Indian Summer, the ultra low sugar, “skinny” rosé launched today, in addition to two additional blends by New Zealand sustainable rosé specialist Waiana Estate this summer

Hawkes Bay, New Zealand – 30 October 2018 – Waiana Estate, New Zealand’s hottest up-and-coming rosé specialist, today released the 2018 vintage of its primary rosé blend, Indian Summer, as they continue to evolve New Zealand rosé as a category in both domestic and international markets. Indian Summer is an ultra pale, ultra low sugar “Skinny Rosé” with around half the sugar content of other rosés on the market. They also announced the launch of two new exciting rosé blends to be released this summer – Summer Sault – a unique blend incorporating the Provençal grape Cinsault, the first time this variety has been blended in a New Zealand rosé; and also their limited release, barrel aged rosé named Indian Summer Private Blend.

Nicholas Plowman, founder of Waiana Estate’s Indian Summer rosé brands, notes:

“Rosé is a genuine wine category in its own right now and we want to be part of that in New Zealand, by helping develop it as yet another category that we are internationally renowned for. Styles, blends and preferences of rosé are all still evolving here and our view is that there is an opportunity for us to further enhance the classic Provençal style of rosé in New Zealand through our own grape varieties, in conjunction with certain Provençal varieties which we have planted over the last 4-5 years. As genuine rosé specialists, we are looking to develop and evolve different blends and styles of rosé utilising the best of what Hawkes Bay can offer in respect of both its red and white varieties. For us, Hawkes Bay has the potential to grow the best grape varieties in order to produce the type of Provençal style roséwe are looking to make.

Waiana Estate is a boutique family-owned rosé specialist based in the beautiful Tukituki Valley in Hawkes Bay. All of their rosé blends are made from sustainably grown grapes and are based on the Provençal style of rosé. Waiana regard these new blends as an amalgamation of the very best of what the new and old worlds can offer rosé, blending New Zealand’s globally renowned white varieties with the likes of the Provençal grape Cinsault, and then applying their preference for dry, pale Provençal style rosé blends. This could prove to be a winning combination for Waiana and New Zealand rosé as a broader category based on their 2018 rosé blends to be released shortly.

Indian Summer
Indian Summer, the primary rosé blend of Waiana Estate, is a dry, ultra-pale, Provençal-style blend with a refreshing minerality infused in its onion skin colour. This “skinny rosé” has one of the lowest sugar contents of any New Zealand rosé. It incorporates a unique blend of Hawkes Bay pinot gris and merlot grapes grown primarily at Waiana Estate. This wine has been allowed time to rest on its lees until early October to achieve the complexity the winemaking team were looking for in the blend.

Summer Sault
Summer Sault is the sister rosé blend to Indian Summer. The classic Provençal grape Cinsault is a key component of this unique wine. Cinsault grapes are a rarity in New Zealand and are the primary grape variety used in the vast majority of the very best Provençal rosés. Cinsault grapes provide a wonderfully aromatic blend and this will become a special wine as Waiana continues to build out its Cinsault capacity. Summer Sault will be held on lees until December to achieve maximum complexity and texture in preparation for release this summer.

Indian Summer Private Blend
Indian Summer Private Blend is Waiana Estate’s premier rosé blend. Post-fermentation the grapes have been left on lees and then barrel aged to add complexity and weight, again in preparation for this summer. Waiana have focused on promoting minerality in this blend, which will continue to evolve over time.

Waiana Estate
Waiana Estate is a beautiful estate lying adjacent to the Tukituki river in the beautiful Tukituki Valley, Hawkes Bay and was acquired by the Plowman family in 1993. In total, the estate comprises 70 acres which have been extensively planted in woodlands areas almost from the day the land was purchased. The vineyards were subsequently established and planted in 2000, with initial plantings of Merlot and Malbec grapes. These vines are now well established and produce outstanding fruit. More land was acquired in 2006 and subsequent plantings have included both Grenache and Cinsault with the production and specialisation of rosé blends in mind. Currently, Waiana Estate produces three rosé blends – Indian Summer, Summer Sault and Indian Summer Private Blend. Their intention is to evolve and develop rosé as a category in New Zealand and international markets and will look to add further blends as new plantings become productive.

Indian Summer will be available late October from Glengarry, Advintage, Vino Fino, Liquor King and online through www.indian-summer.co.nz. Indian Summer and Summer Sault will be
available in 750ml and 1.5L magnums. Indian Summer Private Blend is only available in 750 ml bottles and is a limited edition release.