Lawson's Dry Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2022

The original vineyard was planted in 1982 by Ross and Barbara Lawson, who launched the Lawson’s Dry Hills label some ten years later, in 1992. Today, their small team oversees every aspect of production, from cultivating grapes to winemaking and bottling, ensuring each wine authentically reflects its varietal character and the place it was grown.

Lawson’s Dry Hills have access to over 120 hectares, half of which are company-owned and half leased or from long-term, contract growers. The company’s multi-award-winning range of wines are all made from fruit grown in the Wairau, Waihopai, Omaka and Awatere Valleys.

These different regions and carefully selected vineyard sites provide varying characteristics derived from the different soils and microclimates, giving many options when it comes to blending to that much-anticipated Lawson’s style. 2024 was their 33rd vintage.

Fruit came from the Estate’s coastal vineyard where the sea breezes moderate temperatures, this block is situated on the banks of the Wairau Diversion. The silts and river stones, support the 17 - 21 year-old Mendoza clone vines. Chardonnay is an early variety for LDH and it arrived at the winery in pristine condition, perfectly ripe and full of flavour. The grapes were hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed and the juice settled briefly before being racked to French oak barrels (22% new). The juice was fermented ‘wild’ and encouraged to undergo full malolactic fermentation. The wine was racked from barrel and blended prior to being bottled at the winery some 10 months later.