Wine columnist and connoisseur DENNIS KNILL gives his views on Church Road’s new range of Gwen wines.
Although our wine culture is relatively young, Hawke’s Bay, with more than 100 vineyards, is the oldest wine region in the country and second only to Marlborough in size. With hot summers and crisp autumn days and an unbeatable environment for vines to thrive, grape-wise, there’s nothing that cannot be grown here.
Founded in 1897, Church Road is one of our oldest wineries and the first in New Zealand to craft high quality Bordeaux reds. Previous owner Tom McDonald blazed a trail in the 1950s proving the region’s suitability for growing red varietals, most notably the country’s first cabernet sauvignon in 1949. Today, Church Road is at the forefront of Hawke’s Bay’s traditional winemaking techniques, producing some of our most highly acclaimed award-winning wines.
Among the several label tiers from the wineries stable is the new Gwen series, named in the honour of Tom’s wife Florence Gwendolyn Brown. Chris Scott, chief winemaker, using his expertise and passion has overseen the introduction of many new varietals, collecting some major trophies along the way.
’20 Church Road Gwen pinot gris
RRP $25
Medium to full bodied with a low but crisp acidity and inviting aromas and a bouquet of spice loaded with fruity flavours makes for great balance and appeal. Serve with seafood, chicken, pork, pasta, summer salads, and creamy cheeses.
’20 Church Road Gwen rose
RRP; $25
An appealing, full bodied and concentrated example, crafted with a crisp dry finish that displays lots of floral and fruit intensity with plenty of flavour on the palate. Pair with shellfish, chicken, pork, Asian dishes, cured meats, and green salads.
