2024 Whitehaven “Tussocks” Pinot Gris – Rosé gold in the glass: nectarine, baking spices, and soft tannins from 24 hours of skin contact

Skin Contact—few wines illustrate what this term means as elegantly as the Whitehaven “Tussocks” Pinot Gris 2024. With this method, after harvest, the Pinot Gris spends not just hours, but a full 24 hours in contact with its skins—in the bag press, as a mash. The result: a luminous rose-gold color, more texture on the palate, soft, peppery tannins, and a wine with a depth rarely found in Pinot Gris. The grapes come exclusively from the Tussocks Vineyard in the Inland Awatere Valley—one of Marlborough’s coolest and windiest sites, known for its exceptional aromatic intensity. Each bottle of this single-vineyard bottling is individually numbered.

Winemaking begins with a careful hand harvest on March 28, 2024, followed by destemming and crushing. The must is loaded into a small bag press and left there overnight—about 24 hours—before being pressed. After 24 hours of settling in the tank, fermentation begins slowly with selected yeasts at a controlled cool temperature of 14–16 °C until the wine is dry. The wine then ages for 4 to 5 months on light lees, is cold-stabilized, filtered, and bottled on August 29, 2024.

What makes the Whitehaven Tussocks Pinot Gris so special?

The Whitehaven “Tussocks” Pinot Gris 2024 is a wine for anyone looking to rediscover Pinot Gris. The 24-hour skin contact gives it a rose-gold color, more texture, and soft, peppery tannins—characteristics rarely expected from this grape variety. The grapes from the Barrie clone in Block J of the Tussocks Vineyard in the Inland Awatere Valley were harvested at full ripeness and in pristine condition by vineyard manager Dane Forrester. Its certification as an Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) and its recognition under the standards of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand underscore its commitment to quality. Each bottle is individually numbered—a true collector’s item in its lightweight glass bottle.

So, how does the 2024 Whitehaven Tussocks Pinot Gris taste?

In the glass, it glows with an elegant rose-gold hue—warm like amber, yet clear and brilliant. The nose is seductive: freshly cut nectarine and ripe apricot mingle with rose petals and white flowers, while subtle baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg shimmer in the background. On the palate, the wine is juicy and full-bodied, with flavors of ripe nectarine, pear, and baking spices, accompanied by lively orange zest and a hint of ginger. Despite its full-bodied character, the wine remains dry and fresh—delicate peppery tannins provide structure and a long, elegant finish.