A red base wine of Syrah, sweetened and fortified with distilallates of Kerikeri Orange, Totara, Kahikatea, Matai, Kauri, Northern Rata and Kanuka Flowers. With the use of the barks from all of these native trees, Vermouth #2 undeniably gives a sense of the Puketi forest, just a paper-planes flight from our Home Block. Remy and I have spent a fair few hours in the past 6 months foraging through the forest, searching for things we could use, and I really feel like this Vermouth really captures all the beautiful smells of the forest.
Delicious on its own or with ice and a slice of orange peel, but we like serving it in a cocktail with 1/3 Campari and 1/3 Little Biddy Gin on Ice.
22%.
--------THE PRODUCER--------
144 Islands
144 Islands is dedicated to the production of quality single-vineyard wines from our home estate in the Bay of Islands, as well as specially selected sites throughout the Far North of New Zealand. We place emphasis on producing wines that convey a point of time and place, honouring the rich history of our region, the birthplace of our nation.
--------THE GRAPE--------
Syrah, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
A European dance - France, Italy and Spain in step, for once.
--------THE REGION--------
Northland
Its northern location and close proximity to the sea give the Northland region an almost subtropical climate – humid, sunny and warm.
Warm spring temperatures, hot dry summers, and calm, clear autumn days allow fruit to ripen early, creating full-bodied and rich wines.
The first vines in New Zealand were planted in the Bay of Islands by the missionary, Reverend Samuel Marsden in 1819.
In the late 1800s, the Croatian gumdiggers arrived bringing their European tradition of winemaking.
The region's tropical Chardonnays, popular Pinot Gris and vibrant Viogniers are leading the white wine growth. Red wines produced include spicy Syrahs, stylish Cabernet and Merlot blends, peppery Pinotages and complex Chambourcin.
