Based in the Gimblett Gravels, Trinity Hill is synonymous with quality and consistency, making wines that are emblematic of Hawkes Bay. Winemaker Warren Gibson has worked at Trinity Hill since 1997. In addition to his winemaking expertise, Warren also manages Trinity Hill’s 80 hectares of vineyards across Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the region and its vineyards is reflected in the quality of the wines. Warren and his team show the best of what Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels can produce. These wines are defined by elegance, balance, drinkability, and flavour precision, making them a joy to drink.

Originally founded in 1993 by winemaker John Hancock and restaurateurs Robert and Robyn Wilson (owners of The Bleeding Heart Group in London), Trinity Hill was sold in 2021 to a group of New Zealand private investors passionate about the wine industry, including Director, Mitch Plaw and his business partners, Craig Turner, Mark Sandelin and Michael Nock. Together, they have continued to ensure Trinity Hills' legacy for quality and award-winning, site-specific winemaking.

Hawke’s Bay, located on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, is the country’s second-largest wine region and its oldest. Renowned for its warm, dry maritime climate, the region is particularly well-suited to producing high-quality red and white wines with distinctive character and balance.

While Hawke’s Bay is generally warm with plenty of sunshine, it is moderated by coastal breezes that help preserve acidity in the grapes and extend the growing season. The region’s varied soils—ranging from gravelly riverbeds to clay and limestone—offer excellent drainage and contribute to the complexity of the wines. The famous Gimblett Gravels sub-region, in particular, is prized for its free-draining alluvial soils ideal for premium red varieties.

Hawke’s Bay excels with Bordeaux-style reds, especially Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, often blended to create structured, elegant wines with dark fruit, spice, and earthy undertones. Syrah is another standout, producing refined, peppery wines with floral aromatics.

Chardonnay is the leading white variety, known for its richness, stone fruit flavours, and balanced oak use. Aromatic whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris also thrive, offering vibrant, fruit-driven expressions with refreshing acidity.

Merlot is one of the world’s most widely planted and popular red grape varieties, prized for its soft texture, approachability, and rich fruit character. Originating in Bordeaux, France—particularly prominent in the Right Bank regions of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol—Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties to add suppleness and ripe fruit.

Viticulturally, Merlot is an early-ripening grape, making it well-suited to cooler climates. It thrives in clay-rich soils, which enhance its plush texture and depth. However, it can be sensitive to frost and overly vigorous if not carefully managed, sometimes leading to high yields and diluted flavours.

Today, Merlot is grown extensively around the world, including in France, Italy, the United States (especially California and Washington State), Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. In each region, it adapts to different styles—from soft and fruity to structured and age-worthy.

Merlot wines are typically medium to full-bodied, with smooth tannins and flavours of plum, black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, and sometimes herbal or earthy notes. In warmer climates, the wines tend to be richer and fruitier, while cooler regions produce more restrained, elegant expressions. Merlot’s versatility and charm make it a staple of both varietal wines and blends worldwide.

Cabernet Franc is one of the classic black grape varieties, believed to have originated in southwest France, possibly in the Basque region. Genetically, it is a parent of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, making it a cornerstone of many of the world’s great red wines. In the vineyard, Cabernet Franc is known for its early ripening, adaptability to cooler climates, and good disease resistance. It thrives in well-drained, gravelly or sandy soils, producing moderate yields with small, thin-skinned berries.

Traditionally associated with the Loire Valley (notably Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny) and Bordeaux, it is now grown worldwide, including in Italy’s Friuli and Veneto regions, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, the United States (especially California and New York’s Finger Lakes), Canada, Argentina, and New Zealand.

Cabernet Franc’s style varies with climate and winemaking approach. In cooler regions, it produces medium-bodied wines with high acidity, moderate tannins, and distinctive aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, and violets, often with herbal or leafy notes such as green bell pepper. Warmer climates yield riper, fuller expressions with blackberry, plum, and spice. It is frequently used in Bordeaux-style blends for aromatic lift and finesse, but can also shine as a varietal wine, celebrated for its elegance, freshness, and complex, savoury character.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely planted and celebrated red grape varieties, known for its deep colour, firm tannins, and remarkable ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, as a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, it has become a global benchmark for structured, full-bodied red wines.

Viticulturally, Cabernet Sauvignon is a hardy, late-ripening grape that thrives in warm, sunny climates. It produces small, thick-skinned berries, contributing to its bold tannic structure and deep colour. The vine is relatively resistant to disease and adapts well to diverse soils, making it suitable for a wide range of terroirs.

Today, Cabernet Sauvignon is planted extensively across the world—from its French homeland in Bordeaux’s Left Bank, to California’s Napa Valley, Chile’s Maipo Valley, Australia’s Coonawarra, and South Africa’s Stellenbosch. It often forms the backbone of blends, particularly in Bordeaux-style wines, but also shines as a varietal expression.

Flavour profiles typically include blackcurrant (cassis), blackberry, mint, cedar, and tobacco, often developing notes of leather, earth, and spice with age. Styles range from fruit-forward and plush in warmer climates to structured and herbal in cooler ones. Cabernet Sauvignon’s power, elegance, and longevity make it a cornerstone of fine red winemaking worldwide.

Malbec is a dark-skinned grape variety originally from southwestern France, particularly Cahors, where it was historically known as “Côt.” Once widely grown throughout Bordeaux as a blending grape, its plantings in France declined due to susceptibility to frost, coulure, and disease. However, Malbec found a new home in Argentina, where it has become the country’s flagship variety.

Viticulturally, Malbec thrives in warm, sunny climates with significant diurnal temperature variation, which helps develop rich fruit flavours while preserving acidity. The grape is vigorous, with large berries and thin skins, making it prone to rot in humid conditions but capable of producing deeply coloured wines in dry environments.

Globally, Malbec is most famously planted in Argentina’s Mendoza region, where high-altitude vineyards produce intensely flavoured wines with smooth tannins. It is also cultivated in Cahors, Chile, the United States (notably California and Washington), Australia, and South Africa.

In style, Malbec ranges from the rustic, tannic, and earthy examples of Cahors to the plush, fruit-forward wines of Mendoza. Typical flavours include ripe black plum, blackberry, and blueberry, often accented by cocoa, violet, and spice notes. Well-made Malbecs are full-bodied, with deep colour, supple texture, and a crowd-pleasing balance of fruit richness and structure.

Petit Verdot is a red grape variety originally from Bordeaux, traditionally used in small quantities in blends to add colour, tannin, and aromatic complexity. It plays a supporting role in many classic Left Bank wines, particularly in the Médoc, although its late ripening nature means it is only used in warmer vintages. As climate conditions have changed, Petit Verdot has gained renewed interest both within Bordeaux and in warmer wine regions around the world.

Outside of France, Petit Verdot is successfully grown in countries such as Australia, the United States (particularly California and Washington), Spain, Chile, and increasingly in Argentina and South Africa. In these warmer climates, the grape reaches full maturity more consistently, allowing for varietal expressions as well as blends.

Petit Verdot typically produces deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with firm tannins and good acidity. Aromas often include black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, and spice, with some examples showing notes of dried herbs, leather, and dark chocolate as they age.

Viticulturally, Petit Verdot is known for its late ripening, making it risky in cooler climates or short growing seasons. It can also be prone to uneven fruit set. However, when conditions are right, it adds depth, structure, and ageing potential to red wines.

Merlot is one of the world’s most widely planted and popular red grape varieties, prized for its soft texture, approachability, and rich fruit character. Originating in Bordeaux, France—particularly prominent in the Right Bank regions of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol—Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties to add suppleness and ripe fruit.

Viticulturally, Merlot is an early-ripening grape, making it well-suited to cooler climates. It thrives in clay-rich soils, which enhance its plush texture and depth. However, it can be sensitive to frost and overly vigorous if not carefully managed, sometimes leading to high yields and diluted flavours.

Today, Merlot is grown extensively around the world, including in France, Italy, the United States (especially California and Washington State), Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. In each region, it adapts to different styles—from soft and fruity to structured and age-worthy.

Merlot wines are typically medium to full-bodied, with smooth tannins and flavours of plum, black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, and sometimes herbal or earthy notes. In warmer climates, the wines tend to be richer and fruitier, while cooler regions produce more restrained, elegant expressions. Merlot’s versatility and charm make it a staple of both varietal wines and blends worldwide.

Cabernet Franc is one of the classic black grape varieties, believed to have originated in southwest France, possibly in the Basque region. Genetically, it is a parent of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, making it a cornerstone of many of the world’s great red wines. In the vineyard, Cabernet Franc is known for its early ripening, adaptability to cooler climates, and good disease resistance. It thrives in well-drained, gravelly or sandy soils, producing moderate yields with small, thin-skinned berries.

Traditionally associated with the Loire Valley (notably Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny) and Bordeaux, it is now grown worldwide, including in Italy’s Friuli and Veneto regions, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, the United States (especially California and New York’s Finger Lakes), Canada, Argentina, and New Zealand.

Cabernet Franc’s style varies with climate and winemaking approach. In cooler regions, it produces medium-bodied wines with high acidity, moderate tannins, and distinctive aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, and violets, often with herbal or leafy notes such as green bell pepper. Warmer climates yield riper, fuller expressions with blackberry, plum, and spice. It is frequently used in Bordeaux-style blends for aromatic lift and finesse, but can also shine as a varietal wine, celebrated for its elegance, freshness, and complex, savoury character.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely planted and celebrated red grape varieties, known for its deep colour, firm tannins, and remarkable ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, as a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, it has become a global benchmark for structured, full-bodied red wines.

Viticulturally, Cabernet Sauvignon is a hardy, late-ripening grape that thrives in warm, sunny climates. It produces small, thick-skinned berries, contributing to its bold tannic structure and deep colour. The vine is relatively resistant to disease and adapts well to diverse soils, making it suitable for a wide range of terroirs.

Today, Cabernet Sauvignon is planted extensively across the world—from its French homeland in Bordeaux’s Left Bank, to California’s Napa Valley, Chile’s Maipo Valley, Australia’s Coonawarra, and South Africa’s Stellenbosch. It often forms the backbone of blends, particularly in Bordeaux-style wines, but also shines as a varietal expression.

Flavour profiles typically include blackcurrant (cassis), blackberry, mint, cedar, and tobacco, often developing notes of leather, earth, and spice with age. Styles range from fruit-forward and plush in warmer climates to structured and herbal in cooler ones. Cabernet Sauvignon’s power, elegance, and longevity make it a cornerstone of fine red winemaking worldwide.

Malbec is a dark-skinned grape variety originally from southwestern France, particularly Cahors, where it was historically known as “Côt.” Once widely grown throughout Bordeaux as a blending grape, its plantings in France declined due to susceptibility to frost, coulure, and disease. However, Malbec found a new home in Argentina, where it has become the country’s flagship variety.

Viticulturally, Malbec thrives in warm, sunny climates with significant diurnal temperature variation, which helps develop rich fruit flavours while preserving acidity. The grape is vigorous, with large berries and thin skins, making it prone to rot in humid conditions but capable of producing deeply coloured wines in dry environments.

Globally, Malbec is most famously planted in Argentina’s Mendoza region, where high-altitude vineyards produce intensely flavoured wines with smooth tannins. It is also cultivated in Cahors, Chile, the United States (notably California and Washington), Australia, and South Africa.

In style, Malbec ranges from the rustic, tannic, and earthy examples of Cahors to the plush, fruit-forward wines of Mendoza. Typical flavours include ripe black plum, blackberry, and blueberry, often accented by cocoa, violet, and spice notes. Well-made Malbecs are full-bodied, with deep colour, supple texture, and a crowd-pleasing balance of fruit richness and structure.

Petit Verdot is a red grape variety originally from Bordeaux, traditionally used in small quantities in blends to add colour, tannin, and aromatic complexity. It plays a supporting role in many classic Left Bank wines, particularly in the Médoc, although its late ripening nature means it is only used in warmer vintages. As climate conditions have changed, Petit Verdot has gained renewed interest both within Bordeaux and in warmer wine regions around the world.

Outside of France, Petit Verdot is successfully grown in countries such as Australia, the United States (particularly California and Washington), Spain, Chile, and increasingly in Argentina and South Africa. In these warmer climates, the grape reaches full maturity more consistently, allowing for varietal expressions as well as blends.

Petit Verdot typically produces deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with firm tannins and good acidity. Aromas often include black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, and spice, with some examples showing notes of dried herbs, leather, and dark chocolate as they age.

Viticulturally, Petit Verdot is known for its late ripening, making it risky in cooler climates or short growing seasons. It can also be prone to uneven fruit set. However, when conditions are right, it adds depth, structure, and ageing potential to red wines.

Merlot is one of the world’s most widely planted and popular red grape varieties, prized for its soft texture, approachability, and rich fruit character. Originating in Bordeaux, France—particularly prominent in the Right Bank regions of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol—Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties to add suppleness and ripe fruit.

Viticulturally, Merlot is an early-ripening grape, making it well-suited to cooler climates. It thrives in clay-rich soils, which enhance its plush texture and depth. However, it can be sensitive to frost and overly vigorous if not carefully managed, sometimes leading to high yields and diluted flavours.

Today, Merlot is grown extensively around the world, including in France, Italy, the United States (especially California and Washington State), Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. In each region, it adapts to different styles—from soft and fruity to structured and age-worthy.

Merlot wines are typically medium to full-bodied, with smooth tannins and flavours of plum, black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, and sometimes herbal or earthy notes. In warmer climates, the wines tend to be richer and fruitier, while cooler regions produce more restrained, elegant expressions. Merlot’s versatility and charm make it a staple of both varietal wines and blends worldwide.

Cabernet Franc is one of the classic black grape varieties, believed to have originated in southwest France, possibly in the Basque region. Genetically, it is a parent of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, making it a cornerstone of many of the world’s great red wines. In the vineyard, Cabernet Franc is known for its early ripening, adaptability to cooler climates, and good disease resistance. It thrives in well-drained, gravelly or sandy soils, producing moderate yields with small, thin-skinned berries.

Traditionally associated with the Loire Valley (notably Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny) and Bordeaux, it is now grown worldwide, including in Italy’s Friuli and Veneto regions, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, the United States (especially California and New York’s Finger Lakes), Canada, Argentina, and New Zealand.

Cabernet Franc’s style varies with climate and winemaking approach. In cooler regions, it produces medium-bodied wines with high acidity, moderate tannins, and distinctive aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, and violets, often with herbal or leafy notes such as green bell pepper. Warmer climates yield riper, fuller expressions with blackberry, plum, and spice. It is frequently used in Bordeaux-style blends for aromatic lift and finesse, but can also shine as a varietal wine, celebrated for its elegance, freshness, and complex, savoury character.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely planted and celebrated red grape varieties, known for its deep colour, firm tannins, and remarkable ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, as a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, it has become a global benchmark for structured, full-bodied red wines.

Viticulturally, Cabernet Sauvignon is a hardy, late-ripening grape that thrives in warm, sunny climates. It produces small, thick-skinned berries, contributing to its bold tannic structure and deep colour. The vine is relatively resistant to disease and adapts well to diverse soils, making it suitable for a wide range of terroirs.

Today, Cabernet Sauvignon is planted extensively across the world—from its French homeland in Bordeaux’s Left Bank, to California’s Napa Valley, Chile’s Maipo Valley, Australia’s Coonawarra, and South Africa’s Stellenbosch. It often forms the backbone of blends, particularly in Bordeaux-style wines, but also shines as a varietal expression.

Flavour profiles typically include blackcurrant (cassis), blackberry, mint, cedar, and tobacco, often developing notes of leather, earth, and spice with age. Styles range from fruit-forward and plush in warmer climates to structured and herbal in cooler ones. Cabernet Sauvignon’s power, elegance, and longevity make it a cornerstone of fine red winemaking worldwide.

Malbec is a dark-skinned grape variety originally from southwestern France, particularly Cahors, where it was historically known as “Côt.” Once widely grown throughout Bordeaux as a blending grape, its plantings in France declined due to susceptibility to frost, coulure, and disease. However, Malbec found a new home in Argentina, where it has become the country’s flagship variety.

Viticulturally, Malbec thrives in warm, sunny climates with significant diurnal temperature variation, which helps develop rich fruit flavours while preserving acidity. The grape is vigorous, with large berries and thin skins, making it prone to rot in humid conditions but capable of producing deeply coloured wines in dry environments.

Globally, Malbec is most famously planted in Argentina’s Mendoza region, where high-altitude vineyards produce intensely flavoured wines with smooth tannins. It is also cultivated in Cahors, Chile, the United States (notably California and Washington), Australia, and South Africa.

In style, Malbec ranges from the rustic, tannic, and earthy examples of Cahors to the plush, fruit-forward wines of Mendoza. Typical flavours include ripe black plum, blackberry, and blueberry, often accented by cocoa, violet, and spice notes. Well-made Malbecs are full-bodied, with deep colour, supple texture, and a crowd-pleasing balance of fruit richness and structure.

Petit Verdot is a red grape variety originally from Bordeaux, traditionally used in small quantities in blends to add colour, tannin, and aromatic complexity. It plays a supporting role in many classic Left Bank wines, particularly in the Médoc, although its late ripening nature means it is only used in warmer vintages. As climate conditions have changed, Petit Verdot has gained renewed interest both within Bordeaux and in warmer wine regions around the world.

Outside of France, Petit Verdot is successfully grown in countries such as Australia, the United States (particularly California and Washington), Spain, Chile, and increasingly in Argentina and South Africa. In these warmer climates, the grape reaches full maturity more consistently, allowing for varietal expressions as well as blends.

Petit Verdot typically produces deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with firm tannins and good acidity. Aromas often include black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, and spice, with some examples showing notes of dried herbs, leather, and dark chocolate as they age.

Viticulturally, Petit Verdot is known for its late ripening, making it risky in cooler climates or short growing seasons. It can also be prone to uneven fruit set. However, when conditions are right, it adds depth, structure, and ageing potential to red wines.

Merlot is one of the world’s most widely planted and popular red grape varieties, prized for its soft texture, approachability, and rich fruit character. Originating in Bordeaux, France—particularly prominent in the Right Bank regions of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol—Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties to add suppleness and ripe fruit.

Viticulturally, Merlot is an early-ripening grape, making it well-suited to cooler climates. It thrives in clay-rich soils, which enhance its plush texture and depth. However, it can be sensitive to frost and overly vigorous if not carefully managed, sometimes leading to high yields and diluted flavours.

Today, Merlot is grown extensively around the world, including in France, Italy, the United States (especially California and Washington State), Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. In each region, it adapts to different styles—from soft and fruity to structured and age-worthy.

Merlot wines are typically medium to full-bodied, with smooth tannins and flavours of plum, black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, and sometimes herbal or earthy notes. In warmer climates, the wines tend to be richer and fruitier, while cooler regions produce more restrained, elegant expressions. Merlot’s versatility and charm make it a staple of both varietal wines and blends worldwide.

Cabernet Franc is one of the classic black grape varieties, believed to have originated in southwest France, possibly in the Basque region. Genetically, it is a parent of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, making it a cornerstone of many of the world’s great red wines. In the vineyard, Cabernet Franc is known for its early ripening, adaptability to cooler climates, and good disease resistance. It thrives in well-drained, gravelly or sandy soils, producing moderate yields with small, thin-skinned berries.

Traditionally associated with the Loire Valley (notably Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny) and Bordeaux, it is now grown worldwide, including in Italy’s Friuli and Veneto regions, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, the United States (especially California and New York’s Finger Lakes), Canada, Argentina, and New Zealand.

Cabernet Franc’s style varies with climate and winemaking approach. In cooler regions, it produces medium-bodied wines with high acidity, moderate tannins, and distinctive aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, and violets, often with herbal or leafy notes such as green bell pepper. Warmer climates yield riper, fuller expressions with blackberry, plum, and spice. It is frequently used in Bordeaux-style blends for aromatic lift and finesse, but can also shine as a varietal wine, celebrated for its elegance, freshness, and complex, savoury character.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely planted and celebrated red grape varieties, known for its deep colour, firm tannins, and remarkable ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, as a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, it has become a global benchmark for structured, full-bodied red wines.

Viticulturally, Cabernet Sauvignon is a hardy, late-ripening grape that thrives in warm, sunny climates. It produces small, thick-skinned berries, contributing to its bold tannic structure and deep colour. The vine is relatively resistant to disease and adapts well to diverse soils, making it suitable for a wide range of terroirs.

Today, Cabernet Sauvignon is planted extensively across the world—from its French homeland in Bordeaux’s Left Bank, to California’s Napa Valley, Chile’s Maipo Valley, Australia’s Coonawarra, and South Africa’s Stellenbosch. It often forms the backbone of blends, particularly in Bordeaux-style wines, but also shines as a varietal expression.

Flavour profiles typically include blackcurrant (cassis), blackberry, mint, cedar, and tobacco, often developing notes of leather, earth, and spice with age. Styles range from fruit-forward and plush in warmer climates to structured and herbal in cooler ones. Cabernet Sauvignon’s power, elegance, and longevity make it a cornerstone of fine red winemaking worldwide.

Malbec is a dark-skinned grape variety originally from southwestern France, particularly Cahors, where it was historically known as “Côt.” Once widely grown throughout Bordeaux as a blending grape, its plantings in France declined due to susceptibility to frost, coulure, and disease. However, Malbec found a new home in Argentina, where it has become the country’s flagship variety.

Viticulturally, Malbec thrives in warm, sunny climates with significant diurnal temperature variation, which helps develop rich fruit flavours while preserving acidity. The grape is vigorous, with large berries and thin skins, making it prone to rot in humid conditions but capable of producing deeply coloured wines in dry environments.

Globally, Malbec is most famously planted in Argentina’s Mendoza region, where high-altitude vineyards produce intensely flavoured wines with smooth tannins. It is also cultivated in Cahors, Chile, the United States (notably California and Washington), Australia, and South Africa.

In style, Malbec ranges from the rustic, tannic, and earthy examples of Cahors to the plush, fruit-forward wines of Mendoza. Typical flavours include ripe black plum, blackberry, and blueberry, often accented by cocoa, violet, and spice notes. Well-made Malbecs are full-bodied, with deep colour, supple texture, and a crowd-pleasing balance of fruit richness and structure.

Petit Verdot is a red grape variety originally from Bordeaux, traditionally used in small quantities in blends to add colour, tannin, and aromatic complexity. It plays a supporting role in many classic Left Bank wines, particularly in the Médoc, although its late ripening nature means it is only used in warmer vintages. As climate conditions have changed, Petit Verdot has gained renewed interest both within Bordeaux and in warmer wine regions around the world.

Outside of France, Petit Verdot is successfully grown in countries such as Australia, the United States (particularly California and Washington), Spain, Chile, and increasingly in Argentina and South Africa. In these warmer climates, the grape reaches full maturity more consistently, allowing for varietal expressions as well as blends.

Petit Verdot typically produces deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with firm tannins and good acidity. Aromas often include black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, and spice, with some examples showing notes of dried herbs, leather, and dark chocolate as they age.

Viticulturally, Petit Verdot is known for its late ripening, making it risky in cooler climates or short growing seasons. It can also be prone to uneven fruit set. However, when conditions are right, it adds depth, structure, and ageing potential to red wines.

Merlot is one of the world’s most widely planted and popular red grape varieties, prized for its soft texture, approachability, and rich fruit character. Originating in Bordeaux, France—particularly prominent in the Right Bank regions of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol—Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties to add suppleness and ripe fruit.

Viticulturally, Merlot is an early-ripening grape, making it well-suited to cooler climates. It thrives in clay-rich soils, which enhance its plush texture and depth. However, it can be sensitive to frost and overly vigorous if not carefully managed, sometimes leading to high yields and diluted flavours.

Today, Merlot is grown extensively around the world, including in France, Italy, the United States (especially California and Washington State), Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. In each region, it adapts to different styles—from soft and fruity to structured and age-worthy.

Merlot wines are typically medium to full-bodied, with smooth tannins and flavours of plum, black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, and sometimes herbal or earthy notes. In warmer climates, the wines tend to be richer and fruitier, while cooler regions produce more restrained, elegant expressions. Merlot’s versatility and charm make it a staple of both varietal wines and blends worldwide.

Cabernet Franc is one of the classic black grape varieties, believed to have originated in southwest France, possibly in the Basque region. Genetically, it is a parent of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, making it a cornerstone of many of the world’s great red wines. In the vineyard, Cabernet Franc is known for its early ripening, adaptability to cooler climates, and good disease resistance. It thrives in well-drained, gravelly or sandy soils, producing moderate yields with small, thin-skinned berries.

Traditionally associated with the Loire Valley (notably Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny) and Bordeaux, it is now grown worldwide, including in Italy’s Friuli and Veneto regions, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, the United States (especially California and New York’s Finger Lakes), Canada, Argentina, and New Zealand.

Cabernet Franc’s style varies with climate and winemaking approach. In cooler regions, it produces medium-bodied wines with high acidity, moderate tannins, and distinctive aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, and violets, often with herbal or leafy notes such as green bell pepper. Warmer climates yield riper, fuller expressions with blackberry, plum, and spice. It is frequently used in Bordeaux-style blends for aromatic lift and finesse, but can also shine as a varietal wine, celebrated for its elegance, freshness, and complex, savoury character.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely planted and celebrated red grape varieties, known for its deep colour, firm tannins, and remarkable ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, as a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, it has become a global benchmark for structured, full-bodied red wines.

Viticulturally, Cabernet Sauvignon is a hardy, late-ripening grape that thrives in warm, sunny climates. It produces small, thick-skinned berries, contributing to its bold tannic structure and deep colour. The vine is relatively resistant to disease and adapts well to diverse soils, making it suitable for a wide range of terroirs.

Today, Cabernet Sauvignon is planted extensively across the world—from its French homeland in Bordeaux’s Left Bank, to California’s Napa Valley, Chile’s Maipo Valley, Australia’s Coonawarra, and South Africa’s Stellenbosch. It often forms the backbone of blends, particularly in Bordeaux-style wines, but also shines as a varietal expression.

Flavour profiles typically include blackcurrant (cassis), blackberry, mint, cedar, and tobacco, often developing notes of leather, earth, and spice with age. Styles range from fruit-forward and plush in warmer climates to structured and herbal in cooler ones. Cabernet Sauvignon’s power, elegance, and longevity make it a cornerstone of fine red winemaking worldwide.

Malbec is a dark-skinned grape variety originally from southwestern France, particularly Cahors, where it was historically known as “Côt.” Once widely grown throughout Bordeaux as a blending grape, its plantings in France declined due to susceptibility to frost, coulure, and disease. However, Malbec found a new home in Argentina, where it has become the country’s flagship variety.

Viticulturally, Malbec thrives in warm, sunny climates with significant diurnal temperature variation, which helps develop rich fruit flavours while preserving acidity. The grape is vigorous, with large berries and thin skins, making it prone to rot in humid conditions but capable of producing deeply coloured wines in dry environments.

Globally, Malbec is most famously planted in Argentina’s Mendoza region, where high-altitude vineyards produce intensely flavoured wines with smooth tannins. It is also cultivated in Cahors, Chile, the United States (notably California and Washington), Australia, and South Africa.

In style, Malbec ranges from the rustic, tannic, and earthy examples of Cahors to the plush, fruit-forward wines of Mendoza. Typical flavours include ripe black plum, blackberry, and blueberry, often accented by cocoa, violet, and spice notes. Well-made Malbecs are full-bodied, with deep colour, supple texture, and a crowd-pleasing balance of fruit richness and structure.

Petit Verdot is a red grape variety originally from Bordeaux, traditionally used in small quantities in blends to add colour, tannin, and aromatic complexity. It plays a supporting role in many classic Left Bank wines, particularly in the Médoc, although its late ripening nature means it is only used in warmer vintages. As climate conditions have changed, Petit Verdot has gained renewed interest both within Bordeaux and in warmer wine regions around the world.

Outside of France, Petit Verdot is successfully grown in countries such as Australia, the United States (particularly California and Washington), Spain, Chile, and increasingly in Argentina and South Africa. In these warmer climates, the grape reaches full maturity more consistently, allowing for varietal expressions as well as blends.

Petit Verdot typically produces deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with firm tannins and good acidity. Aromas often include black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, and spice, with some examples showing notes of dried herbs, leather, and dark chocolate as they age.

Viticulturally, Petit Verdot is known for its late ripening, making it risky in cooler climates or short growing seasons. It can also be prone to uneven fruit set. However, when conditions are right, it adds depth, structure, and ageing potential to red wines.