Good wines grow here…
Marlborough, New Zealand.
Wines grown by second generation organic growers Callum and Sarah Linklater.
Windrush is the name of the first vineyard our family owned. Growing certified organic grapes is what we do.
Lifted aromas of peach, elderflower, and cherry blossom greet the senses. This wine offers a summer-inspired palate of strawberries, watermelon, lemon peel, and pomegranate. A dry wine that exudes character and charm, it truly embodies the essence of “summer in a glass.” Enjoy this delightful wine now through 2028.
Our Westview vineyard, situated on Conders Bend Road just north of Renwick, is a site that has been influenced by the Wairau River. The rich silt and large smooth river stones provide fertile and well-draining soil, perfect for growing pinot noir grapes.The wine produced from this vineyard is from clones 115, 5, and 10/5. We take great pride in our commitment to organic farming practices, and our family has converted the vineyard to full BioGro certification in 2024.
The grapes were machine-harvested from the Westview vineyard at their optimum ripeness. The free-run juice was immediately separated while the destemmed fruit was loaded into the press. This 100% free-run wine underwent fermentation in a tall Stainless-Steel tank, specifically designed to enhance the wine’s aromatic qualities. The Windrush Rosé was inoculated with an innovative new Rosé yeast, known for promoting exotic fruit flavours. Following fermentation, the wine had a brief contact with light lees, contributing to its creamy richness.
Bottled: 24 September 2024. Released: November 2024
Fresh summer berries, omega plum, dark cherries, baking spice and a hint of earthy mushrooms. Silky tannins hold together with a toasty mocha finish..yum!
2021 was one out of the box. Wet and cold spring conditions affected flowering leading to smaller than normal bunches. A long Marlborough summer followed, leading to wines with great purity and concentration.
About the Vineyard
A single vineyard wine from Andahlane Vineyard on Conders Bend Road, where the soils are very stony at the north end, and very silty at the south end. The vines were planted in 2012, established organically by the Linklater family from day one. This wine is made from clone 777 and 828.
Winemaking
Hand-picked and destemmed at the winery into open-top fermenters and cold-soaked for three days with daily pumpovers and gentle hand plunging. The must underwent ferment with indigenous yeasts, and once complete was gently pressed off before going to barrel (16% New Oak). Once in barrel, malolactic fermentation was carried out and then left alone to develop complexity and tannin structure.
Bottled: 15th February 2022. Released: October 2022.
The wine presents a captivating bouquet of guava, mango, citrus, and passionfruit, which transitions seamlessly into a luscious palate bursting with tropical fruits and elderflower notes. A refreshing citrus acidity ties all the flavours together harmoniously. The wine is impeccably balanced, with a delightful hint of salinity that beckons for another sip.
This wine is produced from grapes grown at two family-owned vineyards located approximately 5km apart. Windrush Vineyard is situated on SH63, where the soil consists of a consistent layer of fine loam over clay. Terrace Stone Vineyard is located on Hammond Road, closer to Renwick. This vineyard boasts beautiful soil that is ideal for organic viticulture, featuring a deep layer of fine stones mixed with silt and loam over clay. The vineyard is surrounded by trees, creating a sheltered environment that promotes vigorous spring growth and contributes to a unique micro-climate that aids in ripening the fruit, resulting in a riper style of wine.
The grapes were destemmed and pressed, then left on the skins for one hour to enhance flavour complexity. The wine was then fermented, with 90% in stainless steel and 10% in barrels. The barrel fermentation included a combination of inoculated and wild yeasts, resulting in a unique flavour profile. Additionally, the wine underwent weekly lees stirring in the barrel, which contributed to its intense richness.
Bottled: 24 September 2024.
Awards:
The 2025 Windrush Organic ‘Empire’ Chardonnay opens with intense aromas of wet stone and struck match, layered with ripe apricot, fresh citrus and a subtle touch of warm oak.
The palate is fresh and expressive, showing pink grapefruit, ripe melon and apricot, complemented by toasty hazelnut and hints of lemon zest. Respectful oak influence adds texture and balance to the finish.
Vintage
Vintage 2025 is considered an exceptional Marlborough vintage, characterised by slightly higher yields and near-perfect ripening conditions. Hot days in late spring and early summer were followed by cooler temperatures in January and February. This extended the ripening period and provided ideal hang-time for the fruit to gain aromatic intensity and balanced acidity, resulting in great flavour development.
Winemaking
Hand harvested on 15 March at optimal ripeness and whole bunch pressed with minimal sulphur additions, the juice was cold settled before being racked to French oak barrels (20% new). Fermentation occurred naturally with indigenous yeasts. Once complete, light lees stirring and malolactic fermentation added complexity and depth of flavour. Bottled early on 25 September to retain freshness and vibrancy.
About the vineyard
Established in 2016, our small vineyard at Gee Street in Renwick consists of 722 vines. What makes this site unique is that it was developed organically from the outset, rather than converted after establishment. We selected three Chardonnay clones for planting, led by clone 548, alongside smaller plantings of clones 1066 and 121.
Bottled: 25 September 2025. Released: March 2026
Tasting Note| Bottle Shot
Aromas of Omega plums, blackberry & baking spice held together with floral elegance. Dark berry, red currents, cranberries, liquorice, with a hint of tobacco & leather.
50% 2022 / 50% 2023
Due to the small number of vines, this wine is a blend of two vintages. Both 2022 and 2023 were exceptional vintages with excellent spring weather to set up ideal flowering. A long, hot and dry summer allowed the fruit to hang longer into autumn & flavours to really sing.
About the vineyard
In 2012 we planted 80 Syrah vines at our Terrace Stone Vineyard on Hammond Road near Renwick. This vineyard has lovely soil - a deep layer of fine stones mixed with silt and loam over clay - and is sheltered by trees which provides a unique micro-climate. Due to the small number of vines this wine is not certified organic.
Winemaking
Hand-picked and destemmed at the winery into a small open top fermenter & cold soaked for 5 days with daily hand plunging. The must was inoculated with a special Rhone yeast & underwent fermentation. Once complete it was gently pressed off using a small basket press before going to barrel. Once in the barrel malolactic fermentation was carried out and then left alone to develop complexity and tannin structure.
Bottled: 1st February 2023. Released: April 2023.