When purchasing wine, grape variety, price, winery and even the label deserve respect. And as the winds of change continues to sweep the New Zealand wine industry with new and interesting varietals there is much to report. Long gone are the days when Müller-Thurgau and Chasseur were the only table wines produced.
While some wine lovers prefer to drink the tried and true thanks to a new generation of winemakers we are blessed with enterprising wineries that are breaking new ground in their endeavours to producing an increasing range of red and white varietals. As wine drinkers become more adventurous vineyards are producing more of the lesser known varietals.
When it comes to white wine some wine lovers are content to sip on sauvignon blanc, chardonnay or pinot gris but if its adventure you’re after you can take your pick from riesling, rose, gewürztraminer, viognier, albarino, arneis, verdelho, chenin blanc, semillion and gruner veltliner. And for those drawn to red wines with cabernet sauvignon, syrah and pinot noir leading the charge the magic of merlot, malbec, pinotage, chambourcin, tempranillo and montepulciano offer more than just a small voice.
For the venturesome here are a selection of red and white varietals produced by Yealands Estate, one of our most progressive wineries:
1. ’19 Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling
An exceptional well balanced aromatic trifecta lined up with rich fruity characters that are intense, clean and fresh. A first class blend that will not disappoint, RRP $25.
2. ’19 Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Gruner Veltliner
Bright, fresh and full bodied with an intense crisp richness and texture boasting complex aromas. Assertive and big on the nose and a fine example of what has been done with this grape, RRP $25.
3. ‘19 Yealands Estate Merlot
This fruit driven deeply coloured full-bodied Bordeaux-style wine is in good hands. With concentrated lively fresh flavours and ripe supple tannins that carry all the way across the palate. Great buying at this price, RRP $17.
4. ‘18 Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Tempranillo
One of Spain’s greatest and impressive indigenous varieties. An intensely concentrated tannic delicious red wine that is bold in colour with deep ripe fruity flavours, RRP $30.
