New Clones and Other White Varietals
We have a range of new white wine varietals now available for commercial sale, after being tested over time in our meticulous, high-health repository.
Chardonnay FPS 107
Also known as the ‘Calera Clone’
Similar in flavour to clone 95, but with thick skins
Early into flowering and veraison and with large, tight bunches
The Calera clone holds well throughout wet seasons, with no sign or issue with disease on fruit. A great cropper, this clone is also ideal for disease tolerance
Tasting Notes: Bon Chretien pear, mango, riper style, balanced acidity, fresh and clean profile of citrus and stone/pip fruit.
Chardonnay FPS 80
A ‘Heritage Sterling Muscat clone’
Slightly relaxed, conical bunch structure with medium yields and medium ripening
Advanced budburst and flowering (but not relative to ripening)
Similar to the 809 Entav selection, but with a smaller bunch architecture
Tasting Notes: Fruit salad (canned), pineapple, orange blossom, banana, and white peach
We also have new Chardonnay clones available in our ONL® Heirloom Series. Hand-selected by successful winemaking teams, and proven over time, the ONL® Heirloom series includes top performing clones selected for their unique flavour and qualities, vigour, and performance.
Chardonnay ONL® Mendoza
Chardonnay ONL® Monte
Sauvignon Blanc ONL® 101
Albariño
Exclusively available through ONL® and new to New Zealand, this selection of Albariño is now cropping for the first time. Although still in the early days, our Albariño is a solid cropper and an easy-care variety, with loose bunches and thick skins, which reduce the possibility of bunch rot at harvest. We look forward to seeing this space mature over the next few years.
Lindis McMurray from NMIT won a gold medal at The Marlborough Wine Show with her 2024 Albariño in the ‘Other White Wine’ category. These grapes were donated to NMIT by Ormond Nurseries from the fruit in our repository.
Glera VCR101
Prosecco
Now available at Ormond Nurseries, Glera VCR 101, known internationally as Prosecco, is a great cropper with easy to grow, large bunches. The bunch architecture is large and loose, which means this variety performs well in wet weather and has a higher disease tolerance. Grown for sparkling, an early harvest means an easy harvest.
This variety is grown for Italy’s famous Prosecco sparkling wine which has incredible potential as a new category for New Zealand winemakers. This clone has been planted by Balvonie New Zealand who have produced Marlborough’s first Prosecco. The wine was released in 2024 and its acclaimed by wine critics.