Pegasus Bay was established by the Donaldson family who were pioneers of the Canterbury wine industry. Professor Ivan Donaldson, a consultant neurologist, planted one of the region’s first vineyard in the mid 1970’s.
Ivan quickly saw the huge potential for grape growing in the region and in 1985 established what is now Pegasus Bay’s home vineyard in the Waipara Valley of North Canterbury, along with his wife Christine and their four sons.
There are now eight family members working in key rolls within the winery. The estate’s primary focus is Pinot Noir and Riesling. The home vineyard was planted on the north facing terraces of the Waipara Valley on free draining river gravels. The site is ultra-low yielding and produces fruit of rare concentration. Structure and texture however are hallmarks of the estate’s highly individual wines. The home vineyard is now 32 years old where the fruit is exclusively sourced.