Pegasus Bay

Pegasus Bay is a family-owned winery located in the Waipara Valley within Canterbury, New Zealand's South Island. Founded in the 1980s by neurologist Ivan Donaldson and his wife Christine, the estate operates from a vineyard site north of Christchurch. The winery produces a range of wines from both estate-grown and purchased grapes, focusing primarily on cool-climate varieties suited to the Canterbury region.

The Waipara Valley benefits from a distinctive microclimate created by the shelter of the Teviotdale Hills, which provide protection from easterly winds while allowing warm, dry northwest winds to flow through the valley. This creates ideal conditions for slow ripening and flavor development in grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The region's limestone-rich soils and significant diurnal temperature variation contribute to wines with good acidity and aromatic complexity.

Pegasus Bay works with several grape varieties typical of Canterbury's cool climate, with their current range including Pinot Noir expressions such as the Prima Donna bottling. The winery has established a reputation for producing wines that reflect the specific terroir characteristics of the Waipara Valley.