Auckland in particular has has an excellent growing season for grapes. An unusually dry and extended summer has led to optimum ripeness in local regions such as Kumeu in northwest Auckland, and Matakana in north Auckland.
It's an old adage in the industry that you can make bad wine from good grapes but you can't make good wine from bad grapes. Ripeness and harvesting at exactly the right time is the key to a great vintage. Little is left to chance: grapes are tested for pH, sugar levels and acid levels before the green light is given. In Auckland all harvesting is done by hand, thus most grapes are whole bunch pressed.
Kumeu River winery was established by the late Mate Brajkovich in 1944 and now his eldest son Michael is the winemaker. Kumeu River would be NZ's most prestigious Chardonnay producer, gaining numerous awards for their wines both here and internationally - with regular placings in Wine Spectator's top 100 Chardonnays.
Here is a very recent clip of Michael with the 2010 Chardonnay under ferment.
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About Me
- Phil
- Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
- Wine tour operator, wine writer and lapsed physiotherapist. "Nature abhors a vacuum. I personally hate dusting."
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