Pegasus Bay Winery

Pegasus Bay is a wine producer located in Waipara, in New Zealand's South Island. Like many producers in the region, it focuses on Riesling and Pinot Noir, although a range of other grape varieties are grown here, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot.

The first vines were planted at Pegasus Bay by the Donaldson family in 1986. The estate has been completely family-owned and operated since, and there are now 40 hectares (100 acres) of vineyards. Some of the vines were planted nearly 30 years ago, and there is even a small subset of these on their own rootstocks. Pegasus Bay manages its vineyards sustainably, with natural treatments used to manage pests and disease rather than pesticides or herbicides. 

There are two key ranges at Pegasus Bay – a range of estate wines which includes varietal Pinot Noir and Riesling, as well as several other varietal wines and a Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon blend. Pegasus Bay's top range encompasses similar grape varieties, and the wines are named operatically in homage to Christine Donaldson, who is an opera fan. These include the Prima Donna Pinot Noir, the Aria Late Harvest Riesling and the Encore Noble Riesling.