CRAGGY RANGE 'TE MUNA' SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023

Established in 1998, Craggy Range is a family-owned winery situated in the shadows of the spectacular Te Mata Peak in Hawke’s Bay. With an unrelenting focus on quality, Craggy Range produces a collection of iconic wines from their estate vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, and Marlborough. When owners Terry and Mary Peabody first set out to start a winery, they looked down from Te Mata Peak onto the land where Craggy Range now stands, and they were clear that they wanted to create wines which truly evoked the unique landscapes and heritage of the region. Since then, Craggy Range has developed into an iconic New Zealand winery which has never lost sight of its sense of place, or its family ties. Heavily invested in social and environmental sustainability, they are certified by SWNZ and have created initiatives such as the Children’s Christmas Foundation.

Vineyard

The grapes come from the Te Muna Road vineyard in Wairarapa subregion of Martinborough, in the southeastern corner of the North Island. The vineyard consists of two distinct terraces, the lower terrace comprises young stony soils interwoven with limestone, which provides an excellent environment for Sauvignon Blanc. The cooler climate of Martinborough ensures the wine is aromatic with steely minerality while the rocky soils impart intensity of fruit. The region’s warm, dry summers and mild winters lead to complex and structured wines with subtle aromatics and an elegant finish. The vines are VSP trained to allow appropriate airflow and capture sunlight. Pruning techniques are being evolved to improve sap flow and reduce trunk disease. Working towards a more organic approach, herbicides are being minimised, cover crops are being introduced, and the vineyard team is moving towards a more organic-based spray programme. The grapes are hand-harvested.

The 2023 vintage was influenced by La Niña, which brought volatile weather conditions. The season began warm and early, with only one substantial frost. Post-Christmas, above average rain fell, and the season cooled to match the long-term norm.

This wine was vinified using 92% destemmed fruit, and 8% whole bunch fruit, which added complexity. Fermentation took place with inoculated yeasts in stainless steel tanks and French oak barriques, of which 10% were new. The wine was aged for three months in French oak barriques, of which 3% were new, imparting texture.