Brennan Blanc de Noir 2026 is a still white wine made from estate-grown Pinot Noir in Gibbston, Central Otago, using only free-run juice for delicate fragrance and a dry, textured palate. It is a lovely wine for anyone who likes elegant whites with something different to offer.
In the glass it shows how elegant Pinot Noir can be as a white wine. Blanc de noir means "white from black": the dark-skinned grapes are pressed gently with minimal skin contact, so the juice stays pale and the subtler layers of the variety come through.
This is a wine for those of us who enjoy a white with real texture and complexity. It would pair well with seafood and creamy pasta, and it is a great weekend wine for long summer lunches.
Brennan's cellar door is at 86 Gibbston Back Road, about 45 minutes from central Queenstown.
What it tastes like
The wine has a palate full of complexity, which Brennan build through lees stirring (regularly mixing the yeast left after fermentation back through the wine for extra texture). It finishes long and viscous, with a gentle richness that carries the delicate fragrance through. Dry in style, it shows a quieter, more refined side of Pinot Noir.
Style at a glance
- Body: textured, with a long, viscous finish
- Sweetness: dry
- Winemaking: free-run juice only, minimal skin contact, lees stirring
- Style: elegant, textured, dry, unusual
Food to enjoy this with
- Seared scallops with brown butter
- Crayfish or prawns with garlic butter
- Creamy mushroom pasta
- Roast chicken with tarragon
- Soft-rind cheeses such as brie
- Something unexpected: pork and fennel sausages. The texture and gentle richness stand up to the pork, while the dry finish keeps it fresh.
Who makes it
Brennan is a family business with deep roots: the Brennan family settled in New Zealand from Ireland in 1877. Dr Sir Murray Brennan acquired land in Gibbston and planted vines there in 1994, some of the oldest in the area. In 2006, after studying and developing his winemaking skills abroad, Sean Brennan moved to Gibbston permanently and began making the family's own wines, and Emma Bennet joined him in 2019.
The family vineyards sit at the eastern end of Gibbston Back Road, with plantings ranging from lower alluvial flats to steep slopes of lean, stony soils. Brennan say Gibbston's higher elevation delays harvest by a few weeks, so the grapes ripen in cooler temperatures that help keep their aromatics. Only estate-grown fruit is used, and Brennan is registered with Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
The Blanc de Noir is made from carefully selected parcels of estate Pinot Noir. Only the free-run juice from the press is used (the first juice that flows before the grapes are pressed hard), with minimal skin contact, followed by lees stirring for texture.
Technical details
| Winery: |
Brennan |
| Wine: |
Blanc de Noir |
| Vintage: |
2026 |
| Variety: |
Pinot Noir |
| Region: |
Gibbston, Central Otago |
| Country: |
New Zealand |
| Alcohol: |
13.5% |
| Fermentation: |
Free-run juice only, minimal skin contact, lees stirring |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Brennan Blanc de Noir 2026 is available from our winenz.com website. For delivery within New Zealand, buy it from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. On both websites and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines, and if you are visiting from overseas, we can ship it home for you.
Questions we are often asked
What is a Blanc de Noir?
It is a white wine made from black grapes, here Pinot Noir. The grapes are pressed gently with minimal skin contact, so the juice stays pale.
Is Brennan Blanc de Noir sparkling?
No. The style is best known from sparkling wines like Champagne, but Brennan make theirs as a still wine.
Is Brennan Blanc de Noir 2026 dry?
Yes. Brennan make it in a dry style, at 13.5% alcohol.
What food goes with Brennan Blanc de Noir?
It suits scallops, crayfish, creamy pasta and roast chicken.
Where can I buy Brennan Blanc de Noir 2026?
The Winery ships Brennan Blanc de Noir 2026 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
