Stoneleigh Winemaker takes a walk on the wild side
Stoneleigh is harnessing the wonder of nature with the release of a new range of wild-fermented wines in New Zealand,
the Stoneleigh Wild Valley range
Launching with the new vintage 2015 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and a 2014 Marlborough Pinot Noir, Stoneleigh Wild
Valley represents the epitome of Stoneleigh’s philosophy of minimal-intervention winemaking. The wines are fermented
thanks to indigenous yeasts that are naturally present in Stoneleigh’s vineyards in the Rapaura sub-region of
Marlborough.
Jamie Marfell, Stoneleigh winemaker, explains: “While the winemaking intervention for this new range may be minimal, the
care and dedication that goes into the wines is anything but. Stoneleigh Wild Valley uses naturally-occurring
micro-flora to ferment the fruit, which gives the resulting wines the purest expression of our terroir. It’s like
capturing the essence of our Marlborough vineyards in a bottle.”
The new wines will give New Zealand wine lovers the opportunity to explore the textural and flavour complexity that
comes from allowing nature to truly take its course during the fermentation process.
Jamie Marfell continues: “Stoneleigh Wild Valley celebrates the lifted, fruit-forward flavour profile that is
characteristic of wines made on our sunstone-studded vineyards, then overlays this with the added texture, palate-weight
and flavour complexity that comes with the use of wild yeasts that are native to our vineyard eco-system.”
Stoneleigh Wild Valley wines are expected to appeal to gourmands, as the rich, textural palate and complex flavours of
the wines make them a perfect accompaniment for food matching occasions. Stoneleigh Wild Valley Marlborough Sauvignon
Blanc 2015 shows great generosity, with lifted grapefruit and nectarine aromas and citrus and passionfruit flavours,
while Stoneleigh Wild Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 is a vibrant wine with flavours of wild berries, strawberries,
raspberries and dark cherries with a subtle, toasty savouriness.
Stoneleigh Wild Valley wines are now available from leading liquor retailers, RRP $18.99, throughout New Zealand.
ENDS