Steve Bird Gisborne Pinot Gris 2016

With a luminescent golden yellow color, Pinot Gris’s natural tint, the 2016 Steve Bird Gisborne Pinot Gris makes a bold statement right out of the bottle. From the color one might almost think an unctuous wine awaits a beckoning sweet tooth, but not so. Fresh, clean aromas reminiscent of pear and white peach imbued with a hint of exotic spice greet the nose. In the mouth, one immediately realizes the magic in this wine is not in the form of sweetness. Steve Bird’s single vineyard Pinot Gris offers a wealth of subtle fruit flavors, a gentle flinty minerality, and impeccable texture and mouthfeel. Moreover, touches of spice and refreshing acidity lead to an immensely satisfying finish that made tasting panel members beg for more. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest affording the 2016 Steve Bird Gisborne Pinot Gris a moderate chill (40° F) before serving. Enjoy!

Given the palate appeal and sensuous texture of the 2016 Steve Bird Gisborne Pinot Gris, it is equally satisfying on its own as it is with a variety of foods. In fact, it makes a good match to rich and spicy dishes that are ordinarily hard to pair with wines. Clams Casino, shrimp tacos with a spicy remoulade, slow cooked pork belly with apples, and Asian stir fries provide especially tasty accompaniments to Steve Bird’s splendid 2016 Gisborne Pinot Gris. Grao Prao and even a fully charged Thai Panang Chicken Curry with coconut milk won’t deter this balanced, flavorful Pinot Gris. One of this Pinot Gris’s most desirable characteristics is its versatility. It has the ability to accompany almost anything or nothing at all. Cheers and Bon Appétit!

“Manāki whenua, manāki tangata, haere whakamua”
If we take care of the earth and take care of people, we will take care of the future.
Steve Bird

Steve Bird is an award winning winemaker and owner of Steve Bird Wines, a small family owned and operated winery built on the Maori principle of manākitanga, whose literal translation is the ethic of reciprocity. Manākitanga rests upon the fundamental belief in sharing and caring for each other that entails a generosity of spirit toward the land and one another. Steve Bird is a consummate winemaker who believes in a deep connectedness with the earth and its importance. The spirit of manākitangalives in the tiny quantities of pure, delicious, natural tasting wines that Steve Bird fashions to the delight of wine lovers lucky enough to have access to them.

Steve Bird hand selects choice parcels of grapes for each of the wines in his signature wine collection, which includes the 2016 Steve Bird Gisborne Pinot Gris (this month’s selection), and hand-crafts the wines himself. Steve’s signature wine collection is beloved by critics and wine lovers alike. Wine Spectator awarded its highest score for a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to Steve and he has received numerous other awards for his wines, including earning gold at the Australian and New Zealand Boutique Wine Show for his Big Barrel Pinot Noir. With his connectedness to each individual vineyard and more than 30 years of experience making wine, each Steve Bird varietal captures the specific qualities of the pristine vineyard and parcel from which it emanates. In addition to fashioning outstanding Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc, Steve Bird also produces a delightful Cabernet/Merlot blend for his signature wine collection.