We currently have three wines for sale:
The Sirocco Riesling 1998 is clean and crisp with good acidity and citrus flavours. A little bottle development had softened the acid and it is a lovely well-balanced wine. A steal at $12.00.
The Sirocco Riesling 1999 This fresh wine has an intoxicating nose of a rose in full bloom. This very alluring Riesling is blushed with a tad of vivacious Gewurztraminer, adding a sensuous spicy fragrance and crisp finish that lingers. Harvested solely from our Rakaia block. Worth cellaring at $14.00.
The Sirocco Pinot Noir 1999. Made by Paul in a style which deliberately emphasizes the classical Burgundian attributes of elegance, seductiveness and finesse, this wine shows generous scents of rose petals and glace cherries. The nose shows classic Burgundian 'rooster shed' leesy aromas - but without any trace of sulphidic spoilage or lack of fine pinot noir perfume. The tannins are very fine, ripe and ultra velvety, supporting sweet glace cherry fruit in spate across the middle palate, with Sirocco's typically soft clean cool climate acidity following through into the wine's long fruit-driven finish.
Please note that this wine was only lightly filtered to preserve its finesse and delicacy of fruit characters. As a result, it will throw a harmless light soft crust in the bottle, and should ideally be stood upright for around 24 hours before opening, and serving.
Only 25 cases of this 'Reserve'-label premium pinot noir were made in 1999, using extensively crop-thinned perfectly ripened Rakaia fruit. Keenly priced at $25 per bottle.
Location: The warm and dry wind that blows from the west, down through the Rakaia Gorge, is reminiscent of the �Sirocco�, the hot desert wind that originates in Africa and travels north across the Mediterranean. Rakaia, situated on the south bank of the Rakaia River, is 35 minutes drive south of Christchurch. Sirocco Wines, 1 Km from the Rakaia township, is located on the main road (111 Methven-Barrhill Road) heading inland towards Methven.
Climate: The unique climate provided by the proximity to the broad riverbed, in combination with the alluvial soils provides ideal growing conditions for intensive crops, including grapes. Typically nature provides the vineyard with moderate rainfall, high summer temperatures, with clear skies, providing extended ripening periods for grapes. The vines are thriving in sandy silt over laying shingle.
Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc
The first vines were planted 14 years ago. Since then great emphasis has been devoted to the selection and grafting of suitable clones and rootstocks, resulting in assorted vines of single varieties that will produce fruit with maximum flavours and complexity. The ongoing program continues in the vineyard, with stock received through the Grapevine Improvement Group of New Zealand.
Winery: Sirocco Wines is a fully equipped, self sufficient boutique winery. All wines are made and bottled on site, with some fruit being sourced locally when required. Minimal wine maker intervention is practised, allowing the fruit to express its cool climate qualities. We are a completely self sufficient vineyard and winery thus we are able to share with visitors every aspect of wine production.
French Oak barriques are used for the maturation of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Viticulture: Again, a big emphasis is placed on vineyard management, following the philosophy that "wine is made in the vineyard" . Vines are close planted, Scott Henry and VSP canopy systems are used and extensive leaf removal is practised.
Grapes are all hand harvested. For the past five years only organic sprays have been used on the grapevines at Sirocco Wines. This was originally done through a belief in the health giving qualities of wine and a desire to complete the picture by avoiding as much chemical use as possible.
This is currently being taken a step further as Sirocco Wines is going for official certification. All things proceeding as planned, a biogro label will feature on all the wines by next year. The implications of this are promising. There is an active corner of the market seeking out this product. Overseas and local visitors to the property confirm this with their purchases and enthusiasm.