Complexity and Elegance a Winning Combo for Champion Pinot Gris

A careful synergy of unique flavours was at the forefront when Saint Clair Family Estate winemakers set out to create their award winning Saint Clair James Sinclair Pinot Gris 2021.

The wine picked up the Litho and Label Champion Pinot Gris at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, one of three wines to take home a gold medal in the category.

Saint Clair Winemaker Heather Stewart says all three parcels selected for the 2021 blend showed promise from the get-go.

"The three parcels which we blended together to produce the James Sinclair Pinot Gris stood out from the beginning of fermentation. One for its texture and opulence, another for its pretty elegance and freshness, the other for its savouriness and spice, and the synergy of these elements produced a wine which we were really pleased with," she says.

"This wine really stood out to me while we were blending our aromatics last year, and it feels really good to receive recognition for it."

Often overshadowed by other more complex varietals, the wine has layers of complexity and an elegance that isn't always achieved with Pinot Gris, Heather says.

Marlborough Pinot Gris is a variety that has grown in popularity over recent years, and is one that should continue to improve with vine age.

"Pinot Gris was considered an alternative varietal in the not so distant past, but is now fairly mainstream, with a loyal following … I think there are still developments we can make with style and quality, especially now our vines have some age on them," Heather says.

Saint Clair Family Estate is a consistent performer at the Marlborough Wine Show, last year winning the Champion Wine of the Show with their Wairau River Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021.

Saint Clair Director and Marketing Manager Julie Ibbotson says being recognised at the Show is always a welcome achievement for the team.

"Having wines perform consistently makes us feel incredibly proud of the team who are focused on quality at each and every stage of the winemaking process – from the vineyard to the bottle. With always asking the question “how do we do it better” – we are always striving for improvement. It is always an absolute thrill to receive trophy recognition, it is never expected, and the feeling we have when receiving such prestigious awards never gets dull,” she says.

Champion Pinot Gris trophy sponsor Label & Litho General Manager Thomas Kaffes was pleased to see Saint Clair Family Estate pick up their award this year.

“Saint Clair has been a great customer of Litho & Label for well in excess of 20 years, and we enjoy a very close relationship with them,” he says.

“Saint Clair has long been known for the quality of their wines and it was great to see them winning the trophy for their Saint Clair James Sinclair Pinot Gris 2021.”

Sponsoring the Marlborough Wine Show enables Litho & Label to support many of their customers, Kaffes says.

“We have some long-term Marlborough wine customers that support us, and we support them … We also like to give back to the industry as a way of thanking them for the confidence and support they show in us, and to encourage innovation and excellence,” he says.

“We love working with the industry as they present us with unique designs, challenges and great satisfaction when we have partnered with a winery and they receive a top award. It makes us proud. We are proud to supply labels to go with wines of exceptional quality.”