Project Description
The Kumeu River Story
The estate was founded in 1944 and is now in the hands of the third generation of Brajkovitchs: Michael as winemaker, Milan in the vineyards and Paul looking after sales and all three under the watchful eye of their mother, Mate’s widow, Melba. Chardonnay was first planted here in 1979. Other grapes (Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris) are now proving popular and successful, but it is the Chardonnay which put Kumeu River on the map. All the Chardonnay fruit comes from the village of Kumeu, just NW of Auckland, and is either estate-owned or estate-managed. This is a cool area, despite being at the North of New Zealand, and their vineyards are surrounded on three sides by the cooling ocean.
Kumeu River Wines
The style is as lively, crisp and cool as anything from the New World, and we have seen a great surge of interest for these wines in the last 12 months. There is no extra flesh on the bones of these wines. They are firm and steely with a sharp focus. For the first time recently, we have some Pinot Gris to offer. Dry, but a little broader and more aromatic than Chardonnay. The estate is also working hard on developing and improving its Pinot Noir, and we hope perhaps to be adding this to the next list.
White
| Code | Description | Year |
|---|---|---|
| KUVCH18B | Village Chardonnay | 2018 |
| KUCHA17H | Estate Chardonnay Half | 2017 |
| KUCHA16H | Estate Chardonnay Half | 2016 |
| KUCHA18B | Estate Chardonnay | 2018 |
| KUHUN17B | Hunting Hill Chardonnay | 2017 |
| KUMAT17B | Maté’s Chardonnay | 2017 |