Virtuoso Life - September/October 2008 - (Page 66) TASTING NOTES Pinot Paradise New Zealand’s rising-star varietal could soon rival the reds of Burgundy. BY ANTHONY DIAS BLUE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MANNY RODRIGUEZ STYLING BY HEIDI ADAMS t he charming island nation of new Zealand is known for many things: clean air, spectacular landscapes, friendly people, bungee jumping, kiwi birds, and wine. Winemaking is something of a recent development in new Zealand. although the first grapevines were planted at the end of the nineteenth century, Kiwi wines didn’t make an impression on the rest of the world until the mid-1980s, when the first marlborough sauvignon blancs landed on foreign shores. the crisp, juicy, herbaceous, and, yes, aggressive style of sauvignon blanc from marlborough has become a standard for this white variety throughout the world. the mention of the words “wine” and “new Zealand” elicits an immediate association with sauvignon blanc. But that is about to change. Rose-colored glasses: A fresh look at New Zealand’s impressive pinot noirs. 66 V I RT U O S O L I F E
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