Muddy Water > Waipara

Situated in the Waipara area of North Canterbury, New Zealand, Muddy Water is a direct translation from the Maori place name - wai (water) para (sediment, mud).

Just as the name reflects the place, the wines reflect the vineyards. They are situated on sunny slopes above the Waipara Valley in North Canterbury, on the South Island of New Zealand. Protected from cool sea breezes by a range of coastal hills, the Waipara area has a climate distinct from the rest of Canterbury.

Cold, frosty winters, warm dry summers and dry sunny autumns provide intensely flavored ripe grapes. The soils are loam over calcarious clay on limestone bedrock, ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, mirroring the Burgundian soils that are the natural home of these great varieties. Muddy Water grows Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Syrah, Riesling and Chardonnay.

Accredited by NZ Sustainable Winegrowing.

Muddy Water is the dream of owners Michael and Jane East, who purchased the property in 1993. The first wines were produced in 1997.

Muddy Water Website

Pinot Noir

Focused and elegant, the Muddy Water Pinot Noir is beautifully balanced and has a bouquet of black cherries with savory notes. The palate, too, shows dark cherries and red fruit, and would marry well with lamb and game.

Cold soaked pre-fermentation for up to 6 days, native yeasts, manual cap management, 11 -20 days on skins. After pressing, wine was racked to oak barrels & aged with full malolactic for 15 months before racking, blending and bottling.

Received 92 Points at the NZ Wine Fair in Sydney