New Zealand Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A little gem from New Zealand

Main Divide, Riesling 2019 (New Zealand)

Although we might automatically think of Germany when we think of Riesling, the grape is very adaptable and is grown in many different parts of the world. With a preference for cooler, more temperate environments, it is quite at home in the Waipara Valley region on New Zealand’s South Island. And this Main Divide 2019 is a fine example of New Zealand Riesling.

With floral, honey, orange peel notes on the nose and flavours of citrus fruits, nectarine and honey on the palate, this is an off-dry wine with lively acidity and an unexpected but very pleasant spritzig touch to it. A medium-bodied, well-balanced wine with a long finish, it will go well with seafood, duck or a slightly spicy Asian-inspired dish.

Available from Majestic (£13.99, Mix Six £10.99)

Wine of the Month – a top-quality Sauvignon Blanc 2021 from New Zealand offering excellent value for money

Grove Mill, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021

This elegant, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is a real treat. Grove Mills produce their wines from grapes grown in the vineyards surrounding their winery in the Wairau Valley with a keen awareness of environmental considerations, and this is a refined wine, with lots of depth and personality.

Pronounced aromas of elderflower, peach, lychee and guava on the nose herald flavours of lime, nectarine and passion fruit on the palate. The layers of fruit are well supported by the bright acidity and lasting finish, and a hint of minerality adds a further level.

A delightful wine offering great value for money. Perfect by itself or with a seafood or chicken dish.

Available from Co-op (£9.50)

A deliciously fresh organic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand

Villa Maria EarthGarden Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (Marlborough)

Founded in 1962, Villa Maria is now New Zealand’s most-awarded winery. It has always been at the forefront of innovation and has been a pioneer of organic vineyard management for over 20 years. The EarthGarden range is Villa Maria’s first range of wines that are 100% organically grown and this Sauvignon Blanc from the winery’s Marlborough vineyards is deliciously fresh.

Full of life, with aromas of apple, lime and pear, and flavours of lemon, peach and passionfruit, this is a well-balanced wine with refreshing acidity and a lengthy finish.

Perfect by itself on a warm summer’s day, this will also pair very well with seafood, chicken or plant-based dishes, and is a wine that offers very good value for money.

Available from Tesco (£10.50)

With the approach of spring, it’s time to try something a little lighter …

Mud House Pinot Noir 2020 (New Zealand)

As the days gets longer and the weather warms up a little, a Pinot Noir is a very good choice to herald the return of spring. Typically, pale to medium in colour, with high acidity and low to medium tannins, it is a wine that has red fruit flavours which may be complemented by subtle oak-derived notes of smoke and cloves. A versatile grape, it pairs well with a variety of dishes – from salmon and tuna to roast chicken, lamb and duck. It also goes well with a tomato-based pasta dish or pizza.

The Mud House Pinot Noir 2020 hails from Central Otago in New Zealand. Located inland in the foothills of the Southern Alps, the climate in this area is continental but is protected from sea breezes and rains by the mountains, resulting in intensely sunny days and cool nights. Ideal conditions for Pinot Noir to flourish.

This wine has red cherry, raspberry and bramble aromas, with a hint of peppery spice, on the nose and fresh fruit flavours of raspberry and redcurrant on the palate. It is a well-balanced medium-bodied wine with medium tannins and a medium finish, which can be drunk by itself or with food – it goes particularly well with lamb or duck.

Available from Majestic Win e £13.99 (Mix Six-£10.99)

A fresh, vibrant New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to brighten up your day …

Mud House Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (2020)

Given the fact that nowadays Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand’s flagship grape variety, it is difficult to imagine that it wasn’t until the 1970s that the wine was commercially produced in the country. Now, New Zealand is synonymous with this punchy, zesty, aromatic white wine and its flavours of elderflower, gooseberry, and passionfruit.

Marlborough on New Zealand’s South Island is the country’s main centre for grape growing, with Sauvignon Blanc accounting for most of the grape planting in this region. Most of Marlborough’s vineyards are located in the Wairu and Awatere valleys.

Although the two valleys are adjacent, the climate in the Wairu Valley is known for its long sunny days, whereas Awatere Valley is drier, cooler and windier. Typically a Sauvignon Blanc from the latter has higher acidity and a more pronounced herbaceous character than a wine from Wairu. It will also generally lack the tropical fruit flavours often associated with a Sauvignon Blanc from the Wairu Valley.

The Mud House Sauvignon Blanc 2020 gives the best of both worlds: a careful blend of grapes grown in the upper Wairau Valley along with grapes from well-established growers in the Awatere Valley. The result: a dry, light-bodied wine of medium (+) acidity with aromas of apple, peach and grass on the nose, leading to melon, grapefruit and passionfruit flavours on the palate.

A great match for seafood or something slightly spicy, it can also be enjoyed by itself.

Widely available (£9/£10)

If you are looking for a change, this is definitely worth trying …

Oyster Bay Merlot 2020 (Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand)

You are probably familiar with Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, from Marlborough, New Zealand. This light, crisp, aromatic wine, with its citrus and tropical fruit flavours, has been a firm favourite of mine for many years. It is consistently very good and is a great match for seafood. I hadn’t really paid much attention to other wines in Oyster Bay’s range so decided give the Merlot a try. I’m glad I did; here are my thoughts.

The grapes for Oyster Bay’s Merlot are grown in Hawke’s Bay, on the east coast of the North Island. This is new Zealand’s warmest grape growing region and the combination of the warm maritime climate, the long sunshine hours and the rich soils creates an ideal home for Merlot vines, and others such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay.

Deep ruby in colour, this is a smooth, mellow wine with medium acidity and medium tannins. With pronounced aromas of blackcurrant, and hints of vanilla and chocolate on the nose, leading to ripe black fruit flavours and hints of oak and chocolate on the palate, this is a medium-bodied wine with a lengthy finish. A very good value wine which went perfectly well with moussaka.

Available from Tesco (£10)

Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc 2019

I was initially a little sceptical when I first came across this wine in New Zealand earlier this year. My wife and I were on holiday when we spotted it on a supermarket shelf in Auckland and though we enjoy the Graham Norton Show, we doubted his skills extended to wine-making … But we took a punt and were pleasantly surprised – it turned out to be surprisingly good. Very good in fact. Crisp, zesty and refreshing, with tropical fruit flavours of passion fruit and kiwi. Delighted to see that it is now currently available at Asda, and so immediately rushed out to get a few bottles. It goes really well with pan-fried salmon!