New Zealand’s first Albariño wine

Media Release – 13 June 2011

New Zealand’s first Albariño wine: a stylish Spaniard finds a new home in Godzone.

The first Albariño wine made in Australasia has been crafted by Coopers Creek Vineyard, from grapes grown in Gisborne in the 2011 vintage.

New Zealand’s first Albariño wine has been crafted by Coopers Creek Vineyard, from grapes grown in Gisborne in the 2011 vintage. Albariño is widely planted in northern Spain and Portugal, where it is recognised as their best and most fashionable white grape varietal. It is believed to have been brought to Iberia by Cluny monks in the twelfth century and the name "Alba-Riño" means "the white from the Rhine".

The new Albariño will be released as one of the Coopers Creek Select Vineyards range, joining a set of captivating new wines including Arneis, Grüner Veltliner, Viognier, Montepulciano, Syrah and Malbec. Its nickname is the “Bell-Ringer”, reflecting a purity of flavour, its immediate appeal and quite appropriately the name of the grape growers in Gisborne, Doug & Delwyn Bell!

A member of the aromatic group of grape varieties, Albariño is a great match for seafood, chicken, goat’s cheese, paella and tapas, with classic peach and citrus fruit tones backed up by zesty acids and a touch of saline minerality. Here in New Zealand it is one of a set of newly introduced and increasingly popular Old World wines styles that are well suited to our cool climate terroir and intensive viticulture.

ENDS

Coopers Creek Vineyard is a family owned, Kumeu-based winery, that crafts a range of award winning fine wines: New Zealand's favourite styles as well as intriguing international varietals. The winery is fuelling demand for stylish aromatics such as Arneis, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Gris and Viognier, in addition to its outstanding pedigree with Chardonnay, Syrah and Bordeaux reds. Coopers Creek is a major wine exporter, with almost 85% of its sales to international markets, as well as being a widely known and popular brand in New Zealand.

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