Felton Road Chardonnay Bannockburn 2023

A Gentle Hint of Oak

Felton Road's Chardonnay, from a prestigious winery committed to natural production.

Grapes are moved from above ground into barrels below. Gravity is used to gently press the juice, creating the wine.

A wonderful coexistence of fruit and oak.

The delicious fruit flavors and the gentle, savory oak aroma in this wine are irresistible, and it pairs perfectly with pork dishes like roast pork or salt-cured pork.

About the winery "Felton Road"

One of New Zealand's leading wineries, "Felton Road" began in 1991 when Stuart Elms established a vineyard called "Elms Vineyard" in Bannockburn, Central Otago.

Later, winemaker Blair Walter was invited to join, and the first Pinot Noir was released in 1997. The wine quickly captivated wine lovers worldwide, and Felton Road became a top winery, earning the highest global acclaim.

Today, Central Otago is a renowned wine region recognized by wine lovers globally, and Felton Road is the pioneer that brought worldwide attention to this region for its Pinot Noir.

Burgundy-Inspired Branding

Felton Road categorizes its wine series based on which vineyard the grapes are sourced from, releasing multiple types even for the same varietal harvested in the same year, differentiating them by "vineyard differences."

This is because even within the Central Otago region, each vineyard has its own unique soil characteristics, and these differences lead to variations in grape quality, as well as the aroma and taste of the wine.

When grapes are sourced from limited vineyards, the production volume becomes restricted, making the wine "rare" and often increasing its price.

This branding strategy is traditionally practiced in the home of French Burgundy.

Pioneer of New Zealand's "Gravity Flow System"

Felton Road, which prioritizes the power of nature, cultivates all its vineyards using biodynamic farming methods and employs a more natural winemaking approach.

Of particular note is the "Gravity Flow System."

This method involves utilizing natural gravity as much as possible during the winemaking process, from harvesting grapes to fermenting the wine, without using machinery.

Although it has been adopted by advanced wineries worldwide in recent years, Felton Road was an early adopter of this system in New Zealand, aiming for more natural winemaking.

About the Central Otago Region

Central Otago, the southernmost wine region in New Zealand, is renowned for its Pinot Noir and is considered one of the "world's three great Pinot Noir regions," alongside Burgundy and Oregon.

In addition to Pinot Noir, the region focuses on cultivating aromatic white grape varieties. This area is unique among NZ wine regions for its semi-continental climate, characterized by large daily temperature fluctuations, cool temperatures, and very dry conditions.

It is also a treasure trove of small-scale wineries, and winery tours based in the picturesque town of Queenstown are popular.

Felton Road Chardonnay Bannockburn 2023