Staying Power

Aotearoa has a starring role in wine writer Thom Elkjer’s overview of sauvignon blanc – past and present – for the  SF Chronicle. NZ has been a major player in the grape’s popularity since “[coming] out of nowhere and [growing] like wildfire” in the 1980s. “Gushing praise from wine critics was certainly one factor in their success, and it also didn’t hurt that NZ winemakers are hardworking, talented people with smart money behind them.” Today, more than 3 million cases of NZ sauvignon blanc are exported annually to the UK, US, and Australia. Elkjer’s picks: 2003 Mills Reef Reserve (Hawkes Bay) and 2003 Nobilo Drylands Vineyard Icon (Marlborough).