Giesen — New Zealand's Most Innovative Family Wine Estate
Giesen is one of New Zealand's most celebrated and forward-thinking family wineries — a producer of exceptional wines from the country's finest regions that has been at the forefront of New Zealand winemaking since 1981. From benchmark Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to a pioneering range of alcohol-removed and reduced-alcohol wines, Giesen combines a deep respect for terroir and tradition with a restless spirit of innovation that has made it one of the most exciting and relevant wine producers in the Southern Hemisphere.
History & Heritage
Giesen was founded in 1981 by three brothers — Theo, Alex, and Marcel Giesen — who emigrated from Germany to New Zealand with a vision of establishing a world-class winery in the country's emerging wine regions. The brothers settled in Canterbury on New Zealand's South Island, drawn by the region's cool climate and the extraordinary potential they saw in its soils and growing conditions.
Over the following decades, Giesen expanded its operations to include vineyards and grower relationships across New Zealand's most prestigious wine regions, with Marlborough becoming the primary focus of the estate's white wine production. The winery's commitment to sustainable viticulture — certified sustainable across all its vineyards and winery operations — has been central to its philosophy from the outset, reflecting the Giesen family's belief that the health of the land is inseparable from the quality of the wine it produces.
In recent years, Giesen has become internationally recognised as a pioneer of the alcohol-removed and reduced-alcohol wine category — producing wines of genuine quality and flavour that allow more people to enjoy the pleasure of New Zealand wine without compromise. The Giesen 0% range has won numerous international awards and is now one of the most widely distributed non-alcoholic wine ranges in the world.
The Regions
Marlborough is New Zealand's most celebrated wine region and the spiritual home of the Giesen range. Located at the northern tip of the South Island, Marlborough's combination of long, sunny days, cool nights, low rainfall, and free-draining stony soils over the Wairau and Awatere Valleys creates ideal conditions for producing Sauvignon Blanc of extraordinary aromatic intensity, vibrant acidity, and distinctive regional character. Giesen sources fruit from both the Wairau Valley — the heart of Marlborough, with its deep alluvial soils and generous fruit character — and the Awatere Valley, a cooler, more exposed sub-region that contributes greater structure, mineral intensity, and herbaceous complexity to the blend.
Waipara, in the Canterbury region of the South Island, contributes to several expressions in the Giesen range. Waipara's warm, sheltered microclimate — protected by the Teviotdale Hills from the cold southerly winds — and its gravelly loam soils produce wines of distinctive aromatic character and mineral precision that complement the generous fruit of the Marlborough components.
Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, is one of the country's warmest and most diverse wine regions, contributing to the Giesen Pinot Gris range with its characteristic stone fruit richness and textural generosity.
Grape Varieties & Innovation
Sauvignon Blanc is the variety at the heart of the Giesen range and the wine that has built the estate's international reputation. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is one of the world's most recognisable and beloved wine styles — vibrant, aromatic, and intensely flavoured, with characteristic tropical fruit (lime, passionfruit, guava), fresh citrus, and the distinctive freshly cut herb and capsicum notes that are the hallmark of the regional style. Giesen's Estate Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from the Wairau and Awatere Valleys and crafted to deliver the full expression of Marlborough's signature character in every glass.
Pinot Gris is one of New Zealand's most exciting and versatile white varieties, and Giesen produces both a full-strength and a reduced-alcohol expression of the style. Delicate floral notes of white flowers, lychee, and red apple on the nose, with apple, pear, and stone fruit on the palate and a refreshing, balanced finish.
Rosé is represented in the Giesen range by the 0% Rosé — a pale salmon pink wine of genuine elegance and freshness, with stone fruit aromas of white peach, apple, and fresh strawberries and a crisp, dry finish.
Merlot appears in the Giesen 0% range as a beautifully crafted alcohol-removed red wine, with delicate aromas of crushed blackberry and wild herbs, crushed red berries and plum on the palate, and fine, powdery tannins on the finish.
Alcohol Removal Technology
Giesen's 0% and reduced-alcohol wines are produced using a gentle spinning cone column technology that removes alcohol from the wine while preserving its natural aromas, flavours, and structure. The wine is first made in the traditional way — from the same premium fruit and with the same winemaking care as the full-strength range — before the alcohol is carefully removed at low temperature to minimise any impact on the wine's character. The result is a range of wines that deliver genuine flavour, complexity, and drinking pleasure without the alcohol — a genuine innovation that has transformed the non-alcoholic wine category.
Our Range
Giesen Estate Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough — The flagship expression and a benchmark of the Marlborough style. Pale straw with brilliant clarity and bright green highlights. Vibrant tropical and citrus flavours with freshly cut herbs on the nose. Crisp and refreshing on the palate with bright citrus and a clean, lingering finish. Sourced from the Wairau and Awatere Valleys. Pairs beautifully with Thai green curry, grilled seafood, goat's cheese, and Asian-inspired dishes.
Giesen Pure Light Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough — Full Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc flavour at approximately half the alcohol of a standard wine. Pale straw with brilliant clarity. Balanced tropical fruit profile with subtle herbal notes on the nose. Refreshing palate with tropical fruit, subtle herbs, and bright citrus. A lighter, more sessionable expression of the Marlborough style without sacrificing flavour or character.
Giesen Pure Light Pinot Gris — Fragrant pear blossom and subtle spice on the nose. Delicate and textured palate with hints of quince paste and papaya. Crisp finish with well-balanced sweetness. Approximately half the alcohol and 45% fewer calories than a standard wine — a genuinely elegant lighter-style white.
Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc — The wine that launched a category. Alcohol-removed Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with all the freshness and vibrancy of the full-strength style. Fresh lime, lemongrass, and fresh herb aromas. Gooseberry and citrus on the palate with juicy acidity and a zesty, dry finish. Less than 0.5% ABV.
Giesen 0% Pinot Gris — Alcohol-removed Pinot Gris with delicate floral notes of white flowers, lychee, and red apple on the nose. Apple and pear on the palate with a touch of muscat grape. Light, delicious, and beautifully balanced between acidity and gentle sweetness. Less than 0.5% ABV.
Giesen 0% Rosé — A pale salmon pink alcohol-removed rosé of genuine elegance. Stone fruit aromas of white peach, apple, and fresh strawberries. Apple and stone fruit on the palate alongside crisp cranberry flavours and a lively, refreshingly dry texture. Less than 0.5% ABV.
Giesen 0% Merlot — A beautifully crafted alcohol-removed red wine. Delicate aromas of crushed blackberry and wild herbs on the nose. Crushed red berries and plum offset by toasted oak on the palate. Light and refreshing with classic structure and fine, powdery tannins on the finish. Less than 0.5% ABV.
How to Enjoy Giesen Wines
The Estate Sauvignon Blanc and Pure Light expressions are best served well chilled at 8–10°C — natural partners for seafood, Asian cuisine, and fresh summer salads. The 0% range can be served at the same temperature and enjoyed in exactly the same way as their full-strength counterparts — in a proper wine glass, with food, or simply as a refreshing and sophisticated alternative to alcohol. The 0% Merlot is best served slightly chilled at 14–16°C to appreciate its red fruit and tannin character.
Explore our full Giesen range below and discover why this New Zealand family winery has been producing exceptional wines — and redefining what wine can be — since 1981.
