Forrest Wines (Forrest Estate) is a Marlborough producer founded in 1988 by Dr John Forrest and Brigid Forrest, known for a science-led, environmentally conscious approach to viticulture. This Pinot Gris is blended from two distinct Marlborough vineyard sites, combining fruit for both aromatic lift and palate weight. Marlborough's Wairau and Southern Valleys sit on free-draining alluvial gravels and clay-loams under a cool, sunny, low-humidity maritime climate that gives long, even ripening and bright acidity. Sustainable farming and careful canopy work preserve ripe peach and pear fruit while retaining freshness. The 2023 Marlborough season was cooler and wetter than recent years, demanding selective picking, and rewarded attentive growers with fragrant, balanced Pinot Gris fruit.

The grapes were picked at ripeness to build the peach, pear and honeyed character sought, then pressed gently, with juice cold-settled and racked to protect the delicate aromatics. Fermentation was cool and controlled to retain freshness and the floral, stone-fruit profile, with a portion likely handled for texture through lees contact to give the wine its full, rounded body. Malolactic fermentation was largely avoided to keep the crisp, refreshing finish intact, and oak was kept minimal or absent so primary fruit leads. The blend of the two sites was assembled for balance, then stabilised, filtered and bottled as a rich yet crisp, full-bodied Gris around 13.5% alcohol.