The Morton Estates Winery is a wine lover’s dream. Privately owned with the focus on producing only good wine – and some exceptional wine too! The winery’s based at Kati Kati below the Coramandel Peninsular where I lived for a year. Morton own some of the best vineyards in both Hawke’s Bay - the best area for Chardonnay, and Marlborough – the best for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. They are one of the few remaining wineries who take complete control of their own wines from vineyard right through to bottle closure, ensuring top quality every step of the way. They’ve won more awards than the Chinese Olympic Team including ‘Decanter - Best Chardonnay in the World’ and ‘New Zealand Winery of the Year’ amongst others. You can order their wines with confidence that they’re going to be good, or even great!

What’s it like?

This is a double silver medal winner. Fermented in stainless steel to retain freshness then matured in French oak to add body and complexity. Unlike many European Pinots, this wine has a nose of tropical fruit and is packed with flavour with good body and mouth feel, and a long lingering finish. A great summer sipping wine or can be paired with a range of foods.

Several quality independents have now discovered the quality of Morton Estates wines including predictably the New Zealand House of Wine, but the best deal around at present for Morton Estates White Label Hawke’s Bay Pinot Grigio 2007 is with www.goodwineonline.co.uk at £8.19