A group of winemakers in New Zealand has formed an organization to market and sell wines from New Zealand in the USA market.
Named The Specialist Winegrowers of New Zealand (TSWNZ), their plan is to launching shortly in North American markets with five wineries as initial members. Culled from a group of 600 artisan winemakers, the group hopes to transform the selection of NZ wines that we in the USA find at both retail and within the better restaurants here.
As someone who drinks lots of New Zealand wines when I’m in London at Providores, and who has enjoyed the wines that we do find in the USA via Southern Hemisphere Wine and Spirits in Huntingdon Beach, CA, I have to admit that the wines from down under are both incredible values and sensational food wines. The racy white wines rival the best from the Loire and Alsace for crisp, clean and flavorful. But it’s their reds that have begun to excite me, with clearly Pinot Noir leading the charge.
I’m hopeful these folks make their mark on the market as they’re clearly with their announcement setting the bar high for themselves and their future customers.