Albariño: Feel the sea

Albariño is a variety that originally originated on the coast of the Iberian Peninsula, where Spain and Portugal are located, and is characterized by its crisp acidity, refreshing fruit flavors such as citrus and peach, and rich minerality.

It grows well along the coast and pairs well with seafood, earning it the nickname "wine of the sea."

In recent years, wineries that have successfully cultivated Albariño have appeared on the coasts of Japan, such as Niigata and Yamagata, and are attracting attention from Japanese wine fans.

Albariño is also a variety that is gradually gaining popularity in New Zealand.

New Zealand is a country where most of the coffee-producing areas are close to the sea, and the majority of coffee is sourced from the South Island, such as Marlborough and Nelson, but today we will be introducing coffee from Gisborne in the North Island.

Gisborne also produces Albariño wines that fully demonstrate the varietal's appeal.

The color is pale green-yellow .

The nose has a fresh lime- like citrus aroma, with hints of stone fruit such as peach and plum .

When you put it in your mouth, you can taste the fruit flavor along with a pleasant acidity , but it doesn't seem too fruity.

The aftertaste leaves a dry impression on the mouth, similar to that of mineral water, and a salty taste reminiscent of rock salt.

The nickname "wine of the sea" certainly applies to this wine.

While typical New Zealand wines tend to be a bit more fruity, this wine is quite dry, even bone dry.

It appears that they are tuning the varieties to bring out their characteristics and enhance their compatibility with food.

The best pairing dish is seafood.

・Clams and rapeseed oil sauce pasta ・Octopus and sunny lettuce salad ・Spear squid frits with herbs (served with lemon)
・Sandfish escabeche

Try pairing it with these dishes.

The wine's middle name, "Bell Ringer," literally means "someone who rings a bell," but it also has the meaning of "something that celebrates by ringing a bell" or "great success."

The vineyards are managed by husband and wife duo Doug and Delwin Bell, and the winemaker said he felt the resulting wine had a "purity reminiscent of bells, just like their name."

This impression is likely the reason why Bell Ringer was given the connotation of "Bell's hugely successful wine."

By the way, the roots of grapes are not in Portugal but in Spain. The Bells use the MS clone, which has its roots in Spain, in their fields.

Portuguese Albariño tends to be rather fresh and light, while Spanish Albariño tends to be rich and minerally.

I feel that this wine has a rich, drinkable flavor that makes the most of the characteristics of Spanish Albariño.

Although the vineyards are in Gisborne, Cooper's Creek's brewery is based in Auckland.

The grapes are hand-picked, then quickly transported to Oakland, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and bottled and shipped fresh with almost no aging period.

About the Winery "Cooper's Creek"

Cooper's Creek is a family-run winery founded in New Zealand in 1980. It is located in the Huapai and Kumeu region, about 25 minutes drive northwest of Auckland.

The founders, Andrew and Cynthia Hendry, are husband and wife couple who aim to produce the highest quality wines in New Zealand's cool climate. Andrew's experience in the wine industry and Cynthia's success as a self-employed person were the keys to the success of the winery.

They began by planting Chardonnay and Merlot on four hectares of land, producing their first vintage in 1982, which was soon shipped to the local market.

During the 1980s the winery grew steadily and acquired a second vineyard in Hawke's Bay.

At the same time, they are building vineyard relationships with the country's major wine regions to expand their wine portfolio. They have always made it a priority to source from the best growing regions, and this is reflected in the wines they produce.

In the 1990s, the winery gained a reputation as a small winery offering high quality wines, and, thanks to success at numerous wine shows, was recognized as one of the best small and medium-sized wineries of the decade.

We also actively seek out partnerships with overseas markets. These efforts bore fruit, and in 1997 we received a special commendation from the New Zealand government.

Their multi-award winning Albariño in particular has become emblematic of their innovative spirit.

In 2022, Coopers Creek merged with the Joyce family, who founded Toitoi Wines, to become part of the Marlborough Wine Group. The group's winemaker, Ant MacKenzie, manages winemaking, preserving the quality, style and tradition on which Coopers Creek has built its reputation.

It remains a family-run business today, and while cherishing the principles it established at the time of its founding, it continues to grow as one of the most popular wineries.

Its wines are sold worldwide and available in locations from London to Los Angeles, Toronto to Tokyo.

About Gisborne

Gisborne is the city closest to the International Date Line in the world and is a small wine producing region located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.

The region is known as the "Chardonnay Capital" due to the fact that it primarily produces Chardonnay.

Other wines on offer include aromatic varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris.

Coopers Creek “Bell-Ringer” SV Gisborne Albarino 2020

item	Content
Winery Name	Cooper's Creek
Country of Origin	new zealand
Origin	Gisborne
kinds	white
Grape variety	Albariño
Vintage	2020
Alcohol content	13.0%
capacity	750ml
others	Sustainable Certification
remarks	Screw Cap