Spring in New Zealand is crisp, fresh and bright, qualities that can also be found in our favourite, spring wines. The rich yellows of the buttercups remind us of creamy chardonnay, the sweet blossoms of viognier and rosé, and the lush grasses of sauvignon blanc and pinot gris. Can you tell we’re excited to see the first buds of this year’s grapes on the vine?
Visit us at our Cellar Door in Katikati, open seven days a week from 9:30 AM to 5 PM, or shop online, and sip into spring.
We touched base with Cam Duke, who’s been with Leveret Mills Reef as a winemaker for four years. These are the varietals he chose when we asked him which wines we should be considering this spring.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the world’s favourite, light-bodied red, which makes it perfect for spring. It still has the satisfying aromas of red and dark fruits, a touch of spice and a smooth finish, but it’s not quite as heavy on the palate. It’s also versatile when it comes to a food pairing–a good one to share with friends at the start of the night. Shop Pinot Noir.
* Cam's Choice: Leveret Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 – rich and juicy, with a hint of baking spice.
Gewürztraminer
This is a very aromatic white wine varietal, which can usually be distinguished by the tropical sweetness of lychee. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking all gewürztraminers will be overly sweet as they can be made in dry styles and pack a complexity of flavour that we think is a bit unsung in the wine world to date. The sweetness also pairs well with something spicy, whether that’s Asian noodles or a creamy curry. Shop Gewürtztraminer
* Cam's Choice: Falconhead Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2021 – off-dry, with gentle acidity and a long, delicious lychee finish.
Rosé
Reminding us of springtime blossoms, rosé’s pinky hues are popular at this time of year thanks to their playful nature. They also go well with fish, salads and pasta dishes, which make up a great spring spread. Shop Rosé.
* Cam's Choice: Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022 – red fruits, watermelon, rose petals and just a hint of spice.
Pinot Gris
Light and bright, Pinot Gris is a perfect spring sipper. Slightly richer and fuller-bodied than a Pinot Grigio, they go well with antipasto, and chicken and fish dishes. Shop Pinot Gris.
* Cam's Choice: Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2021 – full-bodied and creamy smooth, peach and lychee flavours complemented with honeydew, cashew and aniseed notes.
Sauvignon Blanc
With hints of freshly cut grass and herbs, it’s no wonder that sauvignon blanc is synonymous with spring. The fruit flavours are typically citrus-led, giving it a slight acidity. This wine goes well with shellfish, summer salads or roast pork served with apple sauce. Shop Sauvignon Blanc.
* Cam's Choice: Falconhead Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – ripe-scented, tropical fruit and herbal aromatics lead to a salivating saline palate, with lively acid surrounding a core of fresh citrus fruit flavours.
The Arthur Edmund range is the most lauded and exclusive red wine in our award-winning Leveret & Mills Reef portfolio and stands alongside the iconic Coniglio. So, it’s with great excitement that our Chief Winemaker, who has controlled every aspect of its production, announces the release of the Arthur Edmund Cabernet Merlot 2020 and Arthur Edmund Syrah 2020. These prestigious wines are limited releases with only a few hundred bottles, each labelled and individually numbered. Now available! Wine connoisseurs will have to be quick to pick up one of these rare bottles.
SHOP ➤ Find out more and purchase online.
We’ve started a monthly giveaway to thank you, wine lovers, for, well, being wine lovers.
At the end of each month, we’ll be giving away a $50 Cellar Door Gift Certificate to one of our newsletter readers, who can spend it online or stop into our Cellar Door in Katikati to shop in person.
If you receive our newsletters you’re automatically entered – make sure to open them to see if you’re a winner! To sign up or if you’d like to spread the love then simply send this link on to friends and family you think might also enjoy something crafted by our expert winemakers: sign up for our monthly newsletters.
We are an independently-owned company that has full control over our entire winemaking process, enabling us to bring you some of the finest, award-winning wines in New Zealand.
We’d be very proud to raise a glass with you!
Hours of operations:
We are open 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, seven days a week. No need to book ahead when stopping in to purchase wine, but please call ahead for tasting room reservations. Due to COVID restrictions, we can accommodate groups of up to a maximum of 10 people. Please contact us to make your tasting room booking. See directions and contact info.
Delivery:
For delivery, if you’re in the local area (Waihi to Te Puke) we aim to have your order to you by the end of the next business day and orders over $200 qualify for free delivery. For more rural locations and places outside of the local area, call us (+64) 7 552 0795 and we can speak to you about delivery options and times.
