Spinyback > Nelson > New Zealand

The estate vineyards are in the Waimea Plains of Nelson, at the top of the South Island. Nelson is the most beautiful winemaking region in New Zealand. Specially selected north-facing vineyard sites offer a range of soils from free-draining alluvial gravels to loamy alluvial clays and a climate tailor-made for growing richly varietal, elegant wines. Still, frosty winters, long dry summers, cool autumn nights combine with the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand to make Nelson a superb place to grow grapes.

Spinyback is a translation of the Maori name Tuatara, an endangered animal that shares lizard and snake characteristics. It became extinct elsewhere in the world about 60 million years ago and is now also under threat within New Zealand.

In it's "Save the Tuatura campaign", Waimea Estates is assisting Ngati Koata (“Narti Ko Arta”, one of Nelson’s local Maori tribes) in their efforts to protect this vulnerable and unique species. Ngati Koata are the "guardians" of Stephen's Island, an island off the coast of Nelson that is a dedicated Tuatara sanctuary.

Every purchase of Spinyback wines provides direct funding to further Ngati Koata's education and conservation goals for the world’s only remaining living link to the dinosaur.

Spinyback Website

Sauvignon Blanc

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are destemmed without any crushing, protecting the aromatic freshness of the varietal, then cold settled for 3 days; fermentation occurs in stainless steel, inoculated with a variety of aromatic yeasts at a low temperature.

The bouquet of gooseberry, passion fruit and lime is repeated on the palate with a mineral undercurrent. Balance and length are excellent. Brilliant with seafood.