February….. already. This year we’re more determined than ever to champion our small, New Zealand producers. And there’s so much to support. The wines from these producers are amazing expressions of place, creativity and passion. As shown in this month's box. We’ve included a Hawkes Bay low alc sparkling Rosé (in a can!), a white Pinot from Canterbury, charming still Rosé from Martinborough, and a beautifully light, fragrant Sangiovese from Hawkes Bay. Rounding out the box is a Portuguese white that makes for perfect late summer drinking, and one of the best value Italian reds we’ve tried for some time. 

Alpha Domus Beatrix Sparkling Rosé 250ml 4 Pack

We’re into this for a few reasons. Not only is it a charming, fresh, dry sparkling Rosé, it’s also lower in alcohol, at 8.9%. And, the 250ml canned format makes it perfect for those moments you just want a couple of glasses at home. Being compact and lighter in weight than glass, it’s also ideal to take camping, on a picnic, on the boat, or to the beach. Made from organic, estate grown Merlot, Beatrix is going places…. with you!

Alpha Domus was established by the Ham family in 1989 in Hawkes Bay’s Bridge Pa Triangle. Their 20 hectare estate is now fully certified organic. Winemaking is in the hands of Barry Riwai, who has worked extensively in Hawkes Bay for over 20 years.

Anselmo Mendes Muros Antigos Escolha Vinho Verde 2022

If you’re looking for dry, aromatic, mineral white wines, this is a sure thing. A blend of Alvarinho (the same variety as Spain’s Albariño), Loureiro and Avesso, it has bright yellow stone fruit aromatics, a stern, fresh palate with a saline lick on the finish. It’s all very poised. You might know Vinho Verde as the spritzy, quaffy white white of northern Portugal, but rather than being a variety or wine style, Vinho Verde is actually a growing area. Anselmo Mendes has been instrumental in exploring a wider range of wine styles from this Atlantic influenced region, including this delicious drop.

Having grown up in Monção in the north of Portugal, Anselmo Mendes studied agronomy, soon to specialise in winegrowing. After a successful career consulting to other wineries, in 1998 he established his own estate in the region he grew up in. He is one of Portugal’s most celebrated wine producers, and has brought to light just what the DOC of Vinho Verde is capable of. 

Bryterlater Pinots 2023

Aromatically this is like a late summer walk through a stone fruit orchard. As well as yellow fruits there’s a beeswaxy undertone and it’s supple and subtly juicy to taste. Pinot Blanc from the Banks Peninsula was blended with 25% direct pressed Pinot Noir.

Nick Drake recorded an ethereal studio album in 1970 called Bryterlater. Ethereal too are James Opie’s Bryterlater releases from North Canterbury. Sourcing organic fruit from vineyards around the region, James produces wines that respect the varied nature of each growing season, and that are produced, as James says, “with patience in the vineyard and patience in the winery.”

Halite Rosé 2024

Vibrant, fresh Rosé that’s very well composed. Red berries and rhubarb in aromatics, it’s got  lovely fruit concentration in the mouth, with a satisfying crunch on the finish. It’s made from organically grown Martinborough Pinot Noir, with a splash of Hawkes Bay Sangiovese.

Haidee Johnson of Halite sources organically grown fruit from both Bridge Pa in Hawkes Bay and the terraces of Martinborough to produce three light and bright wines. With a wealth of experience making wine in New Zealand and overseas, and she sums up Halite wines so nicely -

“Halite is commonly known as rock salt and it is our aim to create ‘salt of the earth wines’; wines that are very good and honest. The kind of wines that alight your senses and bring out the dance and joy, these are the kind of wines that we love and hope to share with you.”

Halcyon Days Vermillion 2023

This is supple, light, energetic drinking, as well as being a beautifully pure expression of Sangiovese. It’s pretty with bright red fruits and pomegranate aromatics. The palate is fresh, poised and shows a hint of the brooding side of this classic Italian variety. Fruit comes from the certified organic Osawa Vineyard on the southern alluvial river terraces of the Ngaruroro river in Hawkes Bay. As usual with Amy and Olly, this is carefully considered, with some of the fruit being direct pressed and the rest being fermented on skins for 10 days. A splash of Chardonnay completes it's make up. 

Amy and Olly Hopkinson-Styles met while Amy was winemaking in Spain, and Olly was writing for Decanter Magazine in London. They were drawn back to New Zealand with Hawkes Bay in mind as a great place to make wine and bring up sprogs. Outstanding wine communicators themselves, we’ll let them sum up what they very passionately do -

“Halcyon Days wine is made with organic grapes from Biogro certified vineyards. The grapes are handpicked, naturally fermented, and bottled unfined, unfiltered, with no additions. We use time honoured methods to create striking wines that are a dynamic expression of Halcyon’s place: Heretaunga/Hawke’s Bay”.

Ciù Ciù Bacchus Piceno 2023

Forward in aromatics of dark berries and a little spice, this has a firm but rich, fruitful palate. A blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese, it punches well above its weight. Piceno is the growing area, in the south of the Marche region, and the wine is named after who is surely everyone's favourite deity, Bacchus.

Ciu Ciu means ‘drink drink’ in the Marchese dialect. It’d be rude not to. This large organic estate, started by Natalino and Anna Bartolomei in the 1970s, is in the Marche on the east coast of Italy. Keeping it in the family, their sons Massimiliano and Walter now run the show.