Spy Valley is consistently one of the best Gewürztraminer producers around.
Winery notes (2024 Vintage)
"Intense aromas of rose petal, Turkish delight, and ripe nectarines. Fresh and vibrant on the palate with flavours of lychee and rose. Mouth filling with a slight chalkiness in the mid-palate and a long, stone fruit – filled finish.
Our Gewurztraminer clones were picked separately and left in the press for at least 6 hours to extract flavour and aroma, with one parcel left on skins for almost 24 hours. Fermentation took place in a mix of stainless steel and large- format oak vessels until the ideal sugar level was achieved. The wine then aged on fine lees for a short period before the clones were blended and prepared for bottling."
Joelle Thomson, drinksbiz Magazine October/November 2024 (2024 Vintage)
"This dry expression of Gewürztraminer has crisp and refreshing flavours of tropical fruit such as pineapple and lychees. It is medium-bodied with a lingering finish that captures intensity and freshness, giving it great balance. The wine is made from grapes grown on Johnson Estate in the Waihopai Valley in Marlborough."
Reviews for previous vintages below…
90/100 Cameron Douglas MS, October 2023 (2023 Vintage)
"There’s no mistaking the aromas of this variety with spiced white fleshed, flowers, tropical scents of pineapple and papaya, apple and citrus then roses and talc’. Just dry with a satin texture, medium + (ish) acid line, and core fruit flavours reflect the bouquet. A lovely example ready to drink from 2023 through end of summer 2026."
Joelle Thomson, drinksbiz Magazine, October/November 2023 (2023 Vintage)
"Plenty of character bursts out of this wine with its intense Turkish Delight aromas that lead into a fleshy, full-bodied Gewürztraminer with spicy flavour notes and a lingering taste on the finish."
4 ½ Stars Michael Cooper (2022 Vintage)
"Estate-grown in the Johnson Vineyard, in the Waihopai Valley, the strongly varietal 2022 vintage was fermented and lees-aged in tanks. Bright, light lemon/green, with a fragrant, spicy bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with good concentration of ripe, peachy, spicy flavours, a hint of ginger, a sliver of sweetness and a fresh, finely balanced finish."