2023 Nga Waka Chardonnay Martinborough

Professional Reviews

Notes

Nga Waka was founded in Martinborough more than 30 years ago and has since become a benchmark producer in the region. Longtime winemaker Roger Parkinson – whose first vintage at Nga Waka was in 1993 – retired in 2024, making 2022 one of his last vintages at the estate. A wetter than normal vintage in 2022 reduced crop size and required careful handling in the winery, though the region’s free-draining soils and a cool climate allowed classic Martinborough savory and slightly spicy character to shine through. The focus at Nga Waka is producing food-friendly wines with a restrained, elegant style that also have the potential to age gracefully. As a side note, the name “Nga Waka” comes from Nga Waka a Kupe (The Canoes of Kupe) which refers to the three hills that sit side by side like upturned canoes, forming a dramatic backdrop to Martinborough and its surrounding landscape. According to legend, these hills were created when the great Polynesian explorer Kupe’s three canoes were carried inland by a large earthquake, eventually coming to rest in the valley behind the town. Today, Nga Waka remains a family-owned winery, now operated by Jay Short and Peg Dupey. The estate includes seven small vineyards dotted around the village of Martinborough, primarily producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.