2003 Picnic Riesling

About the wine

Picnic Wine

  The label shows the proprietor's grandparents picnicking with friends at Wanaka circa 1920. Happy days.

Tasting Notes

Pale straw in color, this clean, vibrant wine displays aromas of lime and ginger that combine delicately with intricate spice and mineral notes. Bright fruit concentration on the palate gives an impression of sweetness that is balanced by the gentle dry finish.

Vintage and Harvest Notes: After a mild winter and relatively early spring, the weather changed to cooler and a little wetter than normal. The cool weather slowed the advent of flowering, which was delayed until around December 10th. Then kinder weather prevailed and produced a solid flowering.

Some real Central Otago sunshine finally kicked in at the start of January and turned the season around. We experienced some long sustained warm periods punctuated by short, very cold periods, and many light frosts towards the end of the season. This excellent weather helped to lift the flavour profile and colour of the berries.

Harvesting occurred at Alexandra Paddock on the 15th of April and the second picking on the 5th of May at Gibbston.

Winemaking: This, our first Riesling, is a blend from Alexandra Paddocks and Gibbston. The fruit was whole bunch pressed and cool fermentation was used to enhance a fruit driven mouthfeel with clear varietal definition. The wine had three fermentation blends. We used natural yeast and no oak. It stayed on light lees for six months, and then it had a light fining and filtrations.

Like our Picnic Pinot, the Picnic Riesling is meant for early consumption and is ideal for a relaxed outing with family and friends by a creek somewhere.

Bottled: 6 August 2003

Drink: 2003

Availability: Sold in New Zealand only