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Vidal
Varietal: Syrah
There continues to be much debate surrounding the name of the Shiraz/Syrah grape varietal, with many experts still quite unsure which came first. Indeed, even the origins of this varietal are more or less unknown, despite it being most commonly associated with the Rhone Valley of France, and New World countries, most notably Australia. However, its popularity and unique characteristics have seen it planted all over the world, where it continues to impress with its powerful flavors and wonderfully spicy notes of pepper and clove. Shiraz/Syrah wines are renowned also for their versatility, and are regularly used in single variety still and sparkling wines, as well as blended and oak aged wines which demonstrate its ability to express its terroir and secondary flavors very well.
Region: Hawkes Bay
The beautiful and airy northern New Zealand region of Hawkes Bay has been an important spiritual home for the country's wine industry for over a hundred and fifty years now. Indeed, Hawkes Bay is widely regarded as the oldest of New Zealand's wine regions, which, in a relatively young country such as New Zealand, makes it something quite special and has allowed the region to develop its own style and identity. Hawkes Bay today produces a wide range of wines, made from many different grape varietals. However, it is the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines of the region which have gained the most recognition and praise over recent decades, alongside the fact that the region's dessert wines are now considered amongst the finest in the New World.
Country: New Zealand
As with nearby Australia, New Zealand has over the past century proven itself to be a superb location for producing high quality wines in vast amounts, with much of the cooler regions of both islands being used primarily for vine cultivation. New Zealand wineries are notable for their enthusiasm in regards to experimentation, and for utilizing modern technologies and methods to make the most of the imported grape varietals which flourish in the rich, fertile soils and oceanic climate. In recent years, it has been the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines which have gained the most attention, as a result of their smoky character and ability to carry the mineral rich nature of the terroir they grow in. Changing consumer interests have brought about a considerable rise in the production of organic and sustainable wines in New Zealand, of which again, the Sauvignon Blanc varietals are leading the way in regards to excellence, flavor and overall character.