THEY suggest that you take a “journey of pure discovery” and to be fair, with some of the wine that is coming off the vines in the Southern Hemisphere, a bottle from any of the producers in New Zealand will certainly allow you discover plenty of hidden gems. Last week, all that is good and great about New Zealand wine, culture and indeed their tourism region was shared at a tasting session in Dublin. There, many well known Kiwi brands were displayed, shown and raved about but it was the little known producers that sought representation were where the real hidden talent lay.
It’s summer right now down south but an equally warm welcome beset the chilly Dublin air. Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well with the Kiwis and the showing of over 250 wines was clear indication of that.
Despite the relatively small market share that the New Zealand wine industry occupies in Ireland, it’s position in a niche market producing very high quality is where the Kiwis have hung their cap.
2011 has produced a large vintage and this is now in-line with the demand that the market seeks. Exports to Ireland are at 13 per cent and it is the consumers that agree with this perception of high quality within the bottle as they continue to pay the price for the wine on offer.
In 2011, a total of 698 vineries produced over 235 million litres of wine. Over 150 million litres of that was exported making the demand for the wine sit at a very high global ranking.
Traditionally known for its Pinot Noir but more so its world renowned Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region, recent times has seen the New Zealand wine “brand” proved to be one of the most exciting and the new development of producing “Gruner Veltliner” wines is indicative of them looking to explore and develop new markets and product lines.
And so to the wine and you will be familiar with some offerings such as Craggy Range from Hawkes Bay, Lawson’s Dry Hills or the illustrious Cloudy Bay both from Marlborough on the South island.
Oyster Bay would be another one familiar to supermarket wine shoppers but labels such as the single estates of TeAwa or Moana Park, both of Hawkes bay would be hardly known to drinkers in these parts. Both brands were in Dublin seeking Irish representation and I hope that they secured it as both labels presented superb offerings.
Ones to keep an eye out for would include, O:TU, a sauvignon blanc producer that was once stocked in O’Brien’s wines and hopefully will make a comeback to these shores.
Astrolabe in any of their varietals, continues to produce award winning wine.
Nautilus and Ata Rangi were the winners for me in the upper level price point while Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc Bubbles from Marlborough at around €16 is a real one to watch and pick up if you fancy a pop bottle.
With a distributor in Cork, Esk Valley wines produced a “Bordeaux style” 2009 merlot cabernet sauvignon at the French styled red tasting table. Pity it is not available to this market. Reason enough that the RRP was withheld from the tasting notes. It was divine. That sent me back to their stand to their table where their Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc offerings at a much more affordable €14 and €13 respectively, did not let the label down at all.
And so, the discovery was complete, and even at the lower price points, New Zealand wines will continue to deliver their world class wines and the new offering of a peppery, citrus scented and flavoured “Gruner” will challenge in a market that really needs the resurgence of a new grape and wine.
