Spy Valley Satellite Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand

Description

Spy Valley Wines Story

The 1990s were a time of discovery and courage in Marlborough. Deep in the Waihopai Valley, Bryan and Jan Johnson had the audacity to establish 180 hectares of estate vineyards on land considered too hard, too dry and too unfertile for wine.

It was a venture that started with a passion for the land. This pioneering spirit established one of New Zealand’s most successful family-run wineries, now exporting eight varietals to 35 countries.

Today, Spy Valley’s commitment remains to the land and to the people who tend it – we are simply farmers at heart, nurturing soil and vine to cultivate the complexities in our wine. And we’re mindful that it’s our focus on sustainability which will ensure our guardianship of this land for generations to come.

We’re considered a little clandestine around here, deep in our bewitching valley. Perhaps it comes with being named for our proximity to the spy base down the road, but we like a bit of mystery.

Perhaps it’s because we are always searching for the best of the best to produce exceptional wine. Perhaps it’s because managing eight varieties of grapes takes a great deal of knowing the land, the environment and climate, and in the past we’ve classified these traditions.

These are secrets, however, that we’ve decided it’s time to share.

Winemaking

Selected estate vineyard blocks were kept separate until final blending. The grape bunches are mostly destemmed and all fermented in open vats. After gentle plunging during fermentation to extract colour and flavour the wine was pressed off skins and matured for 11 months prior to blending.

Vineyard

The 2020 season followed a similar pattern to last year. A warm spring allowed the vines to escape frosts, while an above-average rainfall led to early flowering. The temperatures in January and February were more moderate which alleviated some of the effects of drought and lead to clean, disease free fruit.

Our Forest & Bird Mission

It’s been an incredible journey to nurture and restore the spring-fed native wetland at our ‘Area H’ vineyard over the past few years – now a sanctuary for countless native trees, birds and other wildlife. This year we’re on a mission to take the initiative further than our own backyard!

Satellite + Forest & Bird

We are all satellite’s drifting around a beautiful planet. It’s important that we protect it. We’ve aligned our Satellite wines with Forest & Bird to help give nature a voice. Now you can enjoy a gold medal wine while supporting Forest & Bird too.

Alcohol: 13%

Vegan Friendly

Source: https://spyvalleywine.co.nz/