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Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Scholar Entrepreneur, and New Zealand native David Teece, and his wife Leigh, believe his homeland “produces some of the best products in the world and aficionados everywhere should have a chance to experience them.” Mt. Beautiful Winery from North Canterbury reflects their passion for New Zealand. By producing elegant, certified-sustainable, estate-grown wines, David and Leigh have found a way to truly encapsulate in the bottle, the climate and the richness of the land. Mt. Beautiful is uncompromising in quality and faithful to the terroir.
As pioneers of the North Canterbury region, Mt. Beautiful’s owners David and Leigh were looking to invest in David’s homeland in a way that would allow expression of their passion for farm-to-table food and wine, while energizing the community to which they are so genuinely committed. By creating Mt. Beautiful Winery and adopting certified-sustainable practices, we are able to be dedicated guardians of the land, and good stewards of our heritage.
On the central eastern coast of the South Island, Canterbury includes a collection of small and varied subregions. The region is cool and dry with low rainfall and light, infertile soils. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are well-suited here, with Pinot Gris coming in third place.
A crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character, Sauvignon blanc is responsible for a vast array of wine styles. However, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. The variety is of French provenance, and is most important in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. It also shines in New Zealand, California, Australia and parts of northeastern Italy. Chile and South Africa are excellent sources of high-quality, value-priced Sauvignon blanc.
In the Glass
From its homeland In Bordeaux, winemakers prefer to blend it with Sémillon to produce a softer, richer style. In the Loire Valley, it expresses citrus, flint and smoky flavors, especially from in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Marlborough, New Zealand often produces a pungent and racy version, reminiscent of cut grass, gooseberry and grapefruit. California's style is fruit-driven, in either a soft and oak-aged or snappy and fresh version.
Perfect Pairings
The freshness of Sauvignon blanc’s flavor lends it to a range of light, summery dishes including salad, seafood and mild Asian cuisine. Sauvignon Blanc settles in comfortably at the table with notoriously difficult foods like artichokes or asparagus. When combined with Sémillon (and perhaps some oak), it matches well with complex seafood and chicken dishes.
Sommelier Secret
Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.