Foxes Island 'By John Belsham' Chardonnay 2017

2017 Foxes Island Indigenous Ferment Chardonnay – Awatere Valley Marlborough

A signature wine of the estate, cellar-aged for release

The 2017 Indigenous Ferment Chardonnay continues a legacy that began with the very first Foxes Island vintage in 1992—a wine that helped define the potential of New Zealand Chardonnay. More than three decades on, it remains a cornerstone of the estate and a benchmark for precision, structure, and age-worthy elegance.

Crafted by Winemaker John Belsham, whose international reputation has been built on producing some of New Zealand’s finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this wine reflects a philosophy grounded in discipline, restraint, and time. At Foxes Island, Chardonnay is not rushed to market—it is cellar-aged before release, allowing harmony, integration, and complexity to develop naturally.

The fruit is sourced from the upper terraces of the Awatere Valley estate, where deeper, undisturbed soils and a cool, dry climate produce Chardonnay of clarity, concentration, and natural tension. Fermented with indigenous vineyard yeasts and matured with a judicious use of French oak, the wine achieves a seamless balance of texture, richness, and precision—without overt oak influence.

The 2017 vintage is both generous and refined. Aromas of citrus blossom, white stone fruit, and subtle brioche lead into a palate of lemon curd, peach, chalk, and warm spice, carried by fine structure and vibrant acidity. The texture is layered yet controlled, offering depth without weight and length without excess.

A wine of pedigree and provenance, it speaks to the patience, tenacity, and quiet confidence required to produce wines that truly transcend time.

Drinking beautifully now, the 2017 Chardonnay will continue to evolve with further cellaring.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

In 1993, the Foxes Island Estate Pinot Noir was one of the first single vineyard wines in New Zealand and has been the foundation of our Pinot Noir program for over three decades. It challenged the norms in New Zealand's early days of winemaking and has continually rewarded many with delight.

The ancient Awatere soils, warm days, cool nights, and dry Summer conditions are ideal for Pinot Noir.  The Estate is a blend of three Dijon clones planted 115, 667, and 777 and reflects the seven distinct terraces that curvaceously sit above, around, and alongside the Awatere River.  Those same curves are also found in the wine; they give movement, harmony, and form.

All Foxes Island Pinot Noirs undergo Indigenous fermentation by the yeast and bacteria from the vineyard, which imprint a unique thumbprint on the wine, one that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.  Indigenous fermentations are an integral part of the Foxes Island story and an authentic reflection of the land, the terroir; it's the secret sauce.

The 2013 indigenous ferment, is a stylish wine with strong lines and soft curves. Generous yet refined layers unfold their complexities slowly and methodically in the glass. Aromas of rose and aromatic red cherries lead to ripe dark fruit flavors underscored by savory herbs, sweet spice, and toasty oak that are long and sumptuous. 

The wine will continue to unfold over time, making this wine a delight to drink now, and over the next ten to fifteen years.

Crafted with conscience and a gentle hand in winemaking, the 2013 Pinot Noir is unfined and naturally vegan-friendly.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Great winemaking is not for the impatient nor the faint of heart; it requires consideration, a careful hand in its making, and unwavering commitment to the care of the land, the health of the vines, and the quality of the wine.

At Foxes Island, we believe excellence comes with preparation, tenacity, and patience, and a truly great wine deserves time, a precious, finite commodity we cannot manipulate but must respect, endure, and appreciate. 

Foxes Island offers the most extensive collection of cellar-aged, single vineyard wines on release in New Zealand. We craft our wines as gently as possible and as nature intended; with science, innovation, and time, we will continue to do so.

We believe wine is to be shared, to bring people together, foster community, and celebrate inclusivity and diversity.