2023 Marlborough Classic Riesling, Framingham

• Style: Crisp, mineral-driven, stone fruit & citrus
• Taste: Mandarin skin, red apple, focused stone-fruit intensity, quartz-like acidity
• Food: Shellfish, white fish, Asian spice, soft cheese, charcuterie
• Occasion: Weeknight, Sunday lunch, summer aperitivo
• Serve: Chilled, screwcap, 12% ABV

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Bright, alive, and free of heavy oak, this wine announces itself with mandarin skin and red apple skin leading the nose. Stone-fruit intensity builds on the palate—the signature gift of cool southern vineyard conditions—with acidity running like quartz through the structure, delivering spine without harshness. At just 12% ABV and sealed with a screwcap, it's an honest, food-first expression of pure varietal character.

The Winery — Framingham

Founded in 1994 with a single Riesling, Framingham has become a benchmark producer in Marlborough. The estate's Riesling vines, planted in 1981, rank among the region's oldest, thriving in Conders Bend's stony, well-drained soils. Head winemaker Andrew Brown—a decorated talent with international experience in Oregon, Central Otago, and Alsace—joined in 2020 to continue Framingham's legacy. The 2023 vintage proved challenging, with wet spring and botrytis pressure testing the vineyard, yet meticulous stewardship and cool nights preserved the acidity the variety demands. Brown aged this wine in stainless steel and acacia on full lees for five months, building character without added sulphur. The vineyard, certified organic since 2014, embodies a philosophy of respect for the vine and the vintage.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is seafood's natural partner: oysters, crab, and white fish with lemon butter all sing alongside it. Equally at home with spiced Asian dishes, where citrus and stone fruit lift heat without competing. Soft cheese, charcuterie, and apple-based appetisers fall under its spell. Low alcohol and bright acidity make it perfect for summer aperitivos and weeknight meals, while its purity suits Sunday lunch just as well. It tastes like it cost far less than it does—a wine that respects both your palate and your purse. Worth exploring the rest of what Framingham and the wider New Zealand collection has to offer.