Brancott Estate takes Flight with new naturally lighter range and a gold medal!

Wine lovers can now enjoy the original Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with the same taste and full flavour complexity they would expect, with a new, naturally lighter alcohol offering.

Brancott Estate Flight is a contemporary wine range being launched in time for the lead up to summer.

“Consumers have told us that they are looking for a wine style which is naturally lighter in alcohol, but doesn’t compromise on the taste and flavour complexity of the wine. Brancott Estate Flight wines can be enjoyed for any occasion, perfect for the summer ahead,” says Patrick Materman, Brancott Estate Chief Winemaker.

The new Brancott Estate Flight range includes a premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and a Marlborough Pinot Gris. Both wines are full flavoured, classically ‘Marlborough’ and have been developed using grapes that are harvested earlier in the season.

The Sauvignon Blanc is true to the style that has made Marlborough famous with freshness, a ripe flavour profile and complexity, while being naturally lighter in alcohol at 9% ABV. The Pinot Gris has ripe floral, pear and stonefruit characters, is generous on the palate and is also naturally lighter in alcohol at 9% ABV.

“The thinking up to now has been that ripe flavours could not be achieved at the lower sugar levels associated with early harvesting. As the pioneers of the Marlborough wine region, our deep understanding of the flavour profile and terroir has enabled us to craft these new wines that are full of flavour and naturally lighter in alcohol,” says Materman.

Brancott Estate Flight Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is pale green straw in colour with ripe grapefruit, passionfruit and a touch of fresh herb on the nose. This follows through with vibrant fruit characters on the palate giving a clean crisp finish. It is best enjoyed slightly chilled on its own for any occasion, or accompanied with seafood dishes or delicate white meats.

Brancott Estate Flight Marlborough Pinot Gris is pale straw in colour and shows ripe pear and nectarine on the nose. This follows through on the generous palate and the wine finishes clean and fresh. Brancott Estate Flight Marlborough Pinot Gris makes a fine aperitif, or serves as a perfect match to pork or chicken dishes.

Brancott Estate Flight will be launched in New Zealand from early October 2012 for RRP $26.99 and will be widely available from leading liquor retailers.

Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc Wins Gold

9% ABV Sauvignon Blanc takes gold at New Zealand International Wine Show

Brancott Estate Flight Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has won a Gold Medal in the Sauvignon Blanc category, at the New Zealand International Wine Show, as it is about to debut in New Zealand from early October. Brancott Estate Flight is a new, naturally lighter alcohol wine range from Brancott Estate, the original Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which has been crafted from grapes harvested earlier in the season.

Patrick Materman, Chief Winemaker for Brancott Estate says from the outset the goal was to create a range of wines which were not compromised by being naturally lighter in alcohol.

“For Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc to have been judged gold amongst a huge line up of standard ABV Sauvignon Blanc wines is a fitting acknowledgement that we’ve achieved that goal; a result the team are thrilled with.”

“This is a very exciting win for Brancott Estate as it reaffirms the quality, intensity of flavour and complexity of the wine. We wanted to deliver all the aroma, ripe flavours and palate weight that people have come to know and love about Marlborough wines.”

“The thinking up to now has been that ripe flavours could not be achieved at the lower sugar levels associated with early harvesting. As the pioneers of the Marlborough wine region, our deep understanding of the flavour profile and terroir, together with early harvesting, winemaking experience and closely controlling the fermentation stage, we have been able to craft new wines that are full of flavour and naturally lighter in alcohol,” he says.

More than 2,100 wines were received from 13 countries for judging at the seventh annual New Zealand International Wine Show, the country’s largest wine competition.