NZ WINERIES & SAMANTHA BAILEY Cloud Factory Pinot Noir 2020

It is said that the first explorers who crossed the great oceans were greeted by large white clouds indicating that they could finally sight New Zealand . Like the label, these long white clouds carry the precious rain which, thanks to the marvelous mechanics of the vine, is found by nature in this Pinot Noir. This wine comes from 2 coastal vineyards located in the far southeast of Marlborough, in the Blind River Valley. The Rapaura vineyard is composed of gravel soils and that of Omaka Valley of clay soils. Each plot was kept separately and fermented in small open vats. After pressing and blending, part of the wine is aged in stainless steel vats and another in French oak barrels. This wine expresses fruity notes of strawberry , red cherry , cranberry , redcurrant , raspberry , blackcurrant , plum , red flowers as well as woody and chocolate nuances. On the palate, it's crunchy, balanced by a fine acidity and generous in fruit with enough texture to be indulgent.

Introduced in 1819, vine growing was greatly developed by Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, a French Marist missionary. Sent to Oceania in 1837, he settled there from January 1838 onwards to develop New Zealand's vineyards. The first quality vineyards were established in the Hawke's Bay region in the 19th and early 20th centuries. After setbacks caused first by phylloxera and then by the First World War, the vineyards began to expand again during the Second World War, when their area doubled.



Today, New Zealand has 10 main wine regions spread across the North and South Islands, the largest of which is Marlborough. Most of New Zealand's wine regions have a maritime climate. The country's long, narrow shape means that vineyards are never more than 120 km from the coast, and most are much closer than that (with the exception of the semi-continental Central Otago region). A spine of mountains running down the centre of the country shields most of the main wine regions from the strong westerly winds off the Tasman Sea known as the "Roaring Forties". Because of these winds, there are few wine regions on New Zealand's west coast.



The quality and reputation of New Zealand wines are well established. Indeed, the country produces some of the best and most renowned Sauvignon Blanc in the world. And it is no coincidence that New Zealand has made Sauvignon Blanc its emblem, just like its sheep, its kiwis and its legendary haka!