All wines available at BITEwine.co.nz for a limited time
Matawhero Church House Chenin Blanc 2014
Never tried chenin blanc before? Here's the perfect place to start. This is the Gisborne version of that famous white wine from the Loire. Expect mango, marshmallow and lemon blossom aromas alongside layers of full, ripe tropical fruit in the palate. There's a faint whiff of rain on hot stones in there too. It's unputdownable, basically.
Price: $25
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 9 Big John Riesling 2013
Big by name and packing a punch by nature, this mouth-wateringly magical riesling is my new favourite. Bright honeysuckle, lime, green apple and a whiff of flint add serious sippability to what is an incredibly elegant yet vibrant wine. It has a full, generous structure and is beautifully balanced. If you've been searching for a local riesling with wow factor, this is it. Not convinced? Then believe the gold medal from the recent Easter Show Wine Awards.
Price: $27
Churton 'Best End' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2013
I love it when people take sauvignon blanc away from the norm. Hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed and fermented in large French oak "puncheons" (twice the size of a normal wine barrel), the resulting wine smells like toast and almond biscuits topped with freshly smoked stonefruit. Succulent and saucy, it has a fine, emery-like grip on the back palate. Certified organic and produced biodynamically.
Price: $47
