Welcome to
Pegasus Bay Winery e-cellar door
Pegasus Bay was established by the Donaldson family who were pioneers of the Canterbury wine industry. The estate is widely regarded as one of New Zealands’s leading producers of fine wine & the benchmark of the North Canterbury region.
Professor Ivan Donaldson, a consultant neurologist, along with his wife Christine and four sons established the vineyard in 1985, all four sons have since joined the business in key rolls. Mat, their eldest son is wine making. Next eldest is Mike who is Canterbury Sales Manager, then Ed who is Marketing Manager and his wife Belinda looks after the hospitality side of the business. Their youngest son Paul is General Manager. Ivan still overseas viticulture and Chris looks after the winery’s extensive gardens.
The estate’s primary focus is Pinot Noir and Riesling of which they make a number of different styles. The home vineyard is planted on the north facing terraces of the “Glasnevin Gravels”, a grey stone left by an ancient river bed, washed down from the mountains over hundreds of thousands of years where the river has changed its path.
The site is ultra-low yielding and produces fruit of rare concentration. Structure, texture and impeccable balance are also hallmarks of the estate’s highly individual wines. The home vineyard is now 35 years old and largely un-grafted.
Main Divide wines are also produced by the Donaldson family at Pegasus Bay and are made from fruit grown at their “Main Divide – Te Hau Vineyard” just a few km’s inland from Pegasus Bay. The label also sources fruit from a handful of North Canterbury growers. Main Divide wines have received numerous accolades for the outstanding quality and value of the wines across the range.
Reviews
"Outstanding" Pegasus Bay Winery, awarded Robert Parker’s highest producer rating
- Parker’s Wine Buyer’s Guide 7th edition, USA
(one of New Zealand’s top 5 producers)
"Pegasus Bay is Canterbury's top winery"
- Michael Cooper’s Wine Atlas, NZ
“Pegasus Bay’s fame is skyrocketing”
- Matthew Jukes, UK
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