Why this wine matters
More than a famous label.
This earns its place because the producer is widely recognised and the wine clearly demonstrates the difference between a rounder Pinot Gris style and a leaner, neutral Pinot Grigio.
Kim Crawford · New Zealand
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris · ripe pear · floral · clove · rounded yet fresh
Kim Crawford Pinot Gris is an approachable way into the richer side of Pinot Gris without losing New Zealand freshness. The producer’s current release is identified with Hawke’s Bay, while the 2022 bottle in the Sipping merchant feed is listed as Marlborough, so Sipping keeps the permanent profile broader than a single vintage source region.
Country
New Zealand
Region
New Zealand
Appellation
Regional sourcing varies by vintage
Grapes
Pinot Gris
Style
White
Realistic spend
£15–£20
Budget band: Under £20
Best moments
birthdaymothers daygarden partycasualdinner partyeveryday
A soft, aromatic white for Mother’s Day, summer birthdays and relaxed dinners.
How it is made
The decisions behind the style.
The grapes are destemmed, gently pressed without skin contact and cool-fermented. The producer specifically avoids wood contact to keep the fruit and freshness clear.
What does it taste like?
The shape of the wine.
Ripe pear, floral notes and a touch of clove sit over a fuller, slightly oily texture, balanced by fresh acidity and a crisp finish.
Body3/5
Acidity4/5
Tannin0/5
Sweetness1/5
Oak influence0/5
Freshness4/5
Aroma4/5
Serve it well
Serve around 8–10°C. It works well as a bridge between light aperitif whites and richer food wines.
If this wine were human…
The soft-spoken charmer
If Pinot Gris were human, it would be never competes for attention, but tends to keep it once it arrives.
nimblesharp-mindeddiplomaticunfussy
Does any of this sound suspiciously familiar?
Never competes for attention, but tends to keep it once it arrives. You notice small details and then pretend you did not, mostly to see whether anyone else does.
At dinner, you are happy to share the bottle, but you definitely noticed who poured themselves the heroic measure. Secretly, you are slightly competitive about having found the good place before everyone else.
In short: never competes for attention, but tends to keep it once it arrives. pinot gris energy, translated into a person.
Purely for fun — this is the wine’s fictional personality, not a psychological reading of yours.
What to eat with it
And the cheese?
No dead ends.
Start with this wine and move straight into cheese, or build a whole tasting around it.
Keep exploring
There are 365 more wines where this came from.
Research sources
This profile is researched against producer or similarly authoritative material. Vintage-specific details are kept separate from the permanent wine identity.