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Winery
Maude
Varietal: Pinot Gris
The grayish blue fruits of the Pinot Grigio grape varietal are used in the production of a very wide, and seemingly ever widening, range of quality white wines. These grapes pick up much of the features of their terroir, and as such, it isn't unusual to find find Pinot Grigio wines which have something of an alpine character, or hold slightly ashen, smoky flavors soaked up from various soils. They have a naturally high sugar content, which, depending on how they are handled and processed either leads to them producing semi-sweet wines, or drier, more fermented wines, or even wines with a relatively high alcohol content. These grapes prefer cooler climates, and as such are grown in several countries around the world which have strong oceanic breezes or shady valley regions.
Region: Central Otago
Central Otago in New Zealand is one of the world's most unique wine regions. Not only is it the most southerly wine region on earth, at an astonishing latitude of forty five degrees south, it is also at a high altitude, being up to four hundred meters above sea level. However, its location is somewhat ideal for viticulture, being shielded from cold winds by a mountain range, and enjoying the extremely mineral rich and volcanic soils found on the glacial valley sides of the region. Today, Central Otago is best known for its remarkably flavorful and characterful red wines, most commonly made from the fine Pinot Noir grapes which flourish there in the hot and dry summer months, alongside some superb white wines made from a range of grape varietals.
Country: New Zealand
When it comes to New World wines, few countries can compete with Europe quite as well as New Zealand, where modern techniques and technologies are allowing wineries to get the very best results from the wide range of imported grape varieties which flourish there. The warm, sunny climate coupled with brisk oceanic winds and remarkably fertile volcanic soils produce grapes of exceptional quality, and New Zealand wines are notable for their ability to carry the terroir they are grown on into the bottle. Whilst the Sauvignon Blanc wines are probably the most widely exported and popular to come out of new Zealand, fantastic results have been produced from the Bordeaux style wines made in the Auckland region, and the Pinot Noir wines of Central Otago. These Pinot Noir wines are far more fleshy than their Burgundy counterparts, and are probably best enjoyed when young, and bursting with the fruit flavors they carry so well.