Minds, vines and wines
Now we’re heading into vintage (it started a couple of weeks ago in Northland), I asked a few winemakers what they’d been reading and listening to recently. Why? Because I have a theory, which roughly goes like this: what they feed their minds, they feed their vines and wines.
And this is what they had to say:
Rudi Bauer (Quartz Reef, Central Otago): ‘‘I’ve just finished Shadows in The Vineyard by Maximillian Potter, which is about the poisoning of the vines of Domaine Romanee Conti in Burgundy. I was more interested in what it revealed about the life of Aubert de Vilaine (the DRC boss who visited Central Otago two years ago) than the actual crime. What a humble guy he is.’’
Tim Heath (Cloudy Bay, Marlborough): ‘‘I’m part way through Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose. Not an easy read… plenty of hard grind between the more fluid moments (a bit like vintage really). And I’ve also just finished Stieg Larsson’s The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest .I find fiction good vintage prep – a mix of intellectual elements with playfulness.’’
Andrew Greenhough (Greenhough Vineyard, Nelson): ’’I’m reading The Lauras, a novel by Sara Taylor. It’s my kind of thing… set on the eastern seaboard of the US, about a group of hillbillies, full of quirky, good characters. I’m also picking up and reading bits of the Dutch bestseller The Secret Life of Hendrik Groen, which is about life in an old WINE people’s home. Its makes me realise I’m getting older, and I start to wonder how many vintages I’ve got left. I better make the most of them.’’
Carol Bunn (Urlar Estate, Wairarapa): ‘‘I read a Kiwi novel last weekend called Sole Survivor by Derek Hansen. It’s set on Great Barrier Island and was a great read. I’ve also been reading some nutritional cookbooks, like the Gut Health Cookbook by Pete Evans. I’ve discovered I’m sensitive to gluten and other things. What’s more, gut health helps you mentally… important to be in a good spot before vintage.’’
Gordon Russell (Esk Valley, Hawke’s Bay): ‘‘No books on the go at the moment, but a lot of aural stuff… a BBC app to see what chaos has been happening in the US, which I always find enthralling, and lots of music. I’m listening to Ryan Adams’ new album, Sinkane – he’s a North African who lives in London – and Foxygen, two young American guys who are bombastic… it’s madness.’’
James Millton (Millton Vineyard, Gisborne): ‘‘I’m reading a book called Postmodern Winemaking by Clark Smith. It’s about forgetting everything you were taught and using biology and intuition more. It tells us the best piece of lab apparatus is a wine glass and that feeling, rather than numbers, is what’s important. Everyone should read it. It’s given me confidence that we’re not that wrong.’’
Greenhough Hope Vineyard Chardonnay 2015 $36
Beautifully spun flavours… hazelnut, yellow flowers, wild honey are set against attractive weight and texture. There is some richness here, but it’s not the main thing. That role is taken by the lovely fruit.
Foxes Island ‘Sur Lie Aged’ Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $26
Scents that evoke fresh dill, asparagus and chamomile.
In the mouth this wine is all about texture, which gives it a slow, deliberate pace. It leaves you feeling refreshed and eager for more. A beautiful expression.