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Innovative new wine catches on in KZN
Durban – An innovative new red wine that caters for the hot
KwaZulu-Natal summer and it's associated outdoor lifestyle activities
has been met with an enthusiastic response from the provinces wine
lovers..
The Midlands Nouveau, made from Merlot grapes grown at the Greytown
vineyards of The Stables Wine Estate, is modelled on the distinctive
Beaujolais Nouveau wines that are made in France each year, offering
wine lovers the first red wines from the year's harvest.
"Our 2009 Merlot lent itself to a light, easy drinking wine," said
winemaker Tiny van Niekerk. "We are continually being asked for wines
suitable to the KZN summer conditions, and our Clariet blanc de noir
proved to be a very popular wine at braais or at social functions around
the pool."
The Midlands Nouveau, which is a light bodied dry red wine, is intended
to be served well chilled, and offers elements of dark fruits, plum,
strawberry, cherries ands raspberry notes on the nose and palate.
"I have been bowled over by the response to this first vintage of the
Midlands Nouveau," said Van Niekerk. "I was optimistic that it would
suit the KZN climate and lifestyle, but based on the response to the
experiment it will definitely be a regular feature of ours."
"It's a red wine for
white wine lovers, or for those looking for something more substantial
than a rose," Van Niekerk added.
The wine has struck a chord with wine experts as well. "Pleasant
and gulpable, (it) has potential for a good uncomplicated everyday
drinking"
enthused well known sommelier Miguel Chan.
At the recent Durban Day concert at the Botanic Gardens wine lovers were
given the opportunity to try the new product, and it sold out inside an
hour as the hot weather conditions provided an ideal platform for the
new wines relevance.
Similarly visitors to The Stables Wine Estate outside Nottingham Road
have fallen for the chilled red wine, with the 375ml bottles of the wine
proving to be as popular as the conventional sized 750ml bottles.
"The balance of our Merlot we left on the vine to ripen, which will
produce a traditional full-bodied red wine that will be barrel matured
and released some time in the future," said van Niekerk. "It is exciting
to be able to turn around a red wine in such a short space of time, and
to get the overwhelming response that we have had to the Midlands
Nouveau."
The Beaujoulais Nouveau tradition
was born in France in 1951, when the government for the first time
allowed Beaujolais estates to sell their wines one month ahead of the
rest in the county. At present the annual release of the Beaujoulais
Nouveau just after midnight on the third Thursday of November
triggers a frenzy worldwide, and roughly 50% of the sixty million
bottles produced are exported out of France.
The light, easy drinking red wine is intended for immediate consumption
and not for cellar maturation, offering a glimpse into the
characteristics that can be expected from the other red wines from that
vintage which are generally subject to further wood maturation before
being released.
ENDS
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