The Donaldson family have been immersed in the wine industry since the early 1970s and were pioneers of local grape growing and wine making.  Ivan Donaldson, first became interested in wine when his girlfriend at the time, Christine, gave him a book simply called - ‘Wine’.  The first vineyard was a hobby with Ivan making wine in the garage at home on the weekends.  By the mid 1980s Ivan and Chris had decided there was definitely a future for wine making in Canterbury and they went on to plant Pegasus Bay.

Planted in 1985 the Pegasus Bay vineyard is largely un-grafted producing ultra-low yields of grapes per vine with loose bunches and small berries.  Tucked up under the lee of the Teviotdale Range, the vineyard gets maximum protection from the Pacific’s easterly breezes, while heat summation during the day is promoted by the smooth stones and gravels left behind by an ancient river bed washed down from the Southern Alps.

Pegasus Bay aims to grow grapes of the highest quality, which fully express the features of the vineyard and to handle these with the utmost respect. Minimal intervention at all stages from vine to bottle typifies our approach.

Pegasus Bay spire to capture the unique flavours of the vineyard in our wine with texture, length and drinkability being trademarks of our house style.