Winemaker Notes
After investigating Viticulture areas throughout New Zealand it was decided to establish vineyards and a winery in the Upper Moutere hills close to Nelson. The first wines produced in 1994 were quickly recognized as some of New Zealand's best wines.
Over the years additional vineyards were planted and brands added. Goose Bay wines were developed for the kosher market throughout the world and Spencer Hill is the only New Zealand winery to make kosher wines. The highly successful Latitude 41 range is a blend of Nelson and Marlborough grapes resulting in a wine that offers the best of both areas. We figured out quickly that nether region was better, just different, so why not try a blend! The latest offerings are Compassion wines with 100% of the profits donated to an alliance of national charities. This is our way of saying thank you to New Zealand for allowing us to live such a good life.
Goose Bay wines are made under strict supervision for the kosher market throughout the world. All of these wines are produced Mevushal and are sold through the Royal Wine Corporation located in New York. Bottled with Diam cork.
An icon and leading region of New Zealand's distinctive style of Sauvignon blanc, Marlborough has a unique terroir, making it ideal for high quality grape production (of many varieties). Despite some common generalizations, which could be fairly justified given that Marlborough is responsible for 90% of New Zealand's Sauvignon blanc production, the wines from this region are actually anything but homogenous. At the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, the vineyards of Marlborough benefit from well-draining, stony soils, a dry, sunny climate and wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, a phenomenon that supports a perfect balance between berry ripeness and acidity.
The region’s king variety, Sauvignon blanc, is beloved for its pungent, aromatic character with notes of exotic tropical fruit, freshly cut grass and green bell pepper along with a refreshing streak of stony minerality. These wines are made in a wide range of styles, and winemakers take advantage of various clones, vineyard sites, fermentation styles, lees-stirring and aging regimens to differentiate their bottlings, one from one another.
Also produced successfully here are fruit-forward Pinot noirs (especially where soils are clay-rich), elegant Riesling, Pinot gris and Gewürztraminer.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.