Standing proud at the head of Marlborough’s Awatere Valley is Mount Tapuae-o-uenuku - the highest peak outside of New Zealand’s Main Divide. Its glaciers feed the Awatere River which meanders its way through some of New Zealand’s best wine growing country. It was on this country that the Vavasour family settled in 1887, pioneering commercial grape-growing and winemaking. Peter and Anna Vavasour planted the first vines in the Dashwood district in 1986 and established the region's first winery.
Awatere River, by Louis Vavasour (Peter and Anna Vavasour's son) is a collection of award winning, low yield, premium quality wines that reflect the distinctive terroir of the alluvial river flats on which they were grown. Focusing on length, structure and complexity, Awatere River produces exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Rosé and Pinot Noir.
Awatere River is the culmination of 15 years immersion in winemaking and draws on over a century of Vavasour family tradition. It also reflects a little of the winemaker's own history and personality. Louis opted to trade, not on family name but on everything he loves most about living and working in the region.
Aromatics of red apple, lychee, pear and white peach give way to a silky, textural palate with fresh, lively flavours. This wine is finely balanced and has lovely length of flavour.
New Zealand is a newcomer to the wine world. As recently as 1960 the country had just 400 hectares of vines.
The country's two islands (North Island and South Island) cover an enourmous area, encompassing many possibilities. The maritime climate is influenced by the strong prevailing winds off the Pacific Ocean and the striking mountainous terrain.
In Alsace it is known as Pinot Gris, in Italy it is Pinot Grigio.
It is one of the darkest-skinned grapes producing white wine and grapes can vary from grey-blue to brownish pink. This can produce wines with an incredibly deep colour. In Italy it makes simple table wines, whereas in Alsace it is one of the four noble varieites and is often used to make spiced and perfumed styles.
Rumoured to have inspired the legend of Robin Hood himself, Maud Le Vavasour married medieval outlaw Fulk Fitzwarin in 1207. Ever since, rebellion has run in the Vavasour family blood.
Louis Vavasour grew up nurturing vines with his parents on their country farmland. He has been learning to understand the land and its elements since he was a child.
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