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29 June 2009

‘Odd’ varieties offer unique experience for wine lovers

Hawke’s Bay is well known as New Zealand’s number one red wine producing region, with many of the region’s wines standing alongside some of the world’s finest reds.

Next week, attendees at this year’s Hot Red Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s only red wine expo, will have the opportunity to enjoy over 100 of the region’s finest red wines, including some of the more unusual varieties.

Lyn Bevin, Executive Officer of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc., hosts of the annual expo, says some of the wines on display at this year’s expo are a little different than some may expect to find.

“Our wineries will be showing a fine selection of their premium red wines as always, however our guests will find that some of the wines on show are more unusual than the standard Cabernet Merlot or Syrah styles most commonly produced by the region.”

This year seven of the wineries showing at the eagerly anticipated exhibition will present eight red wines outside of the more familiar Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blends, Syrah, and Pinot Noir.

Guests will have the opportunity to taste the following ‘odd’ varieties at this year’s expo:
Clearview Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Franc 2007
Church Road Limited Release Cuve Malbec 2007
CJ Pask Declaration Malbec 2005
Church Road Limited Release Cuve Marzemino 2007
Beach House Montepulciano 2007
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Montepulciano 2008
Babich Winemakers’ Reserve Pinotage 2006
Matariki Sangiovese 2006
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2007

Perhaps the most unusual to the region is the Marzemino, says Lyn.    Church Road  is possibly the only winery in New Zealand and the only one in Hawke’s Bay, to produce this variety, says Lyn.

Marzemino is a variety from Italy’s most northern wine region, Alto Adige, hard against the Austrian border.  It is known for its red currant and cherry flavours and is similar in body to a Cabernet Franc.

Beach House Montepulciano 2007, is another ‘odd’ wine worth trying, after picking up Trophy and Gold awards at the Romeo Bragato Wine Awards 2008.  The intense red wine is made from an Italian grape variety from the Montepulciano region and gives off an aroma of cherries, raspberries, rose petals and cinnamon.

“All of the wines at this year’s show offer something special but it’s nice to be able to offer our audience something slightly outside the norm; it’s what makes our region unique and one of the many reasons this expo is worth attending,” says Lyn.

Hawke’s Bay is most well known for its Cabernet Merlot or Bordeaux blends, with this style accounting for 34 percent of Hawke’s Bay’s vintage.

More recently Hawke’s Bay has been recognised for its premium Syrah, with Hawke’s Bay yielding 78 percent of New Zealand’s 2009 Syrah vintage.  Syrah, produced in a classic European style, exhibits flavours of fresh raspberry and cracked pepper and is widely considered the newest, most exciting wine to come out of the region.

Hot Red Hawke’s Bay is being held in Christchurch at Christchurch Town Hall on Tuesday July 7; in Wellington at The Duxton Hotel on Wednesday July 8; and in Auckland at Heritage Hotel on Thursday July 9.

General admission tickets are $35 which includes a special Hot Red wine glass, wine samples of all wines, and a full catalogue of all wines and wineries.  Tickets for the public can be purchased online through www.winehawkesbay.co.nz and at selected wine retailers in Wellington and Christchurch.

Hospitality trade and media can register online at no charge.

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