The Burgundian white wine tradition revived on New Zealand’s South Island

Main Divide is the local name for the Southern New Zealand Alps, the backbone of New Zealand’s South Island. The exceptional grapes used for this Chardonnay come from there, from the Waipara Valley. The vineyards were selected for their exceptional quality and their ability to express the region’s character in the wine. This Chardonnay is vinified using traditional Burgundian methods. The grapes were hand-harvested, gently pressed without destemming, and the juice was immediately transferred to French barriques for natural fermentation. There, the wine also underwent lees aging and a second, malolactic fermentation. The wine was then aged in barrel for 12 months before bottling.

And this is what the Main Divide Chardonnay tastes like

Beautifully fruity and inviting, the Main Divide Chardonnay features delicate aromas of peach, apricot, lemon, and fig, paired with vanilla, hazelnut, and a toasty note, as well as hints of flinty minerality. On the palate, it is juicy and round, wonderfully balanced and intense, supported by a pleasant creaminess and refreshing acidity. The overall impression culminates in a long, complex finish.