Paritua Vineyards Stone Paddock Scarlet 2013
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2016-
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Paritua is located in the heart of the Hawkes Bay Wine Region, the ‘Bridge Pa Triangle’ District. This is one of New Zealand's most diverse regions for the growing and crafting of premium red and white wines. The name Paritua is a tribute to the Paritua Stream, which meanders gently through the vineyard. Paritua means ‘the meandering stream above the ancient river’. The vineyard is planted over the historical riverbed of the nearby Ngaruroro River which flowed through pre the 1860s earthquake. It is a name that also acknowledges the connection with the land and the people of New Zealand.
The vines were planted in 2003 and with 53 hectares (130 acres) planted in three phases: seventy percent is devoted to red varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec – with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay completing the picture. Paritua’s vineyard enjoys stony, free draining soils, long summers and crisp winters, which combine to produce exceptional wines. These are boutique, bespoke wines from the oldest gravels in Hawke’s Bay.
The development of the vineyard and winery infrastructure was a collaboration with leading New Zealand architects, Crosson Clarke Carnachan who understood the drive for bold architecture that truly embraces the landscape. Every design aspect was carefully considered and the winemaking operation had to be not only efficient, but also sustainable with the added requirement to sit gracefully in its environment.
The shared belief at Paritua for why we do what we do is that New Zealand and Hawke’s Bay provides many opportunities not just for work and investment, but for a way of life. The fresh, clean air, the beaches and beautiful landscape are best enjoyed when shared with a great glass of wine and a platter of local produce.
Green Certification: Paritua is certified as Sustainable by SWNZ the Sustainable Winegrowers of New Zealand. Paritua is also Bio Gro certified as in conversion to Organics.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
An eclectic region on the east coast of the North Island, Hawkes Bay extends from wide, fertile, coastal plains, inland, to the coast range, whose peaks reach as high as 5,300 feet. While the flatter areas were historically more popular because they are easier to cultivate, their alluvial soils can be too fertile for vines. In the late 20th century, the drive for quality led growers to the hills where soils are free-draining, limestone-rich and more suited to producing high quality wines.
Over the passing of time, the old Ngaruroro River laid down deep, gravelly beds, which were subsequently exposed after a huge flood in the 1860’s. In the 1980s growers identified this stretch, which continues for approximately 800 ha, and named it the Gimblett Gravels. The zone has proven to be ideal for the production of excellent red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
Today the area takes well-earned recognition for its Bordeaux blends and other reds. Expressive of intense stewed red and black berry with gentle herbaceous characters, Gimblett Gravels wines are suggestive of their cool climate origin, and on par with other top-notch Bordeaux blends around the globe.
Chardonnay is the top white grape in Hawkes Bay, making elegant wines, strong in stone fruit character. Sauvignon blanc comes in close behind, notable for its tropical, fruit forward qualities.