16-Dec-2015
Rossendale is the Canterbury-based wine operation of Brent and Shirley Rawstron who have 3.0 ha of Pinot Noir and 0.5 ha of Gewurztraminer at Old Tai Tapu Road on the banks of the Halswell River, the vineyard first established in 1987. However, the vast majority of the 40,000 case Rossendale production is from approx. 35 ha of vineyards in the Rapaura district of Marlborough. The Rawstrons were part of the ‘Cellars of Marlborough’ consortium that involved Canterbury producers purchasing established Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc vineyards, and took over the vines after the group dispersed. The Marlborough wines are made at Spring Creek Vintners and primarily exported. The Canterbury vineyards serve as a base for a function centre, and the fruit from these vines vinified at the Lone Goat winery, Burnham. Here, I review two new Marlborough releases. www.rossendale.co.nz
