Based in the Marlborough Region, Pa Road is made by the te Pa winery which has a history stemming back almost 800 years. Set up by the MacDonald family whose Maori lineage goes back to 1350, the te Pa estate spreads over 400Ha of vineyards in Marlborough’s Wairau and Awatere regions.

The grapes were picked over a 10 day period as each block reached its optimal ripeness. The grapes were cold-soaked for 4-6 days before fermentation was initiated in a mix of hand-plunged open-top fermenters and pump-over stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged in a mix of oak barrels and stainless steel tanks for 9 months to allow the tannins to soften and the oak to integrate. The wine was then left to spontaneously undergo natural malo-lactic fermentation in the spring.

On the nose, this wine displays violets and raspberries, with hints of dried herbs and mocha. The red berry fruits carry through onto the palate, supported by some dark brambly notes and lovely integrated oak.