Kumeu River Estate Pinot Gris is an elegant and well-structured wine produced by Kumeu River Wines in New Zealand. The wine is made solely from Pinot Gris grapes that are grown in the estate's vineyards. It has a bright golden color and pronounced aromas of pear, peach, and honeysuckle. The palate is rich and textured, with flavors of ripe stone fruits, roasted hazelnuts, and vanilla. The wine's acidity is well-balanced, providing a crisp and refreshing finish. Kumeu River Estate Pinot Gris is an excellent choice to serve with seafood, grilled vegetables, and light pasta dishes.

Tasting Notes

The aromas have typical peach and stone fruit notes tinged with the floral perfume that we have come to expect from Pinot Gris. On the palate the wine is rich and complex with a lively texture on the palate. Pinot Gris is a variety that goes particularly well with food, including quite intensely flavoured dishes. It is also one of the few wine styles that can handle the spiciness of chilli, so together with the sweet succulence of prawns, a nicely chilled bottle of Kumeu River Pinot Gris makes up a spectacular combination.

About the Winery

The history of the Kumeu River started in 1937 when the first generation members of the Brajkovich family moved to New Zealand. Initially, Katé and Mick Brajkovich farmed small pieces of land in Živogošće village in Croatia. From there, they gained the experience of tending to the grapevines and producing their wines. By 1944, the family saved a considerable amount of money and purchased a plot of land with a vineyard in Kumeu. Since then, the story of the Kumeu River winery and the Brajkovich family have remained parallel to each other.

In 1949, when Mick passed away, the winery that his wife and son managed still went by the name of Sam Marino Vineyards. In 1983 that Maté’s son, Michael, developed a new category of wines. It was under the Kumeu River label. They were Chardonnay wines made using the traditional Burgundian style.

During the 1980s, Michael, with his siblings, Paul and Milan, gradually became more invested and involved in the Kumeu River’s business and operations. They started taking on a new approach to developing the reputation and quality of the winery.

In recent times, Kumeu River owns 30 hectares of land as their vineyards. The soil of the property is primarily clay-type with a sandstone base. It helps retain a sufficient amount of water that helps to hydrate the deep roots of the vines. Thus, the vineyards do not require any external irrigation. It is a factor that enhances the quality of the grapes grown on such lands.

The vineyards have a unique construction style that helps to optimise the amount of sunlight exposure. It allows the grapes to mature and acquire a desirable quality. Kumeu River harvests all the fruits by hand. It helps them remove the spoiled and sub-standard grapes and use only the high-quality ones.

https://kumeuriver.co.nz

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