THE 2021 BETTER HALF PINOT NOIR

 The latest release of The Better Half Pinot Noir is wowing wine lovers and critics alike.

Although The Better Half Pinot has long been enjoyed as a delicious, fruit-flavoured, easy-to-enjoy red wine, the 2021 vintage has taken this fun wine style and ramped the intensity up a notch.

Critics agree that it is the best release yet of this popular wine.

The 2021 Season in Marlborough, NZ

Marlborough’s cool spring, and sunny, dry summer in 2021 provided perfect conditions for growing grapes and produced small bunches of intensely flavoured fruit.

For Pinot Noir, the tiny berries made for a penetrating and delicious wine. The ripe red berry flavours and perfumed floral notes came together nicely as the wine rested in the winery. The finished wine is now available and George is quietly pleased with the resulting drop.

And he’s not the only one!

Bling for The Better Half Pinot Noir 2021

New Zealand’s only Master Sommelier, Cameron Douglas, awarded 92 points to The Better Half Pinot Noir 2021, and described it as “Plush, fruity and dry on the palate with moderately firm tannins and plenty of acidity setting a decent foundation for core fruit flavours.”

Another local reviewer, Sam Kim of Wine Orbit, also gave the wine 92 Points. He stated that “The palate delivers excellent weight and fine texture splendidly complemented by juicy fruit intensity and silky mouthfeel, finishing long and delectable.”

George agrees and feels that the 2021 vintage of The Better Half is one of his best efforts yet: classy and full of flavour, elegant and easy-to-enjoy.

He can’t wait to share a glass of this Marlborough magic with you. Check out your nearest stockist and grab yourself a bottle!

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2026 Vintage  ·  Marlborough, New Zealand

2026 Marlborough Wine: Good News All Round.

Every bottle of The Better Half starts in a vineyard at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. Here’s the story behind our 2026 Marlborough wine — both the Sauvignon Blanc and the Pinot Noir are heading your way, and they are going to taste really, really good.

 

First, a quick geography lesson

Marlborough sits at the very top of New Zealand’s South Island — think long sunny days, cool nights and a warm breeze that rolls down the valleys. It’s one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world, best known for Sauvignon Blanc that tastes incredible and ripe, juicy pinot noirs.

That’s where your Better Half comes from. Made at the edge of the earth. No big deal.

Spring arrived and did not take it easy

The 2026 season kicked off with a burst of warm weather that had the vines practically racing out of the ground. No damaging frosts, no slow starts — just sunshine, warm air and that our secret-weapon-nor’west-breeze rolling down the valley. Flowering came way earlier than usual, and the conditions were near-perfect for it. The grapes got a head start.

“We had one of those rare springs where everything just clicked — the kind of start that makes you optimistic all the way to harvest.”

Why the cool finish is actually the best part

After such a warm, energetic start, summer dialled back in the best possible way. Cooler temperatures and overcast days in the lead-up to harvest slowed ripening right down — and that’s a very good thing.

Think of it like slow cooking: The hot start and cool finish meant the season was extended: developing fruit flavor and concentration whil locking in the freshness, brightness and zingy acidity that make Marlborough wines famous.

The result is wine that’s full of flavor AND refreshing. Just what you want in the perfect glass.

Six weeks of picking

Harvest is our favourite time of year — and 2026 didn’t disappoint. Over six weeks, we worked our way through the vineyards, picking each block and variety at exactly the right moment. Some grapes came in by machine, others were hand-picked bunch by bunch. Both take skill. Both involve early morning starts fuelled by a lot of enthusiasm and some extra caffeine.

We started in late February and swung into high gear as March unfolded, and finished with a final pick at the beginning of April as fall settled in.

So what does this mean for your glass?

Bright, fresh and full of flavour

The warm spring packed the fruit with flavour and character. The cool finish kept everything vibrant and crisp. The 2026 Better Half wines are shaping up to be the kind you crack open on a Tuesday for no particular reason — and then immediately wish you’d bought more. The Sauvignon Blanc looks especially good. Consider yourself warned.

The 2026 range is on its way.
Be first to know when it drops.

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Marlborough vineyard at harvest time
Harvesting grapes in Marlborough
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