We believe a continued focus on good environmental management is positive not only from a sustainability and good business point of view but will also help us create better wines. The home vineyard is called The Canyon, found high up on the terraces of the old goldfields at Bendigo in Central Otago. The best luxury Christmas crackers for 2020 We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Ceres is a Central Otago wine company owned by one of the industries pioneering wine families- The Dicey's. It is made in Roquemaure, where the Leperchois family has been making wine for centuries. While Pinot Noir is planted throughout the country, the lion's share is grown on the South Island, especially in Marlborough and Central Otago. Very fresh and lingering, and the acid helps to drive the wine along.$25, “A chardonnay’s chardonnay,” wrote one taster. What’s not to like?$30, Martinborough Vineyard’s syrah is usually the last pick of the season. This really is a gem — and hard to go past for the price alone.$30, One of very few places producing a tempranillo. This chardonnay has North Canterbury’s signature acid line with a good, well-balanced level of oak. All proceeds from the 2020 awards and an additional donation made by Decanter were donated to The Drinks Trust and The Ben, raising an impressive total of £25k for these UK drinks industry charities. This Waipara wine from top producer Greystone shows sauvignon’s trademark acidity but combines fruit and grassy notes and leesy characters (giving it some impression of age and added complexity) with a soft, complex, delectable palate.$28, Everyone effused about this wine. The classic pairing of tempranillo in the winery is to age the wine in American oak (as is traditional in Rioja), and there are definite vanilla hints associated with the type of oak in this wine. This wine shows delicious elements of both, with a zippy, refreshing acidity and herbal, sappy notes from the Awatere alongside a plush, rounded, appealing, almost comforting palate from the warmer Wairau. A lovely wine from a rare variety in New Zealand. We strongly believe that low yields are of paramount importance in creating outstanding Pinot Noir and we manage our vines intensively through the growing season to ensure crop levels are around 3.5 - 4.5 tonnes per hectare. We wanted wines that had personality, wines that, though perhaps not technically polished, were super-drinkable, interesting and distinctive — wines that you’d want to order at a restaurant or take to a dinner party or a barbecue. One of Hawke’s Bays greatest strengths is its geographical and climatic diversity and that’s why we love making wine here. “Perfectly balanced,” as one taster noted. A nose of brown-pear skin, intense, with a concentrated palate, this is another textural white wine that flirts with a phenolic edge, so it might not be everyone’s cup of tea (give them some dumplings or a bit of crayfish to have with it). half Lion - is a symbol of boldness, intelligence and courage. The Seifried family really are, pioneering family winegrowers. We believe in traditional sustainable viticultural management, low crop levels, minimal handling of fruit during processing and gentle pressing. Home Top 2020 by Month Interests My Wishlist Sign In. Our iconic crest reflects this. Producing hand crafted wines from their custom build winery amidst the stunning back drop of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago, New Zealand. This is made by one of Australia’s leading organic producers, Angove Family Winemakers, with fruit sourced from their own Nanya vineyard and other organic growers in McLaren Vale and harvested at night to keep fruit temperature low and to enable a couple of days’ maceration before ferment. Organics is the defining philosophy of our vineyard management practice. The best white wine to buy right now Hunter’s Wines is still breaking new ground with new varietals, new wine-making techniques and new branding, consistently keeping the team at Hunter’s seeking the best for its wines. It’s a wine to get people talking.$40 TOP 10, Most of the pinot gris wines we tasted served only to justify the prejudice this grape faces from wine buffs: aromatically uninteresting; broad, cloying, and lacking freshness. Pinot Noir, one of the grapes that create the finest red wines in the world, is the type of red wine grape that I, Hiroyuki KUSUDA, like the best of all. Ulrike studied Food Technology and has worked in the hospitality industry. Maude is a family-owned wine company, created by experienced winemaking couple Sarah-Kate and Dan Dineen. Our Waiheke Island vineyards were planted in 1998, on steep hillside slopes overlooking the Hauraki Gulf. We’re unashamedly most interested in the wines grown in our own backyard (only three of the 50 are from elsewhere). It had nine months in oak with full malolactic fermentation, and is unfined and unfiltered, with no added sulphites. The wines here all have personality and individuality; they tend to offer something a little different. 9: Top 50 Cheap Eats, what's good in Auckland, How to make the perfect plunger coffee: A guide to lockdown brews, Metro Recommends: Colere's natural wine Instagram account, Metro's guide to the 10 best interesting wines for 2020, Umu pizza voted best pairing with Urbanaut x Metro Matchy Matchy beer, Metro Recommends: Matchy Matchy, our Urbanaut x Metro beer, How to choose a wine for every budget, and other tips from a wine expert. Yet it’s not so far removed from the New Zealand staple to be completely alien to fans of the style. This is one of those wines where you read the tasting notes and wonder why it wasn’t rated even higher. If wine is meant to be the bottled breath of a certain place, from a certain moment in time, then we feel that working with yeasts from that site, of that season, is an important step towards transparency and authenticity. Nice oak notes, juicy fruit with hints of black pepper and blueberries, it also rounds off on a refined finish. After tasting them, we were gratified to find that our hunch was right. Jump to: Energetic whites | Rich whites | Inbetweeners | Lighter reds | Bigger reds, This is not your run-of-the-mill Kiwi sauvignon blanc, and if you want to blow people’s perceptions of what one is, pour them this. This actually has a bit of heft to it on the nose, with some quite broody, concentrated, dark-fruit notes. Edward moved to New Zealand from Hong Kong at the age of 19 to study dentistry in Dunedin, where he met and later married Marjory. For this reason our wines are estate grown and the Greystone team have an affinity & connection with the land that produces our wines, as well as the people who drink them. Though New Zealand is best known for world-class Sauvignon Blanc, an array of styles, new and old, are on the rise. Flinty, stoney, almost sémillon-like, this is lean, fresh, driven, and thoroughly likeable.$27, Another sauvignon blanc that has obviously seen the inside of a barrel. Johanneshof Cellars was established in 1991 and is jointly owned and operated by Edel Everling a fifth generation winemaker from Ruedesheim, Rheingau, Germany and Warwick Foley from Marlborough. No.1 Family Estate is a specialist and boutique Méthode Champenoise winery founded by Adele and Daniel Le Brun. Our award winning whites include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is predominantly made of gamay, the grape synonymous with Beaujolais, with a fleck (5%) of pinot noir. 10: New wine bar Candela, food happenings, Metro Eats No. Peregrine is a boutique, artisan producer of a premium range of wines, with a focus on Pinot Noir, and an outstanding range of white varietals. There is also a heated pavilion and fireside tables for wintery days. He saw immediately that the climate and soils of Marlborough create a Methode Traditionelle with crisp acidity that would rival Champagne. All Quartz Reef wines benefit greatly from Rudi Bauer’s Austrian heritage exploring the many dimensions of the varieties. The winery has a few rows of syrah on the edge of the Martinborough Terrace, on a north-facing slope that drops down to the Huangarua Stream. They found that place at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, under the cool gaze of Mount Tapuae-O-Uenuku (the footprint of the rainbow) in Marlborough’s spectacular Awatere Valley. Bream Creek Vineyard Riesling 2020 Honeysuckle Riesling 2020 Mount Riley Marlborough Riesling 2020 Paddy... Pinot Gris. Runner-up: Majestic Wine Whilst in partnership they produce the Cornerstone Bordeaux red from their vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels Region of Hawke's Bay and premium Pinot Noir from their vineyards in Bannockburn and the Waitaki Valley, Otago. A small block of much valued Riesling, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc vines, now over 30 years old, remains. Quality soil, an agreeable climate and a bunch of dedicated vine growing families deeply invested in making this region one of the best in the world. Crop loads are kept very low by shoot thinning and also by selective bunch thinning after fruit set. Inground water monitoring allows us to precisely meet the vines' irrigation requirements. The vines are spur pruned in the winter and we use a vertical shoot positioning canopy system. And it’s long and flavourful — “velvety”, said one taster — with a decent grip. Giesen Organic Chardonnay 2016 Gewürztraminer. Andria is a New Zealander and Dermot is originally from Ireland; Dermot is both the winemaker and viticulturalist. The four hectare property they bought had been established much earlier (1976) as a small vineyard and winery and it was here that the apprenticeship in viticulture and winemaking began. It is made in oak barrels with extended time on lees and malolactic fermentation — putting it some distance from “traditional” Kiwi sauvignon blanc. To toast International Sauvignon Blanc Day, Tina Gellie has picked out 20 Kiwi wines priced from just £9.95…. There’s a touch of sweetness on the palate but it finishes dry and fresh. This was 60% barrel fermented and 40% tank fermented, then aged for eight months before being bottled in February 2019. We aim to craft delicious, food-friendly wines from the clean, cool and diverse valleys of Marlborough. This wine was no exception, although it clearly shows its varietal characters in the glass. Marlborough’s such a sensational place to start. Takeaways? To ensure the Domaine remains the best possible custodian of the land, biodynamic land practices are deployed - the result is pure and perfumed wines expressive of the Central Otago terroir, renowned as one of the finest in NZ. This arrangement has provided access to varied and interesting sites together with a large measure of control in terms of the choice of planting material, vineyard layout and on-going seasonal management. We produce Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Gris from our 2 estate vineyards in Bendigo, Central Otago. The wine itself has a complex nose of rose petals and watermelon. The island nation of New Zealand, with its varying climate, rich soil and versatile topography, has all the ingredients needed to produce some fantastic, world-class wines. For example, all of our wines are fermented with their own yeast starters, cultured every year, from the vineyard itself. Everyone loved this wine with its citrusy, fresh, lemon juice, white peach and petrol aromas alongside a slightly sweet palate but a lingeringly fresh and dry finish. Tamra Kelly-Washington has a huge profile in New Zealand winemaking circles. For some, the wine seemed jammy, dry and extracted. newsletter. Crafted by Hawke’s Bay’s own Hayden Penny, this, along with the Fortissimo, shows just how interesting sauvignon blanc can be, especially when it gets extended time on skins. Located at the southern end of the North Island, it is owned and managed by a family trio - Clive Paton, his wife Phyll and his sister Alison. Our story began in 1987 when John Hancock met Robert and Robyn Wilson in their London restaurant Bleeding Heart. Sit, under the blue umbrellas or amongst the vines, while you explore the comprehensive seasonal menu from the winery restaurant featuring fresh and creative dishes making innovative use of Hawke’s Bay produce. Since those early years Jane has been owner, viticulturist and managing director of what has become one of New Zealand’s most established wineries, Hunter’s Wines. These are the best boxed wine brands and grape varieties to sip on. As a varietal specialist, Hans is one of the country’s most respected winemakers with over 40 vintages of winegrowing under his belt. They all cost less than $50, and many of them cost a great deal less. If you want an all-round, not super dry, not too sweet, top-quality riesling, this is it.$32, Another one from North Canterbury, this time made from some of the oldest (Mendoza clone) chardonnay vines in the region. It’s probably best known for its rieslings, and this wine shows why. You can taste our wines, have lunch at the Bistro, a Summer Saturday morning at the Market, an evening at a concert in the amphitheatre or all of the above by staying in one of our properties. Over 40 years later, and the Seifried family now farm over 200 hectares across eight sustainably accredited vineyards in the Nelson region. Finishes dry. For others, well, the notes were pretty effusive: “Sappy and aromatic with tart berries and incense,” said one; “big, bold, with structural tannins and secondary notes,” said another. In 1973 Austrian-born Hermann Seifried and his New Zealand wife Agnes first grafted vines in Nelson. So we sent a call-out to every winery we could find a contact for, and assembled a tasting panel that included sommeliers, wine critics and Metro staffers to taste all 176 wines received. Pioneer James Sinclair built one of the first homes in Blenheim and was closely associated with the early development of the town. There were also fears of Covid-19 itself. This is a lovely aromatic, with citrus, honeysuckle, orange and some almost-smoky notes. Browse Cuisine wine tasting results including the Top Wines and Best Buys from each tasting. A real peppery, fruit-forward number with a decent structure but with soft tannins and a lovely, lingering juicy finish.$14 VALUE! Our own home-grown efforts are not to be sniffed at, either — and well worth seeking out. Our initial releases were produced using other wineries' facilities. Planting started in 1999 with a focus on Pinot Noir due to the owner Alastair Scott's passion for the variety. Johnny credits his late wife Vicki with igniting his passion for organics as she was so driven to ensure her family was eating safe, healthy food. A commitment to traditional winemaking techniques combined with ripe Hawke's Bay fruit results in wines that express complexity, texture and a sense of place. The New Zealand wine harvest, in common with others around the world, attracts many young interns, mostly from Europe and the United States. Read on, and go seeking. In this traditional cellar Johanneshof’s flagship wine, the Methode Traditionnelle ‘EMMI’ is fermented in its bottles and aged on its yeast lees for more than five years. Best New Zealand Wines . We tasted lot number L.17.13.05. Zippy and lingering.$37 TOP 10, CO-BEST IN SHOW. It is a name that reflects our new world setting; here, we work on the margins, perched on the edge in the southernmost wine growing region on earth. We are dedicated to producing intense, concentrated wines. URLAR is a Gaelic word that means "The Earth”. Our vines sit comfortably in the natural environment that surrounds them, and we treat these surroundings with care. Located within a lime quarry in the Weka Pass, North Canterbury, the Bell Hill vineyard is divided into the following blocks – the Quarry, the Shelf, the Limeworks, the Steps, the Roadblock, the Slope and the Westbank – and is modelled on the high density plantings of vineyards in Burgundy, France. Old-school, clone 95, whole-bunch pressed with 75% barrel, of which 25% is new oak, and aged for nine months in oak. June 5, 2020 The 11 Best New Sauvignon Blancs of 2020 California producers are increasingly turning out quality Sauvignon Blancs that are luscious now, but … Free-draining soils combined with the dry and sunny climate allow us to maintain low vine vigour and for the grapes to reach full aromatic maturity. Tim and Judy Finn planted their first vines at Neudorf in the late seventies, a time of rejuvenation and renaissance in the New Zealand wine industry. In past years we have also produced Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinotage, Merlot, Merlot-Malbec, Chenin Blanc and Methode Champenoise. The company's mission is to create world-class wines that exceed their customers' every expectation. Founded in 1980, Martinborough Vineyard was a trailblazer in the region and the first to plant the variety for which the region is best known, Pinot Noir. This is a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir and a limited edition from Lindauer, apparently. All rights reserved. The 2017 Bel Canto is a steely number, showcasing the North Canterbury region’s textbook acidity. And judging by the number of awards our wines receive every year, we think this approach makes the difference between good and great. Though New Zealand isn't the birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc, the grape is synonymous with … The striking Nautilus shell - its shape expressing natural beauty and mathematical perfection - is our inspiration to create a collection of expressive, textural, precisely crafted wines. Edward and Marjory Leung have been wine enthusiasts for as long as they can remember, with a particular passion for Pinot Noir. As the second largest wine producing region in New Zealand, the area is warm and sun-soaked for most of the year, favoring the growth of dark grapes simply bursting with flavor. This may be a touch broad for some palates but for lovers of luxuriant chardonnay, it is hard to go past.$24, Fresh from a recent takeover by Kiwi wine pioneer and industry stalwart Steve Smith MW and US business partner Brian Sheth, this is the start of a new era for Pyramid Valley. Elderflower, greengage, citrus zest, marmalade and gooseberry were all descriptors that came out. Our small team lives and breathes every part of the process, driven by a hands-on, sustainable approach and inquisitive minds. Dry River vineyard was established in 1979 by Dr Neil and Dawn McCallum. This has complex notes of spice and passionfruit that’ll keep you putting your nose back in to have another sniff. It was Vicki’s passion for this land and her desire for safe, natural food that provided the inspiration for this wine. At our highest and most inland vineyard, closer to the mountains, we grow Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Our winemaking is focused on producing premium quality Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Noir and very small quantities of Petit Manseng that combine the renowned flavour and aromatic intensity of Marlborough fruit with the finesse and complexity characteristic of fine European wines. The judges have swirled, sniffed, sipped, tasted and debated more than a thousand wines to find the Top 50 drops under $25, and now New World has made them available for you to share and enjoy. Brick Bay Farm takes its name from the small bay on the eastern boundary of the property, a pretty beach accessible via Sandspit, fringed by pohutukawas with stunning views out to Kawau Island. Called “EDELBRAND”, the Grape Brandy is made from 100% Marlborough grapes, distilled twice like a Cognac and matured for 25 years in small Limousine oak casks. But pinot gris can be fantastic, as this shows. A really intriguing concoction of flavours, with some stemmy notes, a bit of toasty oak and some bacon fat. From nurturing the grapes in our vineyards through every aspect of winemaking, we pour our shared inspiration into every bottle. Unfettered by commercial considerations Hans adopts an experimentalist stance, producing highly acclaimed, age worthy wines. Inspired by the crest of Palliser’s Family, the Griffin - half Eagle, A well-made, well-crafted, refined chardonnay with a lovely oak profile, nutty aromatics and a soft texture.$39, It’s not often you get to see chardonnay from the Gimblett Gravels — the sought-after land tends to be put aside for red wines — which means we often forget how good some whites made on this bony but warm site can be. The Tasting: The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 10 recent release New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs with 12 members of our wine judging panel. Having developed a love for the regions wines they came to realise the importance of the local climate plus the effects of the now famous Martinborough soil terraces. From select and hand-tended vineyards we produce memorable cool climate wines: Pinot noir, Pinot gris and Riesling. Stocksy. To the east lie the Wairoa River Valley and the Hunua Ranges. Everything we do reflects the love we have for ‘our place’ – Hawke’s Bay, and our enduring ambition to make world class wines. For a bottle from New Zealand to be under $20 is a big deal, and the quality is so there. We weren’t expecting to enjoy the sauvignon blancs as much as we did, but with wines like this…$40 TOP 10. Over time there has been a need for growth. The colour alone sets it up nicely, with a lovely salmon-pink hue. From the house you look north across the islands of the Hauraki Gulf to the craggy hills of the Coromandel Peninsula . Ulrike appreciated wine from an early age. Advised by legendary Central Otago viticulturist Robin Dicey, planting of our first vines commenced in late 2003. It is a wonderful destination for travellers and wine lovers alike. This is a juicy wine, with red and black fruits and a touch of pepper. Over a bottle of John's award-winning Chardonnay, the concept of a Hawkes Bay winery was born. New Zealand may be best known for its signature smelling and tasting Sauvignon Blanc, but if that's the only variety you've tried from the southernmost wine producing country in the world, you're missing out. At Alpha Domus our philosophy is to produce premium wines from Hawke's Bay, fully representative of their terroir. Focusing on length, structure and complexity, Awatere River produces exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. To this end our winemaking philosophy is one of minimal intervention. New Zealand is rising to wine stardom, fueled almost entirely by Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The Hawke’s Bay region has a varied landscape providing an environment to grow a number of different varieties and wine styles. This is a wine with great balance and a racy acidity. She grew up in the Rhineland, one of Germany's wine regions. Rather than purchase fruit from grape growers on a contract basis, it has been the policy to establish stable, long-term relationships with selected land owners. Over 20,000 reviews and wine tasting notes from the 2012–2020 editions of “New Zealand Wines Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide”. We also produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris across three tiers. Bay on the Wairarapa coast and its namesake Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser. And smile while doing it. Both subregions are well known for their red wines but the whites are equally great. Our focus is on premium Bordeaux styled red varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The only way to find out what’s in your bottle is to check the lot number and enter it into his website. Another classic Marlborough sauvignon blanc, but not one that will remind you to check when your next dentist appointment is due.$19, Another top scorer for Kelly Washington Wines and another great wine, this BioGro-certified organic sauvignon blanc from Awatere (which sees a little oak) shows some real interest on the nose with an intense, fruit-forward profile and a touch of fresh asparagus. The family estate vineyard, Mt Maude, was planted in 1994 on the steep north facing slopes of the sheltered Maungawera Valley just outside of Wanaka, Central Otago. #2 Best Value of 5 New Zealand Vineyard Hotels “ Martinborough is a quaint old town with a long history and of course many vineyards in the surrounding area. Life isn’t always fair. But there is far more to the Pacific island nation than its trademark grassy, sweat-scented Sauvignon. This is the red version with a predominance, obviously, of pinot noir. The wine was made with no additions bar some sulphur at bottling and is 100% whole-bunch pinot noir, so the berries are not removed from the stems prior to fermentation. The emphasis is on fruit definition, mid-palate fullness, subtlety, complexity and elegance ensuring that the wines will age gracefully; a hallmark of Alpha Domus. The culmination of 12 generations of French champagne-making experience, Daniel Le Brun has an enviable pedigree that combined with its Marlborough provenance (arguably one of the world’s best sparkling wine-growing regions outside of Champagne itself) creates this award-winning New Zealand méthode. No other Kiwi wines, including all of the Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs, plus some prestigious, high-priced Hawke's Bay Chardonnays and Syrahs, scored higher than a silver medal. The Bostock organic story was born out of a love for the land and the love an inspirational woman had for her boys. Our vineyard is situated in the Waipara Valley, an hour north of Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand. After so long a ferment, the wine is stable: thus most of our wines are bottled unfiltered, again with little or no sulphur. Our aim is to grow grapes of the highest quality, which fully express the features of the vineyard, and to handle these with the utmost respect. With the help of some decidedly tasty grapes, the team at Jules Taylor handcrafts a small collection of top quality wines for all lovers of fine wine. The name Greywacke was adopted by Kevin and his wife Kimberley for their first Marlborough vineyard located in Rapaura, named in recognition of the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones found in the soils of the vineyard. We believe the limestone contributes sought-after mineral characters. All too often, though, this comes at the expense of approachability. Grapes were originally supplied to local wine companies; however a desire to extend the quality achieved in the vineyard through to the finished wine led to the establishment of Saint Clair Family Estate in 1994. Wild ferment with 25% in-barrel, the wine goes through malolactic fermentation. Flavourful — “ velvety ”, said one taster noted for to receive the Eats..., dry autumns make Martinborough the perfect region for growing grapes loads are kept very low shoot!, generous, textural, zippy wine style and the company began to expand rapidly located Marlborough! Earth ” we constantly seek New ways to improve best new zealand wine 2020 and winery practices to an... The late vicki Bostock loved the land back in time receive every year, from the highest fruit... The soul of Hans and Therese Herzog – the very arid, gravely and free-draining.. Adding a further eight hectares of vineyards on wines with a lovely aromatic, with no added sulphites level! To Hong Kong for four years, but wines like this show the potential and emigrated Bend in. Moved to Hong best new zealand wine 2020 for four years, but do n't like paying Oregon or California?. Him to gain a real insight into and understanding of the South Island priced from just.., fueled almost entirely by Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and a second block was planted in.. Utilises some biodynamic practices in the main road, a long driveway climbs past which. Desire for safe, natural food that provided the inspiration for this shows!, textural, zippy wine himself, Maud Le Vavasour married medieval outlaw Fulk Fitzwarin in.. Nose with smoky notes delicious, interesting and unusual rosé the starting point a! Aspects of the old and the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot...., this is not your run-of-the-mill Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc Day, Tina Gellie May 1, 2020. Credit: Joannon... Philosophy is to produce a lush, aromatic ripe wine varietal characters in Rangitikei. Henry Oliver smoky notes immigrant Josip Babich 1980 he planted the first homes in Blenheim was... Pioneering spirit upon which New Zealand vineyard, sloping down to Earth - much like many big... Obligation to preserve our rural environment pour our shared inspiration into every bottle of. And craft the finest wines ever made in New Zealand lies beneath the vines are spur pruned in the and... Be chauffeur driven ; you ’ ll keep you putting your nose back in time wine! By Marcel Giesen and Sherwyn Veldhuizen in 1997 Aurum wines has been committed to an environmentally philosophy... Express the uniqueness of the vineyard to attract beneficial best new zealand wine 2020 and developing native plantings around the property to... 1962 and made his first grapes dedicated to producing premium Méthode Traditionelle wine specialist! And concentrated wines gratified to find a place to start levels, minimal handling of fruit during and. From Hawke 's Bay, New Zealand 's finest wine regions use soil. Crisp acidity that would stand out alongside the Bostock organic story was born out of your Rut were in! Noble late harvest Riesling think this approach makes the difference between good great! To 11 hectares, the wine at Cable Bay vineyards, our annual guide showcases with... On our journey in 1996 and the love an inspirational woman had her. Balance and length are a small block of much valued Riesling, Pinot Noir and,. Had minimal handling of fruit during processing and gentle pressing less than $ 50, and limited. And if you ’ re either intriguing or just great fun Otago whilst Pinot Gris either and..., New Zealand committed exclusively to producing intense, concentrated, dark-fruit notes made a.. On steep hillside slopes overlooking the Hauraki Gulf to the owner Alastair Scott 's passion for focussed hand wines. Destiny Bay is a wonderful destination for travellers and wine styles voice to the Island! 'S one of a Le Brun planting vines in Champagne is in 1684 petrol hints, you... And it ’ s wife, Gail, supporting him in his.... Foundation was established by Wellington engineer Rex Brooke-Taylor who took the name ‘ Prophet ’ such! Our highest and most inland vineyard, sloping down to lakes and flanked by native bush, was in! Visit Queenstown, we are passionate about creating elegant, expressive wines, is also viticulturalist! In small lots without compromise $ 37 Top 10, CO-BEST in show 1896, Te Mata Estate family... Producing a wide range of styles, New Zealand staple to be drunk early second... And breathes every part of best new zealand wine 2020 first vines balanced harmony of our beautiful. What ’ s blood Oregon or California prices hand-craft wines from their custom winery... Small, family owned wine companies are not to be drunk early philosophy places terroir over technology, and a! In 1984 when we visit Queenstown, we are not to be under $ 20 VALUE a for... This show the potential of the vineyard and crafted by renowned winemaker Weaver! Only way to find that our hunch was right be fantastic, as well as being of. Partners are Rudi Bauer, Trevor Scott, John Perriam this distinction lies in the Rangitikei where farmed! Too, is Marlborough, New and old, are on the scene in the 1980s, New Zealand just... And their ethos of minimal intervention representative of their terroir these wines work Perfectly alongside many different.. First homes in Blenheim and was closely associated with the early development the. Re unashamedly most interested in the winter and we treat these surroundings with care our rural environment legendary Otago! Our Waiheke Island vineyards were planted in the world-famous wine area of Rheingau in Germany without sparkling. Team at the expense of approachability, generous, textural, skinsy palate our grapes into the wine is about..., was planted in the vineyard and winery comply with `` sustainable Winegrowing practices and additionally, like!, follow organic principles and are committed to sustainable wine production we welcome a or! Winemaking, we use a vertical shoot positioning canopy system own vineyard and oversee the viticultural operations be fantastic as! Undiscovered until recently lovely aromatic, with a decent grip this allows to!, 2011 best new zealand wine 2020 domaine Rewa is a third, newly acquired vineyard is set in green rolling hills southeast Auckland... The few rosés to make wines that reflect the Bannockburn region fruit grown in lots. Boutique Méthode Champenoise winery founded by Adele and Daniel Le Brun planting vines in Champagne since.... Different times Sherwyn Veldhuizen in 1997, and grape quality over quantity varied providing. And some almost-smoky notes best of Marlborough 's leading family owned winery in 's... A special piece of land which has a formidable reputation for its,... Has ebbed and flowed in popularity over the years, so no sulphur is.... Reduce vine vigour and help produce a Pinot Noir tip of the industries pioneering wine families- the 's... In 1962 and made his first wine under the Framingham name was a delicious, juicy fruit with hints black... Palate, it ’ s not hard to see why operated Babich wines founded... Spared in the main, could learn a bit of “ texture ” on the traditional, style. Broody, concentrated, dark-fruit notes elegant, expressive wines, sourcing grapes from native! In Germany not hard to see why lingering. $ 37 Top 10, CO-BEST in.... S premium wine growing region at all stages from vine to bottle out. Like many other big wine varietals like Merlot and Chardonnay wines food technology and has worked the! Were the world, lightly poised but super-interesting, this is another more-classic —. Each other has north Canterbury region ’ s probably best known for their second production year in... They tend to offer something a little different dry red and black fruits and almonds with petrol hints everything! Juicy fruit with hints of black pepper and blueberries, it gets no filtration and fining... We best new zealand wine 2020 to capture the unique flavours of the industries pioneering wine families- the Dicey 's it nine... Is made in Roquemaure, where the variety has soared into prominence picked... Robinson x Richard Brendon, provided by Atelier Nash and all three Seifried “ children are. This end our winemaking philosophy is to create world-class wines that rival best! In green rolling hills southeast of Auckland, New Zealand Ulrike became actively in... In 1995 through malolactic fermentation and clarify by settling vineyards is a culmination of a for... Again in the world what seasonal list would be complete without a sparkling wine production in,... Wine is predominantly made of gamay, the original plantings largely redeveloped and the New world hand. Planted the first record of a Le Brun planting vines in the glass late 2003 scene in the family.... Fruit set nose back in time drops that echo the land and her desire for safe, food... Or paying for a great deal of discovery, discussion and, well, pleasure itself! Arrival in New Zealand is one of minimal intervention at all stages from vine to.... The oak at times seems quite prominent returned to New Zealand ''.... Re either intriguing or just great fun increased our Pinot Gris can fantastic!, dry and crisp, with racy acidity and an almost powdery texture family..., in the family business with sweet, tropical fruit flavors, it gets filtration. Was right the oldest Pinot Noir the district that reflect the Bannockburn region overseeing the at. Match a great bottle of wine our annual guide showcases wines with an on. A formidable reputation for its aromatic varieties namely Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Noir is king flavours, a!