A higher-grade SB

Fermented with wild yeast in French oak and stainless steel tanks. Matured on lees for 6 months. Creamy and smoky flavors from the barrels can be felt behind the fruity flavors.

It goes well with savory grilled seafood and poultry dishes, such as grilled salmon with mushrooms, garlic shrimp, and chicken diavolo.

Product introduction by sommelier Iwasu Is this not like New Zealand? "

"New Zealand is not like New Zealand.

But it's still somewhere New Zealand."

We would like to introduce you to such wines.

The winery is called "Groves," named after the owner, Simon Groves.

He has studied winemaking not only in his native New Zealand, but also in California, USA, and Campania, Italy.

In other words, they are not the type to stay in their hometown forever, but rather are what we call "returnees" who are applying what they have learned in the wider world back to their hometown.

(Similar to Brian Bicknell of my favorite winery, Mahi.)

Naturally, his experiences abroad are reflected in his winemaking, which is immediately apparent when you open the bottle and drink it.

Surprisingly, this wine is not labeled as Sauvignon Blanc. It is labeled as Blanc Fumé.

Blanc is white. Fumé is smoke.

In France, there is a region called "Pouilly-Fumé" that is famous for producing Sauvignon Blanc, and the Sauvignon Blanc from this region is characterized by its smoky aroma.

Some producers in California, USA, are aware of this and sell the Sauvignon Blanc they produce under the label "Fume Blanc."

In other words, in wine terms, fumé is often used to describe Sauvignon Blanc.

However, I have never seen this description for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, probably because most New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are fruity and don't have much of a smoky flavor.

On top of that, this Groves Sauvignon Blanc is called "Blanc Fumé."

Perhaps when he decided to bring the wine-making experience he had gained abroad back to his hometown, he thought, "Everyone else is already making a wine with a strong fruit flavor, so I'll go for a traditional flavor with a smoky aroma."

Pour it into a glass and swirl it around, and you'll realize that this is no ordinary NZSB (New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc).

A gentle, unobtrusive, soft fragrance with a strong hint of stone fruits (fruits with large seeds) such as apricot and white peach.

When you put it in your mouth, you'll notice that it has a very complex flavor. The most noticeable element other than the fruit is the creaminess. It has a strong umami flavor, and a slight smoky impression remains after swallowing.

Overall, it has a strong fruity flavor, but other elements are also strong, giving it a well-balanced feel.

You could even say that European and New World tastes coexist.

The wine is fermented using wild yeast in a combination of French oak and stainless steel tanks, and then aged on the lees for six months.

In other words, it combines the best of both modern and classical design.

My first impression was that it was not like New Zealand. But the fruity flavor is still there. This sense of balance could be said to be the new New Zealand flavor.

I believe that such a wine is "Groves Blanc Fumé."

The best food to pair with this wine is something that has been browned to a fragrant finish, to match the subtle flavor of the barrel.

For example, grilled salmon and mushrooms, garlic shrimp, and diavolo-style chicken would all go well together.

By the way, only 563 bottles of this 2022 vintage have been produced, making it quite a rare item.

Once the stock runs out, it may not be available again, so if you're interested, hurry up.

About the Winery "Groves"

Groves is a small family-run winery run by Simon Groves and Amanda Ritchie.

Born in New Zealand, Simon began his career in wine at the age of 21 after travelling the world and starting work for a UK wine merchant.

From this time on, he became fascinated with wine, and after working in retail, he became interested in winemaking.

So I came back to New Zealand and started working at a winery in Hawke's Bay.

While working at Church Road and Montana, he also earned a degree in viticulture and oenology, then traveled abroad again to study winemaking at Clos du Bois in Sonoma, California, and Farnese Vini in Campania, Italy.

On returning to the UK, he and his partner Amanda moved to Martinborough, an area with great potential for fine winemaking.

Martinborough is a region that produces very high quality, distinctive grapes. After working at Palliser Estate, he is now the winemaker at Te Muna Valley.

At the same time, in 2014 he began planting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on approximately 6 hectares of land at his home, located in a small valley in Martinborough.

While gradually establishing their home vineyard, they also make use of contracted vineyards, releasing Groves wine only in years when they are satisfied with the wine.

We strive to create wines that combine European finesse with the utmost respect for the Martinborough terroir.

About Wairarapa

Wairarapa is located in the southeast of New Zealand's North Island, and is easily accessible - just an hour's drive from the capital, Wellington - making it a popular resort destination.

The subregion of this region, called Martinborough, has climate and soil conditions similar to those of Burgundy in France, and is known as one of the world's top producers of Pinot Noir.

GROVES Martinborough Blanc Fumé 2022

item	Content
Winery Name	Groves
Country of Origin	new zealand
Origin	Martinborough
kinds	white
Grape variety	Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage	2022
Alcohol content	13.2%
capacity	750ml
remarks	Screw Cap