COMFORT ZONE WINES BEGONE!

Stuck in your pinot gris and merlot rut? Fret not, here at Dish we’re all about helping wine lovers broaden their horizons. Here are a bunch of rare and groovy new wine grapes on the block that will take your tastebuds from the domestic terminal to international departures in no time…

JUDGE ROCK CENTRAL OTAGO ST LAURENT 2013 $35

St Laurent is the most popular red grape grown in the Czech Republic and the third most popular in Austria. Dark and glossy in the glass, pepper, bay and earthy notes, hints of leather, pepper dried herbs, violets, red rose, tangy and taut and a terrific example of a Euro classic. Pronounced “saint lorr ent”.

SEIFRIED NELSON ZWEIGELT 2014 $17

Hermann Seifried hails from Austria, just like this incredibly aromatic, violet and rose-scented red. It’s a lighter styled red, juicy, succulent, tangy redcurrant and cherry-chock wine that’s a favourite at Seifried family gatherings. Just 11 rows of zweigelt are planted at their Brightwater vineyard, totalling less than one hectare. Pronounced “zwhy-geld”.

STANLEY ESTATE AWATERE VALLEY LAGREIN 2014 $22.99

Bright violets and spice notes abound in this local version of an Italian stallion. A new and rare variety in NZ, it has a lovely leafy, herbaceous note, bouquet garni and blackcurrant, lush and punchy on the palate – only 2236 vines in the ground. Pronounced “lah-grain”.

AKE AKE NORTHLAND CHAMBOURCIN 2016 $25

Made by John Clark, it’s a vegan-friendly, unrefined, unfiltered example with masses of baking spices, clove and huge youthful tannins. It’s a monster wine that’s just screaming out for a slab of red meat. Pronounced “shom-bor-sahn”.