• Home
  • Case Special
  • Tastings
  • About
  SOUTHERN DURHAM'S EVERYDAY SOMMELIER

Hope Valley
Wine & Beverage

New Zealand Wines

9/1/2018

 
Picture

Saturday, September 1st
4:30 - 7:00

In the early 1980's, no one outside of New Zealand was really drinking their wines.  The wine production favored quantity over quality, and the bulk wine made was pretty basic.  In the later part of that decade though, a handful of dedicated small producers really started to concentrate on quality, and finding the perfect grape for their climate.  These groundbreaking producers discovered that their terroir, (the combination of climate, environment, geology, aspect and more), worked wonders with the Sauvignon Blanc grape, and delivered wines of a specific style and flavor that were unique and delicious.  Critics and consumers noticed, and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc exploded upon the wine scene in the late 1990's and early 2000's.  This zesty, crisp, bright style wine became a sensation, and quickly made a mark as one of the most popular styles of wine.  New Zealand's wine community exploded, and grew exponentially.  In the early 1990's there were only about 30-40 New Zealand wineries, but by 2018 that number had grown to 700.  Sauvignon Blanc is still the shining star of production, but overall success has led to continued experimentation and exploration, and there are now over 20 grape varieties grown on over 94,000 planted acres.  They find a lot of success with Alsatian or Germanic varieties like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or Pinot Gris, but easily their most successful grape after Sauvignon Blanc is Pinot Noir.  We love New Zealand Pinot Noir, and probably offer more selections than most stores in the area.  New Zealand Pinot Noirs work in a very similar way to Oregon Pinot Noir, hitting a great balance between the Old World and New World styles.  They have lovely deep fruit, while not being as big and rich as most California Pinots; they have lively acidity and excellent spice and earth tones, but not quite as much as the best Burgundies in France.  On this Saturday, we'll try a number of different New Zealand wines to see the similarities and contrasts.  We compare two different Sauvignon Blancs, a lovely Pinot Gris, and two Pinot Noirs, one that leans more California-esqe, and one more Burgundian.  If you are staying in town for the holiday weekend, come see us!

Fernlands Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand, 2017

Marisco 'The King's Favour' Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, New Zealand, 2017

The Ned Pinot Gris
Marlborough, New Zealand, 2017

Ten Sisters Pinot Noir
Marlborough, New Zealand, 2016

The Ned Pinot Noir
Marlborough, New Zealand, 2016


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

COntact Us

​(919) 403-5200
hopevalleywine@gmail.com​

Hours

Closed Mondays
Tuesdays: 10:00 - 7:00
Wednesdays: 10:00 - 7:00
Thursdays: 10:00 - 7:00
Fridays: 10:00 - 7:00
Saturdays: 10:00 - 5:00
Closed Sundays

Location

Hope Valley Wine & Beverage
​Woodcroft Shopping Center​
4711 Hope Valley Road, Suite 4E

Durham North Carolina, 27707
Copyright © 2016
  • Home
  • Case Special
  • Tastings
  • About