New Zealand Pinot Noir can offer better value than Burgundy, home of Pinot Noir and some of the best truly characterful Pinot Noir styles outside Burgundy. Flavours are pure and fruit driven but not jammy and muffled.
Mahana Estate Winery are at the forefront of the organic wine movement in New Zealand. Their wonderful Pinot Noir is named Wingspan after the birds of prey that nest in the woods near the vineyards and that scare off the birds that might otherwise eat the grapes as they ripen. The winery encourage the habitat of these raptors as part of their organic policy.
Mahana is one of the most eco-friendly wineries in NZ following organic practices throughout the wine making process from vine to bottle. Their award winning winery is designed to blend into the landscape and is a gravity flow winery where grapes start their journey at the top of the building and wine finishes at the bottom. This means that wine does not need to be pumped artificially - especially good for Pinot Noir. It is a grape and a wine that does not like to be handled roughly as its delicate flavours get bruised easily and its beguiling scent is easily lost.