Peregrine Pinot Gris 2026

Peregrine Pinot Gris 2026 is an organic Central Otago white from the McLachlan family's Bendigo and Pisa vineyards, with Nashi pear, citrus zest and pink grapefruit over bright acidity. It was rated 93 POINTS by Cameron Douglas MS. A lovely wine for anyone who likes fresh, textured whites with real purity.

In the glass it shows a fresh, floral fragrance of orange blossom and nectarine. A small portion of barrel fermentation gives it a subtle texture, and it finishes with a fine mineral line.

This is a wine for those of us who enjoy a dry Pinot Gris with ripe fruit and a refreshing edge. Peregrine recommend it with a blue cheese and fresh fig salad, and it is a great weekend wine for long lunches.

Peregrine's landmark winery in Gibbston, completed in 2003, was designed to evoke the rotation of a falcon's wing in flight.

What it tastes like

The wine has a satin mouthfeel, which Cameron Douglas, MS found carried core flavours of pear, apple, lemon and white peppercorn. He noted just a tickle of sweetness, easily balanced by the acidity and the cool-climate fruit, and a lengthy finish. Time on lees (the yeast left after fermentation) for 5 months, with regular stirring, adds gentle weight without dulling the freshness. It's delicious.

Style at a glance

• Body: medium-bodied, with a satin texture
• Sweetness: dry in style, with a touch of fruit sweetness (5 g/L residual sugar)
• Acidity: bright and refreshing
• Oak: 20% barrel fermented, which adds texture and mouthfeel rather than oak flavour
• Style: fresh, aromatic, textured, organic

Food to enjoy this with

• Roast pork belly with apple
• Roast chicken with lemon and thyme
• Crab cakes with a citrus mayonnaise
• Prawn and pomelo salad
• Vietnamese rice paper rolls
• Something unexpected: a mild Thai green chicken curry. The touch of sweetness and the pink grapefruit lift handle the gentle heat, and the satin texture stands up to the coconut.

Who makes it

Peregrine is owned by the McLachlan family, who have taken a hands-on approach to winemaking since 1998. Estate owner Lindsay McLachlan is involved at every stage, from growing the organic fruit to selling the wine, and Fraser McLachlan, who joined the business in 2012, is now CEO. The name fits their work in conservation: Peregrine has worked with the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Conservation Trust to protect some of New Zealand's rarest native birds.

The fruit for this wine comes from two of Peregrine's three sub-regions. Bendigo is the hottest and driest, with Molyneux soils rising to a plateau about 350 metres above sea level, and the estate vineyards there were first planted in 1999 with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Riesling. Pisa has a warm, steady climate and light, stony soils, with a long summer that gives the fruit time to ripen in balance. The vineyards are farmed organically, with no synthetic fertilisers and compost made from grape pomace and manure from animals grazing on the estate.

Winemaker Nadine Cross has led the winemaking at Peregrine since 2010, after vintages in France, California and Marlborough. For the 2026 vintage, the blend is 77% Peregrine Estate Bendigo and 23% Pisa fruit, predominantly machine harvested. 80% was fermented cool in stainless steel tanks to keep the aromatics, and 20% in barrel for texture, before the wine was fermented dry and matured on its lees for 5 months with regular stirring.

About the vintage

Peregrine describe 2026 as a cooler than average growing season, with a slow, extended ripening period. A mild autumn brought warmer days and cool nights, so the flavours developed gradually while keeping their freshness and acidity, and a later than usual harvest gave concentrated, expressive fruit.

Critic scores and ratings

• 93 POINTS – Cameron Douglas, MS – camdouglasms.com, October 2026
  "A delicious wine with a varietal bouquet of ripe pomaceous fruits, spice and mineral voices of stone and alluvial deposits. A dry wine with just a tickle of sweetness easily contrasted by the acid line and cool climate fruit signatures. Satin mouthfeel with core fruit flavours of pears and apple, lemon and white peppercorn. Lengthy and well made with best drinking form day of purchase through 2031+."

When to drink it

It drinks beautifully now. Cameron Douglas, MS gives best drinking from the day of purchase through 2031+, and Peregrine suggest 2 years, or longer if it is well cellared. Serve it at around 10°C.

Technical details

Where to buy

For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Peregrine Pinot Gris 2026 is available from our winenz.com website. For delivery within New Zealand, buy it from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. On both websites and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines, and if you are visiting from overseas, we can ship it home for you.

Questions we are often asked

Is Peregrine Pinot Gris 2026 dry or sweet?

Peregrine make it in a dry style. It has 5 g/L of residual sugar, which Cameron Douglas, MS described as just a tickle of sweetness, balanced by fresh acidity.

Is Peregrine Pinot Gris organic?

Yes. It is made from certified organic Central Otago fruit, and Peregrine's tech sheet also marks it as vegan friendly.

Where are the grapes for Peregrine Pinot Gris 2026 grown?

The 2026 blend is 77% from Peregrine's estate vineyards in Bendigo and 23% from Pisa, both in Central Otago.

What food goes with Peregrine Pinot Gris?

Peregrine suggest a salad of blue cheese and fresh figs. It also works well with roast pork, chicken and mildly spiced Asian dishes.

Where can I buy Peregrine Pinot Gris 2026?

The Winery ships Peregrine Pinot Gris 2026 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.