South Island First for Blackenbrook Vineyard

News Release
August 27 2010
For Immediate Release

South Island First for Blackenbrook Vineyard

Blackenbrook Vineyard is thrilled to be the first vineyard in the South Island to produce Muscat wine.

Daniel and Ursula Schwarzenbach planted 620 vines of Muscat Ottonel five years ago, in their coastal Tasman Vineyard near Nelson.

“We love the flavours of Muscat. It’s a light-hearted, medium-dry wine, fun to make and fun to drink. It’s floral, fragrant and easy to drink, yet it has an interesting complexity on the palate.
Wine Commentator Neil Hodgson says as Nelson is considered a cool climate region for grape growing, planting the vines was very much experimental, but the results have been outstanding and reinforce this region’s ability to extract wonderful flavours from aromatic wine varieties.
“This is a highly aromatic wine with aromas that excite the senses. It is bursting with rich, floral Turkish delight and orange blossom aromas that are reflected in the sweet, intense flavours.

Delightfully balanced with soft minerality and tantalising ginger spice flavours in the very long finish and the ripe acidity leaves your mouth watering for more of this luscious delight. I will be drinking plenty of this fantastic wine in the coming summer months,” says Neil Hodgson.

Vineyard Manager and Winemaker Daniel Schwarzenbach says it’s been a tricky grape to manage.

“It requires a lot of attention and nurturing. It has a different growth pattern than other varieties and is very sensitive to mildews and adverse weather over flowering. Usually we’d have a crop after two years, but with the delicate nature of Muscat we’re pleased to have one after five years. But the wait has been worth it: The flavours are truly amazing!”

Ursula Schwarzenbach says the reaction from those who’ve tasted this Muscat is interesting to watch.

“They are genuinely surprised at how delicious it is. I think there’s a stigma attached to Muscat that’s a hangover from the ‘70’s where it was presented as a syrupy-sweet still or sparkling wine.

“This Muscat is intensely aromatic, refreshing and dangerously easy-drinking. The sweetness is there, but it’s well balanced and the flavours of summer are more of what comes through.”

Ursula and Daniel have a particular passion for Alsatian wine varieties and this Muscat adds a fun element to their range of aromatics.

As with all their wines, the Muscat is 100% sustainably produced and accredited by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

“We only produced 60 cases and we chose to keep the price reasonable at $21.90 so we’re expecting to sell out quickly.” The wine will be available for sale in Nelson outlets or via the Blackenbrook website.

Blackenbrook is a family vineyard located in Tasman, Nelson. Their 20 hectare block produces 8 wine varietals, many of which have won awards. The vineyard and gravity-fed winery are 100% sustainable. All grapes are hand-picked and gently pressed.

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