury notes and fine, silky tannins. The palate is vibrant and beautifully balanced, expressing the distinctive character and intensity associated with Wairarapa Pinot Noir. Alcohol is 13%.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wag\u0026Co","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182018322799,"sku":"100328","price":137.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/GladstoneVineyardSoaringSkiesPinotNoir.jpg?v=1784781556"},{"product_id":"johner-estate-humming-wire-pinot-noir","title":"Johner Estate Humming Wire Pinot Noir 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohner Estate Humming Wire Pinot Noir\u003c\/strong\u003e is the accessible end of Karl-Heinz Johner's Wairarapa project, made from the estate's younger vines and built for drinking now rather than cellaring. Johner, a German winemaker who fell for the Wairarapa's Burgundy-like cool climate, hand-picks and fully de-stems the fruit, then eases off fermentation a touch early to keep some natural sweetness before a year in French oak. The result is light and easy-drinking, with sweet red and dark berry fruit, a savoury lift of spice and a faint smokiness, and soft, approachable tannins rather than anything grippy. It's Pinot for a Tuesday night, not a special occasion - and it's honestly better for it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHumming Wire is made from hand-picked, fully de-stemmed fruit from Johner Estate's younger Pinot Noir vines. The grapes are cold-soaked and fermentation is stopped a little early to preserve natural sweetness, then the wine spends around a year ageing in French oak. It's a lighter, more immediate style than Johner's Reserve wines, built around sweet berry fruit and lifted savoury spice notes rather than power or structure. Karl-Heinz Johner established the estate in 2001 on what was previously bare grazing land, convinced the Wairarapa was the best place outside Burgundy to grow serious Pinot Noir.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the experts say:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhil Parker, 5 Stars (2023 Vintage)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e“From Johner Estate, an absolute bargain. Buy before I do! Very smoky, ripe and juicy with umami soy and tar. Ripe blackberry, plum and dark berry fruits. Medium tannic lengthy finish”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhall \u0026 Nash","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182027104623,"sku":"100583","price":215.88,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/JohnerEstateHummingWirePinotNoir2023.jpg?v=1783927778"},{"product_id":"johner-estate-wairarapa-pinot-noir","title":"Johner Estate Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohner Estate Wairarapa Pinot Noir\u003c\/strong\u003e is the entry point into a Wairarapa winery built on proper Burgundian instincts. German winemaker Karl Johner, who ran a respected estate in Baden before settling near Gladstone in 2001, set out to make Pinot Noir here with the same layered, savoury approach he brought from home - never chasing upfront fruit for its own sake. This bottling shows why: silky and supple in the mouth, with red and dark berry fruit wrapped around gentle spice and soft, well-integrated tannins, all lifted by a seam of fresh acidity that keeps things lively. It's approachable now, though there's enough structure here to reward a year or two of patience. A good, honest way into Wairarapa Pinot Noir.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohner Estate's Wairarapa Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards around the estate's Gladstone base and matured in French oak for close to a year. It shows a bright ruby to garnet colour, with red and dark berry fruit layered with savoury spice. The palate is silky and supple, with soft, well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity that keeps the wine lively. It drinks well now, with enough structure to develop further over the next year or two.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhall \u0026 Nash","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182028218735,"sku":"100617","price":161.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/JohnerEstateWairarapaPinotNoir2023.jpg?v=1783919177"}],"url":"https:\/\/stolencellar.co.nz\/collections\/wairarapa-wine.oembed","provider":"Stolen Cellar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}