Speakeasy wines is the latest exciting project from Fermentologists Justin and Cynthia Oliver.
Already riding high on the success of their locally famous Bohemian Cider brand, Justin and Cynthia are set to release a range of natural wines, crafted from local vineyards.
“We have always been fans of natural wine, in fact we made some great natural wines under our Te Rata brand in the early 2010s. We were a bit ahead of our time back then and Bohemian Cider really took off, so all our energy has been focused on that in the meantime. Now that the natural wine movement is gaining momentum globally, we thought it was a great time for Matakana wine to get involved.”
So what is natural wine?
There’s no official definition, but if you think all wines are simply made from grapes and sunshine, it might be shocking to learn that there are over 72 additives legally permitted in winemaking. These include milk, enzymes and acidifiers, added colour, added sugar, nitrogen, hydrogen peroxide and powerful preservatives like sulphur dioxide. Justin says “To me natural wine is like listening the live, acoustic version of your favourite song - authentic and raw, without all the special effects and manipulation that come from the studio”.
Natural wine is all about hand harvested, organic grapes, fermented with native yeasts (naturally occurring on the skins), minimal manipulation and little or no preservatives. It’s the current darling of sommeliers the world over and is challenging the definition of the qualities that define good wine. Making wine in this way is a pure expression of the qualities of the grapes and their terroir, and this approach resonates deeply with Justin and Cynthia.
“We can grow great grapes in Matakana, as we’ve seen with the amazing vintages of 2019 to 2022. This has given us the perfect opportunity to craft some beautiful natural wines“ Speakeasies’ initial releases will include a Cabernet franc dominant red Bordeaux blend, a Blanc de noir sparkling and Rose.
“We have also commissioned a talented young local artist to create a mural on a wall of wine bottles - resulting in 200 individually unique limited edition bottles - the perfect way to celebrate our inaugural release“
Cynthia compares the Speakeasy wine range to the specials board at your favourite restaurant “It’s an ever changing selection, reflecting the best of the local terroir and the whims and skills of the talented winemaker. There is no push for control and homogeneity so you can be assured there will never be a dull moment!”