Welcome back to our Fresh Choice Nelson wine aficionado, Neil Hodgson. This week Neil shares a few of his favourite NZ red wines. Take it away, Neil…
Spring may be here with days getting longer and warmer, but you know to expect a few cold days ahead, especially if you follow the long-term weather patterns. Heading into the warmer summer months we tend to select lighter, fresher wines to enjoy with the lighter, fresher foods everybody enjoys tucking into after warming winter meals.
The tendency at this time of year is to move away from those big, rich, higher alcohol Aussie reds. That said, with some cooler weather still on the cards I think that there are some NZ red wines that fill the gap between summer and winter drinking very nicely.
NZ Red Wines @ Fresh Choice Nelson:
Varieties like Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and various blends of those varieties, when grown in New Zealand’s more temperate conditions, tend to be lighter in body than the same wines produced in Australia. These NZ red wines are still packed with flavour though!
There are some simply outstanding red wines produced in this country. Particularly in regions like Hawke’s Bay and Waiheke Island. So the Grocer at Fresh Choice Nelson has asked Lee, his wine buyer, to ensure there are plenty on the shelves for you to choose from.
Classic wines like 2016 Awatea from Te Mata Estate ($39), 2016 Elspeth Cabernet Merlot from Mills reef ($50 on promotion) and the Vidal Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon ($66) from the brilliant 2013 vintage may be in the higher price range, but they are outstanding wines and deserve the price tag they carry.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to spending $50 plus, then check out NZ red wines like the under-rated 2018 Black Barn Merlot Cabernet for $26, (a saving of $6). Or maybe the 2016 Mills Reef Reserve Merlot Malbec ($24, a saving of $4).
These are all excellent NZ red wines that won’t disappoint when you open them on a cooler spring night. Head to Fresh Choice Nelson to buy yours!
