Valli Wine

Valli is one of the most sought-after labels we stock at Great Little Vineyards — and for good reason. Founded by Grant Taylor in 1998, Valli Wine set out to do something no one had attempted in Central Otago before: capture the distinct character of each subregion in a single bottle. Grant has been crafting Pinot Noir in Otago since 1993, when the entire region had just 20 hectares under vine. Today there are over 2,000 — and Grant is widely regarded as its most decorated producer, having won the Best Pinot Noir Trophy at a major international competition in London an unprecedented four times.

In 2015, established Otago winemaker Jen Parr joined Grant at Valli, bringing more than 30 vintages of international experience to a team already obsessed with precision and place. Together they produce four single-subregion Pinot Noirs — from Gibbston, Bannockburn, Bendigo and the Waitaki Valley — alongside Pinot Gris, Riesling and Chardonnay. Each wine is a study in terroir: different soils, elevations and microclimates producing strikingly different expressions of the same grape. Demand for Valli consistently exceeds supply, so when stock arrives at GLV, it moves fast.

At Great Little Vineyards, Valli is one of our most requested labels -- and the accolades speak for themselves. The wines have collected outstanding reviews from New Zealand's most respected critics, and demand for each vintage consistently outstrips supply.

"Unique and supremely high quality expressions of Otago regionality. The path to understanding and recognising regionality and terroir has not been expressed with great success in New Zealand, but Grant Taylor's wines must be considered among the best at doing so."

-- Raymond Chan, 2016 Winery of the Year

"Jen Parr couldn't be more deserving of this award -- especially as she is the only person to have been nominated as a finalist two years in a row. Her experience and attention to detail serve her well when creating wines of great quality and sense of place that are bound to delight any discerning wine lover."

-- Judy Sarris, editor, Gourmet Traveller WINE -- Jen Parr's Winemaker of the Year 2020

"A delicious example of Bendigo Pinot Noir in an almost opulent style with plump, dark-fleshed plum, dark berries with floral and spice notes. A beautifully layered, powerful wine that's accessible now but has a promising future."

-- Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review -- Valli Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017, 93 points

"This is flatteringly classy; the gloriously perfumed bouquet shows Black Doris plum, spiced cherry, vanilla, cedar and dark mushroom characters, leading to a sumptuous palate that is silky and mouthfilling. Richly fruited and delectably textured, this charismatic pinot offers both refinement and opulence, promising to evolve splendidly."

-- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit -- Valli Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017, 97 points