When standing on its own two feet (rather than being blended away into other whites), Pinot Blanc is brashly aromatic and fruit-driven. Although most Pinot Blanc comes from northern Italy and Germany’s Alsace region and is blessed with old-soil flavour depth, New Zealand growers are claiming intense flavour characteristics with young vines and have understandably high hopes for the future. Originally a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc is most similar to Chardonnay when barrel fermented but exhibits greater subtlety and understatement than its more famous counterpart, boasting wonderful textural richness.