New Zealand road trip: from vineyard to Classification
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As part of our Top Wineries of New Zealand 2025 celebrations, The Real Review visited a few wineries whose wines have earned a place in The Real Review Wine Classification of New Zealand. The episodes below take you beyond the label, into the vineyards, cellars, and stories behind New Zealand’s finest wines.
Destiny Bay: New Zealand’s most expensive wines
Destiny Bay winemaker and owner Sean Spratt guides Stephen Wong MW through the vineyard, explaining the unique site, grape varieties, and the project’s origins. Inside the winery, they explore the meticulous sorting and fermentation process before tasting the 2024 vintage from barrel, finishing with a rare look at three back vintages: 2020, 2015, and 2013.
Greystone’s classified wines
Winemaker Dom Maxwell shares how Greystone identified the ideal grape varieties for their diverse soils and developed an organic, hands-off winemaking philosophy. After more than 20 years of innovation and dedication, Greystone’s pinot noir, chardonnay, and aromatic whites have firmly earned their place in The Real Review Wine Classification, a must-watch for lovers of New Zealand’s cool-climate wines.
Inside Pegasus Bay: Legacy, land, and wine
The Donaldson family’s deep commitment to both land and legacy shines through every bottle. All four Donaldson sons now hold key roles at Pegasus Bay, and their wines—from pinot noir to riesling—have consistently shown excellence over more than a decade, earning multiple places in The Real Review Wine Classification through rigorous blind tastings.
Paul Pujol and the heart of Prophet’s Rock
Winemaker Paul Pujol traces his path from France to Central Otago, from crafting wine in Languedoc, Sancerre, and Alsace to shaping Prophet’s Rock into a benchmark winery. He shares the pull of its Bendigo terroir, collaborations with François Millet on the acclaimed Cuvée Aux Antipodes, and the meticulous craft behind their Vin de Paille and stable of classified wines.