The Donaldson Family have been involved in viticulture and winemaking for over 40 years. Founder Ivan Donaldson planted the first Canterbury vineyard in 1976 and went on to establish Pegasus Bay in 1986 with his wife Christine. 

The vineyard is located within the Waipara Valley of North Canterbury, on free draining, north facing terraces. The soil is of low fertility, resulting in naturally reduced vine vigour. This produces low yields of optimally ripened, high quality, flavourful grapes, which fully express the qualities of this unique terroir. The vineyard has warm days, but the nights are amongst the coolest in the Waipara Valley, drawing out the ripening period of the grapes, while still retaining good natural acidity. With its large diurnal range and long lingering autumns, North Canterbury is an ideal playground for Riesling, and Bel Canto is a perfect example of this. After an extended hang time, the bunches were hand selected with a portion of botrytis. The free run juice was then fermented slowly at cool temperatures to help the wine retain its vibrant fruit characters and varietal purity.

A vibrant amalgam of sweet and sour aromas gush from the glass, pineapple, mango, and orange blossom in the attack, accompanied by suggestions of quince, kumquat, calamansi, and a lick of wet river gravel. The mouthfeel is generous, yet precise, with a rich, textured palate, supported by a cheeky whip of acidity and ripe phenolics that create structure and length, funnelling towards a long, moreish close.

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Riesling
Country - New Zealand
Region - Canterbury
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.9%