Winemaker Paul Pujol spent a lot of time making wine in Alsace, where Pinot Gris is highly regarded and often made in a powerful, creamy style. This influences his wine, and creates a offering dripping with sweet apple, cooked pear, caramel, cinnamon and vanilla. Balancing all this flavour is ripe acidity that keeps things fresh. Marvellous.

Prophet’s Rock was founded in 1999, with the goal to find sites in Central Otago like no others. A lofty aim indeed, and yet in less than 20 years, these wines are considered at the very apex of production in this far southern region. The reasons for this may be many, but the majority of them can be laid at the feet of winemaker Paul Pujol. He refined his craft working in France’s classical wine regions, the Languedoc, Sancerre and, crucially, Burgundy and Alsace. His winemaking is a sensitive, site-driven, and empathic approach which aims to express the beauty of the place rather than pronounced winemaking characters. Paul is a jovial man, with a deep intellect and a real love for wine. Not only does he bring international experience to the table, but a deep care for the land and burning desire to learn and improve. His wines at Prophet's Rock are remarkable - obviously the Pinots for which the region is so renowned, but less obviously the whites, which are some of the best in the country. With carefully tended and vines and Paul's guiding hand, this is one of New Zealand's rising stars.