We love our range of Riverby Estate Wines from Marlborough, New Zealand. Their distinctive labels are easy to spot on our shelves showing either a fish or a moth. I know what you're thinking; what has a fish or a moth got to do with fine wine. The elegant Cicada Sauvignon Blanc is named after the beautiful cicada moth as it only emerges when conditions are perfect. Once they shed their skin and take to the air, they enjoy a taste of freedom before being devoured by a skilful predator - just like the crisp, moreish wine with lovely herbal and citrus notes. The rainbow trout is synonymous with the Riverby Estate as the fish would travel upstream to spawn in the shallows of the Opawa River in New Zealand's Marlborough region, the river was redirected in the 1930s transforming the estate into one of New Zealand's finest wine growing boutique estates. Keeping It In The Family Riverby's vineyards are owned by the same family who have farmed this land for over 100 years, and only estate-grown fruit is used. So with all this experience, passion and knowledge you can expect the best. The Wines Riverby Estate certainly produce terrific wines, all very carefully made with a great purity and balance shown throughout the range: nothing is excessive, but everything is precise and intense. Their policy is to carefully control yields in the vineyard, and that shows in the concentration of these wines. My favourite has to be the unashamedly opulent Riverby Estate Sauvignon Blanc - it really is a sunny day in a glass. It bears its Marlborough signature of green bean and asparagus pungency along with tropical fruit exoticism. It shouts flavours of grapefruit and blackberry leaves making this a truly stunning white wine. Its lovely blend of restraint and elegance makes it the hallmark of all Riverby wines Riverby Estate's Chardonnay block was planted in 1989, making it one of the oldest in Marlborough. This white wine is aged in French oak plus three more years in bottle giving a nutty, golden-hued depth. Supremely enjoyable with a joyous blend of creamy oak, vanilla, lemon zest and honey. It is indeed 'Burgundian' in many ways. Their Pinot Gris is another beauty with a balanced ripeness, weight and texture. More Alsace than Veneto in style certainly, but Riverby has done a great job in tempering that spicy, ripe, succulent pear weight of fruit with cleansing and accurate acidity, pithy and apple-core dry, which against the burgeoning sweetness of fruit is absolutely delightful. The ripe and well rounded style of Pinot Noir has that lovely transparency colour that has not been over-done. Drinking this red wine is pure delight with its redcurrant and raspberry juiciness taking centre stage. Wine Talk If you want to know more about these wines speak to our resident New Zealand wine expert Katie from our Frodsham branch. But don't panic all these wines are available in our Heswall and West Kirby shops too. Mandi