The Astrolabe Comelybank Vineyard Pinot Rosé is made from pinot noir and pinot gris grapes from a single vineyard in the Waihopai valley. Jeff and Vanessa Hammond grew the grapes for this wine at their vineyard in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys wine region.

I did a fast ferment for the rosé, with a high level of grape solids and a warm temperature, to create a complex aroma and reduce the dominance of the varietal fruit. It is savoury, textural and very dry.

What sets my rosé apart is the use of mainly pinot noir fruit. It is a complex wine that is more European in styling. I choose to craft a wine with more body and weight than your usual rose while also keeping it very dry. This wine is defined by its fruit concentration and complexity.

Simon Waghorn — Winemaker