“A modern take on an old tradition and an exciting blend of Old and New World"
Mark Revington, The Independent – 26 February 2009, NZ

"(Ara) has been a roaring success with its wines picking up numerous awards on the world stage”
Kerry Skinner, Illawarra Mercury, 25 July 2009, Australia

“Winegrowers of Ara are … producing some really exciting wines.”
Yvonne-Marie Lorkin, Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 2008, NZ

“The emphasis is very definitely on quality.”
Deborah Walton, Marlborough Express, 6 June 2008, NZ
 
“Ara is an exciting new face on the Marlborough wine scene. What an impressive debut.”
Chris Shanahan, Sunday Canberra Times – 10 May 2009 – Australia

“Winegrowers of Ara… promises to be something significant.”
Graeme Barrow, Northern Advocate, 15 March 2008, NZ

“The scale of the project is simply staggering and the concept quite extraordinary.”
Warren Barton, Dominion Post, 15 March 2008, NZ

“An absolute commitment to quality - a unique and quality terroir.”.”
Graeme Barrow, Northern Advocate, 15 March 2008, NZ

“Starting to produce some of Marlborough's most distinctive Sauvignons and Pinot Noirs”
www.thewinegang.com, March 2009, UK

“Designers ... should be delighted to discover Ara, which is a single vineyard recently installed in Marlborough's cool – that’s climatically, as well as aesthetically – Waihopai Valley.”
Paul Levy / ‘Amy De Vine’ - You Magazine, Mail on Sunday 3rd May 2009  - UK.

“Absolutely outstanding  - wines that build in interest as you sip through the bottle”
Chris Shanahan, Sunday Canberra Times – 10 May 2009 – Australia

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COMPOSITE



Sauvignon Blanc

Gold medal: San Francisco International Wine Competition 2009

“This wine stands out from the pack... Totally fresh, balanced and alive.”
Jeff Collerson, Daily Telegraph, 9 June 2009, Australia

“Delicious Marlborough sauvignon, with intense lime and gooseberry aromas.”
Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 July 2009, Australia

“A standout Kiwi savvy.”
Kerry Skinner, Illawarra Mercury, 25 July 2009, Australia

“Very good depth of flavour, smooth and intense with richness and generosity while maintaining balance and delicacy.”
Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 July 2009, Australia

“Like good music, food and writing, wine can be intense yet subtle at the same time. For evidence, check out this full bodied, lively and fresh Marlborough sauvignon blanc.”
Joelle Thomson, Mindfood, 20 February 2009, NZ

FIVE STARS: "One of the most sophisticated sauvignons around.”
Decanter magazine, New Zealand Wine Guide 2008, UK

FIVE STARS: “Full of personality, offering deep, ripe flavours”
Michael Cooper, The Listener, November 2008, NZ

“Impressive intensity and length.”
Decanter magazine, New Zealand Wine Guide 2008, UK

“Lovely fruit definition, aromatic, intense citrus, grapefruit and gooseberry flavours, vibrant acidity and a crisp finish.”
Kerry Skinner, Illawarra Mercury, 25 July 2009, Australia

“A sweet, tropical nose gives way to tart notes on the palate and then lots of zesty fruit, minerality and citrus grip.”
Decanter magazine, New Zealand Wine Guide 2008, UK

FIVE STARS: “Classy and immaculate wine. Full of personality. Weighty and concentrated, with sweet-fruit flavours of grapefruit melon and lime, a slightly minerally streak and a tight bone-dry, lasting finish.”
Winestate magazine, Australia

“Pushes style boundaries further than many with its full-bodied, slightly subdued fruit flavours and lingering, fresh finish.”
Urbis Magazine, 30 April 2008, NZ

“Those who prefer less overbearing gooseberry and more structure and minerality will jump at this. An exciting find.”
Scotland on Sunday, 11 November 2007, UK

“What I look for in a prizewinning Kiwi sauvignon blanc is something that kicks it above mere gooseberry tartiness. In this case, it’s mango, lemon grass and guava nuances in the aromas and flavours. This is both mellow and zesty. 90/100.”
Gord Stimmell, Toronto Star, March 2009, Canada

“Delicious Marlborough sauvignon, with intense lime and gooseberry aromas.”
Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 July 2009, Australia
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COMPOSITE
 


Pinot Noir

“Graceful, silky-textured red.”
Winestate - Michael Cooper’s Recent Releases - May 2008, Australia 

“Wines to look out for. Nicely balanced at 13%, with plum and raspberry aromas and flavours, soft tannins, light acidity and good drinkability.”
Graeme Barrow, Northern Advocate, 15 March 2008, NZ

“A really attractive, supple, savoury style of new world Pinot.”
Jamie Goode – www.wineanorak.co.uk, Sept 30 2008, UK

“A lighter style of Pinot that has delicate yet savoury plum flavours integrated with quite grippy tannins and a touch of oak.”
www.Tizwine.com, November 2008

“Floral, cherryish and slightly savoury and nutty, in a middleweight style, very vibrant and supple. Delicious young.”
Winestate - Michael Cooper’s Recent Releases - May 2008, NZ

“Absolutely outstanding  - wines that build in interest as you sip through the bottle”
Chris Shanahan, Sunday Canberra Times – 10 May 2009 – Australia

“Blossomed for a few days after tasting, a good indicator of cellaring ability.”
Chris Shanahan, Sunday Canberra Times – 10 May 2009 – Australia

“When I went back to it the following night it had really opened up and was drinking beautifully. Most enjoyable.”
Rick Allen, Manly Daily, 5th June 2009 - Australia

“This is a good, generous pinot…. When I went back to it the following night it had really opened up…. most enjoyable.”
North Shore Times, 12 June 2009, Australia

“I thought this was a good wine when I tried it, but the next night it had really opened up.”
Rick Allen, Mosman Daily, 9 July 2009, Australia
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RESOLUTE 

 
 
Sauvignon Blanc

89/100: “Resolutely (sorry) mineral and herbal, impressively intense, long and dry. Almost more Loire in style than New Zealand.”
www.thewinegang.com, March 2009, UK

“At a time when the market is awash with often dilute Kiwi 2008s, here’s one that’s a year older and all the better for it. It’s first gush of youth has passed, leaving a more confident and relaxed with a grassy edge to its citrus fruit flavours, and a tingling spine of minerality. Verdict: Great Oyster Wine”
Harpers – Simon Woods ‘First Taste’, March 19 2009, UK

“A lovely powdery complexity with intensity of flavour that’s impressive yet restrained – very good, very different”
Yvonne Marie Lorkin, Manawatu Standard, 3 January 2009, NZ

“Soft, smooth, full-bodied, this is a welcome style departure for a Marlborough white wine.”
Joelle Thomson, Mindfood, 20 February 2009, NZ
 
“Fabulous flagship. Impressive inaugural release of a flagship Sauvignon from Winegrowers of Ara. It’s a sauvignon blanc for riesling lovers and one that’s likely to be longer-lived.”
Jo Burzynska – Canvas, NZ Herald, 23 September 2008, NZ

“Lusciously-labelled Ara, Resolute Sauvignon Blanc 2007: an aromatic, great big, minerally, white-peachy, mouth-filling wine.“
Paul Levy / ‘Amy De Vine’ - You Magazine, Mail on Sunday 3rd May 2009  - UK

“Push the boat out with a king among sauvignon blancs. Resolute Sauvignon Blanc 2007 oozes peach tempered with lemon and is a delicious wine with a long finish”
The Cambrian News – 23 April 2009, UK

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RESOLUTE

Pinot Noir

“The pinnacle of Ara’s portfolio. It’s a perfect pinot, soft and supple in the mouth, upfront cherry and berry fruit flavours, savoury and earthy characters, velvet smooth tannins.”
Kerry Skinner, Illawarra Mercury, 25 July 2009, Australia

"... the sweetly oaked, finely wrought 2006 Resolute Pinot Noir, Winegrowers of Ara, Marlborough..."
Tim Atkin, Observer, 11 January 2009, UK
 
“A luscious wine, full of complexity and character.”
Peter Shaw, Waikato Times, 27 February 2008, NZ

“A complex, understated, elegant new world interpretation of Pinot Noir with the potential to develop well over the next few years.A charming, beguiling nose of sweet red cherries with integrated warm spicy notes adding an appealing warmth.”
Jamie Goode – www.wineanorak.co.uk, 30 September 2008, UK

“Great drinking now, but will reward patient cellaring for the next three to four years.”
Yvonne-Marie Lorkin, Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 2008, NZ

“Pretty serious stuff, with a distinctly European sheen.Spicy complexity sitting nicely under the smooth sweet cherry fruit, with textural richness and a bit of tannic grip keeping things savoury.”
Jamie Goode – www.wineanorak.co.uk, 30 September 2008, UK

“Wines to look out for.”
Graeme Barrow, Northern Advocate, 15 March 2008, NZ

"90/100: On the palate it is a big, plush wine with layered depth."
www.thewinegang.com, March 2009, UK

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PATHWAY
 


Sauvignon Blanc

“Ara’s new Pathway label is easily the best sub-$20 sauvignon on the market"
Paul Tudor MW, Metro magazine, July-August 09, NZ

 Double Gold: San Francisco International Wine Competition 2009

“Over delivers on flavour, offering a delicious combo of new wave vibrancy and minerally freshness with old wave green plum Marlborough sauvignon blanc.”
Joelle Thomson, Mindfood, 20 February 2009, NZ

“After wading through some average sauvignon blanc this season, this little number was a welcome surprise – especially for the price.
Yvonne Marie Lorkin - Hawkes Bay Today, Manawatu Standard, Bay Of Plenty Times, Northland’s Bay Report, Wairarapa Times, Havelock North Village Press – 2 February 2009, NZ

BEST UNDER $15: “This new affordable label has a hint of mineral, sweet fruit and a crisp assertive finish.”
Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, 25 February 2009, NZ

“Concentrated, juicy citrus and tropical aromas lead to a tangy, passion-fruity, limey and herbaceous explosion on the tastebuds. Another bonus is the bottle looks great on the table – shouldn’t matter, but hey, I’m a girl, appearances count.”
Yvonne Marie Lorkin - Hawkes Bay Today, Manawatu Standard, Bay Of Plenty Times, Northland’s Bay Report, Wairarapa Times, Havelock North Village Press – 2 February 2009, NZ

“Unexpectedly good (for the price)”
Michael Cooper, The Listener, 27 February 2009, NZ

“Enticing aromas of gooseberries, crushed herbs and elderflowers, which quicken the pulse”
Ivan Donaldson, The Press, 07 May 2009, NZ

"Cheerful and fruity, passionfruit, gooseberry and fresh acidity. Good balance and value."
Graeme Barrow, Northern Advocate, 2 May 2009 - NZ

“Easy to drink and without any rough edges”
Ivan Donaldson, The Press, 07 May 2009, NZ

“Pathway is on the pungent, high-acid side of sauv blanc, but has a fruity depth to make these attributes tantalising.”
Chris Shanahan, Sunday Canberra Times – 10 May 2009 – Australia

Commended at the Decanter Wine Awards 2009

*** "Bursting with fresh guava and lime citrus fruits, it’s classic Marlborough sauvignon, made in a pure, fresh, crisp style. Even I enjoyed this one.”
Fergus McGhie, Canberra Times, 20 May 2009, Australia

“A breath of fresh air… bone dry... light with a fresh zip of citrus that underpins its notes of melon, passion fruit and gentle herb”
Jo Burzynska, Viva, New Zealand Herald, 1st July 2009, NZ

“Pungent and grassy, well weighted, with a dry finish that invites you to pour another glass”
Paul Tudor MW, Metro magazine, July-August 09, NZ

“A magical feast that puts New Zealand’s standout variety in a shining light.”
John Fordham, Sunday Telegraph, 9 August 2009, Australia
..............................................................................................................................................

PATHWAY



Pinot Noir

“A lovely blend of fruit ... aromatic, sweet cherry and berry flavours, integrated spice, good oak and silky tannis.”
Kerry Skinner, Illawarra Mercury, 25 July 2009, Australia

“This soft fruity pinot noir more than met our expectations, brilliantly over delivering on value for money with bright cherry and plum flavours.”
Joelle Thomson, Mindfood, 20 February 2009, NZ

“Lovely to drink. A good entry point to the Ara style.”
Mark Revington, The Independent – 26 February 2009, NZ

“Starts off as an exuberant, youthful-style pinot, but lingers with a more complex feel.”
Mark Revington, The Independent – 26 February 2009, NZ

BEST UNDER $20: “Fragrant and succulent with hints of spicy plums, a creamy, silky texture, fine-grained tannins and a lingering aftertaste. Very drinkable.”
Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, 11 March 2009, NZ

“Youthful, fruity and savoury, soft and juicy, very easy, accessible style while showing authentic Pinot character.”
Peter McCombie MW, Restaurant magazine, March 2009, UK

"A soft, savoury pinot noir is the perfect foil for the five-spice pork - Ara's Pathway Pinot Noir 2008 is a great-value match."
Yvonne Marie Lorkin, NZ House & Garden, 31 May 2009, NZ

“Recommended: Youthful fruity and savoury, soft and juicy, very easy, accessible style while showing authentic Pinot character.”
Restaurant Magazine, April 2009 - UK

“Absolutely outstanding  - wines that build in interest as you sip through the bottle”
Chris Shanahan, Sunday Canberra Times – 10 May 2009 – Australia

“This is a pinot noir with sassy spice, savoury flavours and upfront fruit appeal. It is young and will soften out over time, but why wait when it tastes so good in a large glass right now?”
Joelle Thomson, Mindfood, September 2009, NZ


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