Dry Riesling - The Water Race 2019

Central Otago's Domain Road Vineyard, near Bannockburn, is sited in a sheltered valley which provides a unique micro-climate, ideal for producing premium quality wines. Our Riesling vines are planted on two vineyards Domain Road and Defiance Vineyard on Felton Road. 

On Domain Road Vineyard the Riesling vines are planted in the lower region of the vineyard where 19th century gold miners left an area of exposed mineral rich ‘pipe clay’, the remnants of a 10 million year old lake bed.  On Defiance they are planted on a north facing slope which are predominantly clay based soils. 

Water races were used by gold miners to carry water and are an iconic part of the Central Otago landscape, following the contours of the hills, often over many miles. Many are still in use today helping transform a dry landscape into useable farmland. Domain Road Vineyard, like many others, relies on the industry of early settlers and their water races to produce its wines, including our Dry Riesling.

The Wine

The grapes were hand harvested from Domain Road and Defiance vineyards on 1st & 16th April 2019.  The fruit was whole bunch pressed to stainless steel tanks and cold settled for two day before undergoing fermentation. The cool fermentation was stopped to retain a touch of residual sweetness for balance.

Pale straw with green, our Water Race Riesling is a dry style wine with a crisp acidity balanced with a hint of fruit sweetness.  Fragrant with lemon zest, sherbet, apricot, peach and orange blossom on the nose.  Intense and racy with pineapple and grapefruit showing on the palate.  Concentrated and long with balanced acidity, good minerality and a lovely textural finish.  

An excellent food wine, full of flavour so it can hold its own against quite strongly flavoured cuisine.  Also excellent with fish and seafood.

"Complex and enticing aromas pf citrus and tree fruits, a core of minerality and floral highlights. Salivating, crisp, dry and delicious on the palate. Lemongrass and green apple, a whisper of honeysuckle and pear, orange and spice. A youthful expression that village well if cellared. Best drinking 2022 through 2032" Cameron Douglas.

Download wine notes here

Our Wines

• Pinot Noir
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Riesling
• Symposium
• Pinot Gris
• Pinot Noir Rosé
• Chardonnay