NZ Chardonnay: No Longer the Second White Wine of New Zealand

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For most wine drinkers, Sauvignon Blanc is THE white wine of New Zealand. We're here to debunk yet another myth and challenge you to think about NZ Chardonnay! From the focus of organic / biodynamic / regenerative farming to low intervention winemaking, winemakers let the chameleon varietal shine.  The land, the climate, even within the same vineyard is creating amazingly different expressions of Chardonnay and we're super excited to share them with you!

We explore Chardonnay from Central Otago to Auckland through interviews with wineries and wine makers - this is a must listen episode for sure!

• Felton Road Wines, Bannockburn, Central Otago, South Island
  • Winemaker Blair Walter deep dives the distinct soil types even within same vineyard giving unique expression to their Chardonnay.  Passion for land as evidenced in their biodynamic farming practice leaves the true impression of care for NZ's land, - the soil just feels and smells different as if it’s a living breathing organism.
• Te Whare Ra, Marlborough, Northern part of South Island
  • Winemaker Anna Flowerday who partners (with her husband,  Jason, tends some of the oldest vineyards in the region with some dainge back 20+ years or more.  Organic / Biodynamic farming, minimal intervention winemaking (no fining agents, yeasts, winemaking and small batch focus, hand pick / hand sort grapes, keep 100% control of the vineyard to bottle) add complexity to their Chardonnay. 
  • Anna shares her humor as she describes their wines by pairing them with celeb personalities which is a fun idea, but you totally get it when you listen to her tell these stories
• Kumeu River, Auckland, North Island and Hawke’s Bay (purchased in 2017) 
  • Paul Brajkovich shares Kumeu River's history as family owned, long legacy of growing grapes and making wines back to the 1940s.
  • CHANCE OF A LIFETIME - similar to 1976 Judgement of Paris moment, Paul shares a blind tasting where Kumeu River's Chardonnay's 
    are placed against a range of Premier Cru and Village Burgundies from the best producers.  The panel of well known somms, wine critics and the like blinded the wines and Kumeu triumphed over top white Burgundies in every flight apart from one, where it came first equal (tied).
• Man O’War, Waiheke Island, part of Auckland region but distinctly separate
  • Takes 45 min ferry to island and another 45 min bus ride to the winery on the opposite side of island and you'll find yourself at Man O' War, an enormous 4500 acre farm - about 20% of total island - full of animals, beehives, gardens, vineyards, lodging for staff etc…  plus76 vineyards!
  • Cecelia Bravo hosts and shares how Man O' War is going against the grain with their Chardonnay!

While many of NZ's Chardonnay wines don't make it to the export market, we highly encourage you to seek

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Charisse and Kristi