This wine was blended from fruit sourced in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, Marlborough and Waipara.
Each vineyard was harvested separately, destemmed, crushed and chilled to 60c upon entering the press. To aid flavour extraction, the skins and free-run juice were held for a skin contact period of two to four hours prior to being gently pressed. The resulting juice was cold settled then racked clean and inoculated with aromatic yeast strains. Cool fermentation techniques were employed to promote fruit aromatics and intensity. Ferments were tasted daily and stopped to retain some natural residual sugar, enhancing mouth-feel and richness. The wine was then blended, lightly fined, cold stabilised and filtered prior to bottling.
WINEMAKER’S COMMENT
This wine shows delicate and classic varietal aromas of rose petal, quince and ginger spice. The palate reveals similar flavours, delivered with a seamless texture and balance.
Other’s comment
Full of aromatic tropical fruit and perfect with Chinese or Thai dishes. It has a floral bouquet plus hints of honey and ginger and a flavour of lychees. The wine is medium bodied with moderate acidity and goes well with Oriental food or creamy Indian curries.
Gewürztraminer 2006
The 2006 vintage varied across the regions where the fruit for this wine was sourced. Auckland and Gisborne experienced a warm, dry and disease free vintage, whilst Hawkes Bay proved more challenging to viticulturists, with rain during March slowing ripening. Marlborough was the best of the four regions with exceptionally warm and dry conditions leading to an early vintage of ripe and intensely flavoured fruit.
AWARDS
Gold – New World Wine Awards, 2006
Silver – NZ International Wine Show, 2006
4 Stars – Winestate Magazine, Dec 2006
Blue Gold & Top 100 - Sydney International Wine Competition 2007
Link: Villa Maria
