The Waitaki Valley with its limestone-influenced soils and continental climate indicated from the start its potential to make fine wine. Arriving from Italy in 1997, Antonio Pasquale and Stefania Muraro and their daughters brought and planted near 30 ha of vines in the Waitaki and Hakataramea Valleys, setting up a winery near Kurow, to realise that potential. This was done with the employ of the local Turner family beginning in 2002. Considering their original home, it is no surprise that Italian varieties are also planted with classical French grapes, and that Italian styles are represented in the Pasquale portfolio. Uniquely, the Pasquale wines are ‘fingerprinted' for their origin by Oritain, a Dunedin-based food-provenancing company. This way, the ‘purity' of the wines is guaranteed. The Pasquale winemaker is Cleighton Cornelius who is resident in Kurow. Here are my reviews of a selection of new and current release wines which indicate that realising the potential is within the grasp of Pasquale. www.pasquale.co.nz