Trees are bursting into blossom all across Nelson, bringing the sweet promise of warmer weather. It’s time to shake off the winter blues, shed a few layers of clothing and find a nice spot to enjoy some spring sunshine — preferably with good company and a lovely glass of New Zealand wine.
The grape vines are bursting with life, too, as the buds ‘break out’ into tiny leaves. Because these delicate shoots are so vulnerable to frost, growers everywhere will be hoping and praying for consistently warm weather to get the new season off to a good start.
While the weather is far from settled as yet, there are plenty of simple pleasures to be had at this time of the year. Spring is the perfect time to seek out fresh produce and some of those zingy-crisp picnic wines. We say, bring on the crunchy salads, tasty platters and sizzling barbeques!
If you’re one of those people who automatically reaches for a nice Sauvignon Blanc soon as your feet hit your jandals, you’re not alone. Sauvignon Blanc’s crisp freshness makes it a ‘go-to’ summer favourite.
But there’s another Sauvignon in town — Fumé Blanc. Made from exactly the same grapes, Fumé Blanc is well worth checking out — especially if you enjoy wine that has a little more depth and complexity.
Not many winemakers in New Zealand actually make Fumé Blanc. So we’re very lucky at Kahurangi to have French winemaker, Emmanuelle David, on our team.
Emmanuelle has a passion for Fumé Blanc — it’s not just her favourite wine to drink, she loves the challenge of making it too. Every season Emmanuelle keeps a keen eye out for the perfect parcel of fruit — one worthy of being made into a small batch of this special wine.
Kahurangi Mt Arthur Reserve Fumé Blanc spends 10 months in a specially toasted oak barrel. Its name comes from the slightly smoky flavours that are developed during this time. If you enjoy a lightly oaked Chardonnay, you’ll probably love this wine. Those fresh rockmelon and passionfruit flavours that you’d expect from a Sauvignon Blanc are balanced by a subtle smokiness, creamy texture and caramel finish. All that, and it’s Vegan friendly too!
Fumé Blanc is a fantastic food wine and the perfect match for fresh spring flavours, such as grilled asparagus, Asian salads or white fish and chicken dishes. It’s fantastic with fish and chips as well. As you might have guessed, we find it hard not to rave about this Nelson wine.
There is still a tiny amount of our 2019 Mt Arthur Reserve Fume Blanc available which is drinking beautifully. Towards the end of October, we’ll be releasing our 2020 vintage of this gorgeous wine so keep an eye out for it if you fancy trying something a little unique and oh so good.
We hope that this message finds you all well, and that you’ve found a little spot of sunshine at your place.
Our hearts go out to those of you in Auckland — no doubt you’re hanging out to socialise with friends and family again. Here’s hoping that spring will bring us some great news and that all Kiwis can get out and about and enjoy some fun in the sun.
