Every year the Kiwis roll into Vancouver with a different message.
That’s because New Zealand has plenty to talk about. This year it’s back to Sauvignon Blanc, but not in a generic sense.
The Great New Zealand Wine Tiki Tour comes to town on May 5, which is the perfect time of year. Spring has sprung and we’re just beginning to see much of the great seafood that pairs so well with New Zealand wines.
I don’t think you can underestimate the impact that New Zealand, and Sauvignon Blanc in particular, has had on our own wine culture. If you cast your mind back a couple of decades, almost everything we were drinking was oaked, seriously oaked. Then, in the ’90s, the Kiwis started coming to Vancouver on a regular basis. Their more fruit-driven, crisp, white wine styles proved a perfect match for lots of B.C. seafood. And New Zealand reds, especially Pinot Noir, offered a lighter touch than we’d been used to from other regions.
You can also thank New Zealand for driving the bus on screw caps: something that B.C. got behind big time, well in advance of most other places. We did it partly because we were so over corked wines. But mainly because of people like screw cap crusader John Forrest. He poured wines from identical batches of Forrest Estate, side by side, one under cork and one under screw cap. It was a convincing demonstration, and a perfect move to show off the freshness of New Zealand wines.
The Great New Zealand Wine Tiki Tour (May 5, 7-9:30 p.m., at The Terminal City Club) promises a fascinating tour throughout New Zealand’s wine regions. Plus a chance to discover just how varied styles of Sauvignon Blanc can be, whether from Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, Waipara or elsewhere. Even within the same region, styles are constantly evolving with different expressions of terroir, occasionally with degrees of oak influence and so on. Lower alcohol wines and sparkling are also on the rise.
The score of wineries coming to Vancouver represent the best of New Zealand. And, while Sauvignon Blanc is the main theme, there’s also plenty more. More info: nzwine.com.
My pick of the week:
The Ned Pinot Gris 2015
Most people know The Ned for excellent Sauvignon Blanc but this pretty salmon-coloured Gris, with its pear and floral notes, is also captivating. Quite textured and plush but well structured with orchard fruits and a hint of spiciness in the lengthy close. Think milder Asian plates or grilled chicken salad (BCLS $14.99, 91 points).
Tim Pawsey writes about wine for numerous publications and online as the Hired Belly at hiredbelly.com. Contact: [email protected].
