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NEW ZEALAND: BOTTLED
Our Story
Neil Empson and his wife, Maria Empson, have always shared a passion for wine; so when they were looking for a new venture in winemaking it only made sense that they looked to Neil’s homeland of New Zealand, specifically the Waipara Valley.
The winery, they found, sits outside central Christchurch. The area is protected by the Teviotdale hills which shield the area from the winds off the Pacific Ocean. Instead, warm winds from the northwest create a microclimate with one of the longest growing seasons in New Zealand.
Along with the winery, Neil and Maria met Brent Rawstron and Alan McCorkindale who partnered with them as the winemakers.
The line is comprised of two wines. The first is a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that exemplifies the regions now famous harmony between vibrant mineral, flinty elements and rich tropical nuances. The second wine is a fruit-forward Pinot Noir from a single-vineyard located in Canterbury where the microclimate is well-suited for producing wines with balance and finesse.
OUR PEOPLE
A shared passion for wine
NEIL & MARIA EMPSON
Owners
Neil Empson and his wife, Maria Empson, have always shared a passion for wine; so when they were looking for a new venture in winemaking it only made sense that they looked to Neil’s homeland of New Zealand, specifically the Waipara Valley.
BRENT & SHIRLEY RAWSTRON
Winemakers
Brent and Shirley graduated from Lincoln University with a Diploma in Viticulture and Winemaking. Both Shirley and Brent were also awarded the South Island Farmer of the Year, with Excellence in Innovation. The family take a long-view to business and preserving the land. Both Shirley and Brent believe they are stewards of the land, and guardians of its future.
ALAN MCCORKINDALE
Winemaker
Alan is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading winemakers with 40 years experience, including in Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace, the Rheingau, Hunter Valley and Tasmania. He has a long list of trophy successes in the Air New Zealand Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge in London.
OUR WINES
New Zealand Bottled
SAUVIGNON BLANC
2021
90 Points - Daenna Van Mulligen (July 2020)
"It’s always an expressive wine; guava and gooseberries, peach and elderflower, crunchy green apples, honey and snap peas crop up on the nose… Delicious."
GRAPES
100% Sauvignon Blanc from vineyards located in the heart of Marlborough's Central Valley, and are harvested in batches determined by the maturity and flavour of the grapes.
FORMAT SIZES
750mL | 1.5L BiB | 9L Torr
FOOD PARINGS
Pair with grilled fish, mixed salads, fresh spring vegetables, shellfish and prawns.
SERVING TEMP
45-55º F or 7-13º C
PINOT NOIR
2019
91 Points – Daenna Van Mulligen, WineScores.ca (Sept 2020)
“Cherries, raspberries and mixed sweet spice, leather, cocoa, and rainforest floor/wet cedar aromas lead to a juicy and approachable palate. Easy and light-bodied it has similar red fruit and earthy flavours to mimic the nose. Silky and fresh and entirely quaffable.”
GRAPES
100% Pinot Noir
FORMAT SIZES
750mL
PINOT ROSÉ
2021
GRAPES
80% Pinot Noir & 20% Pinot Gris from vineyards located in the heart of Marlborough's Central Valley, and are harvested in batches determined by the maturity and flavour of the grapes.
FORMAT SIZES
750ml
OUR REGIONS
MARLBOROUGH
Marlborough put New Zealand on the international wine stage with its exquisite Sauvignon Blanc in the 1980s. Over 20,000ha of vines (around 2/3 of the national total) are under the care of local wine producers, making it the country's largest wine region. Marlborough wineries offer a huge range of varieties, from exquisite Pinot Noir to intense Chardonnay, and vivacious aromatics. The diverse soils and meso-climates are revealing exciting new sub-regions, and it is within these unique sub-regions that Marlborough’s future lies.
CANTERBURY
The Canterbury wine region spans nearly 200km of the South Island’s eastern coastline, with the magnificent Alps to the west and the sweeping Pacific Ocean to the east. The cool, dry climate with good sunshine and long growing season promote full varietal expression; wines are renowned for their intense flavours, richness and complex fruit. Exploration of new subregions is further cementing the region’s overall reputation for elegant, expressive Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Aromatics in particular, though numerous other varieties are planted with excellent results.
CONTACT
100 Old Taitapu Road, Kennedys Bush, Christchurch, New Zealand