New Zealand
AUGUST 2023
Wonderful wine regions flourish from the top of the North Island to the southern end of the South Island, but the majority of New Zealand wines that we get in Seattle are from Marlborough, at the northeast tip of the South Island. The southwest side of the Marlborough region is mountainous, creating valleys along the Wairau and Awatere Rivers where the vineyards are located, ending around the town of Blenheim on the Pacific Ocean near Cook Straight.
The climate is considered oceanic, so moderate with summers that are hot and winters that are cold, but not extreme. The nearby mountain ranges protect the vineyards, keeping the growing zone temperate as well.
Our oldest daughter was travelling through New Zealand when the Covid shutdown hit. New Zealand literally closed its borders from one day to the next, leaving her "stuck" in Blenheim at a youth hostel for 7 weeks. By all reports, it was a wonderful place to experience the pandemic. The locals were friendly and upbeat, and the landscape was breathtakingly beautiful. She can't wait to get back. Just an extra plug for your next wine travel destination!
Your club includes a Sauvignon Blanc & a Pinot Noir, the two classic grapes from this region. The 3-bottle club members will get one of my personal favorites this summer added in -- Grüner Veltliner! All three wineries are located 15-20 minutes due west of Blenheim. Enjoy.
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Dog Point Vineyard
Privately-owned and one of the oldest vineyards in New Zealand (first plantings in the late 1970's), this winery has also proudly set the bar for organic growing in New Zealand. They produce four wines: fresh Sauvignon Blanc and "three barrel fermented wines using natural (wild) yeasts including a Sauvignon Blanc fermented in older French oak barrels ..., a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir." All wines are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free.
Dog Point 2022 Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, New Zealand // Reg $27.99 | Mixed Case $22.39
100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Wairau Valley. Aromas of bright fresh citrus rind with honeydew melon, nectarines & a hint of fennel. Flavors of pear, apple, citrus, lime, touch of grapefruit. Complex, well-balanced, soft, with a delicious, crisp, lingering finish. Drink now, but note that the winery says this wine can be cellared for 5 years!
Jules Taylor (another New Zealand producer who has visited us here at the shop) has a great list of suggested food pairings for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc:
• Pad Thai • Roast Salmon glazed with pomegranate molasses, roasty potatoes and goats cheese on a green salad with herby mayo • Prawn and zucchini skewers with coriander pesto and grilled on the bbq • A simple salad of tomatoes tossed with balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs • Crispy skinned snapper with a fresh salad of spring greens • Cauliflower rice “risotto” with sage, lemon and pesto • Casual corn chips with guac and salsa • Oven baked groper fillets alongside green beans, new potatoes and salsa verde • Lightly seared asparagus rolled in prosciutto • Vietnamese poached chicken in coconut milk with heaps of ginger, coriander and mint, served with rice noodles.
And there you have it. Go to town!
Astrolabe Wines
Jane Forrest-Waghorn & Simon Waghorn, own and operate this farm with the help of two of their grown daughters. They live in a 100-year old house on the property. Simon is the winemaker. Their farm is certified organic. In addition they source grapes "from ten families who live on their land and farm sustainably", a co-op of sorts.
Quick note regarding the name of the winery: "An astrolabe is an ancient astronomical instrument that was used to make a diverse range of calculations. Its name translates as ‘star-taker’. ... When career winemaker Simon Waghorn wanted to start his own label in 1996, he chose the name Astrolabe because of the historic ties with Marlborough, and he liked the connotations of exploration and discovery."
Astrolabe 2018 Pinot Noir
Marlborough, New Zealand // Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
100% Pinot Noir. Earth, red cherries, raspberries on the nose. Red plums on the palate. Still more cherries. A little earth, leather. Medium-bodied. Great acidity. Nice spicy finish. Beautiful Pinot. Drink now to 3 years. Winery suggests enjoying it with: venison, duck, game, roasted beets, tender lamb, and earthy wild mushrooms.
Photo: Simon walking his Sleepers Vineyard, tasting Pinot Noir
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Misty Cove Wines
Misty Cove is owned by a group of young entrepreneurs (led by Andrew Bailey) with the goal of making solid, everyday wines. They employ two winemakers: Nicky Parish and Emmanuel "Manu" Bolliger (pictured below). They say nothing on the website about their vineyards which usually means that they source their grapes through local growers. Whatever they're doing, the wines are great at a very reasonable price!
Misty Cove 2020 Grüner Veltliner
Marlborough, New Zealand // Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
100% Grüner Veltliner. Minerally stone fruit on the nose. Flavors are more exotic: pineapple, white peach, citrus, minerals. Drink now to 2 years. Enjoy with the same list of wonderful dishes that Jules Taylor curated (above).
I am a big fan of New Zealand wines, and I think that this month's selections are great examples. Hope you do, too.
Cheers!
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop & J. Strecker Selections