Origin
The grapes were sourced from three Akarua Estate vineyards. The Bannockburn vines are approximately 25 years old and grow at 270 metres above sea level on a north west facing sloping glacial terrace. The vines are planted on alluvial, sandy loam-based soils overlaying schist bedrock. The Pisa vines are planted on a flat and level river terrace created by glacial activity, at an elevation of 205 metres above sea level. Soils here are fine silt loam over schist based alluvial gravels and the vines, aged 28 years. The younger 25 Steps vines, with an average age of 19 years, lie at 200-317 metres above sea level on sandy and stony topsoil with a subsoil mix of deep gravels and clay loams.
Producer
The Skeggs family were among the first people to buy and plant vineyard land in Central Otago in the mid 1990s, so were lucky enough to acquire a superb north-facing site in Bannockburn. Planted in 1996, this 50-hectare site has since provided the backbone of the Akarua wines. Due to the short growing season in Central Otago, site selection is one of the key elements in making a great wine, and Akarua have a site that is among the very best. We were introduced to Akarua through the late Tony Jordan, who was the first to make their sparkling wines. Tony built Domaine Chandon in Australia, and was one of the world’s leading experts in sparkling wine production. He had always believed in the potential for Central Otago to make top quality fizz and finally realised his ambition to make premium sparkling wines here when the first Akarua sparkling wines were released in 2011.
Grape Variety
100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol Percentage
13.5%
In the Press
Silver
International Wine Challenge 2022
Silver
Decanter World Wine Awards 2022
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