Quartz Reef new X-factor bubbles…

By Joelle Thomson

It was a treat this week to have Central Otago winemaker Rudi Bauer in store from his Central Otago winery, Quartz Reef – a rarity in this country as an estate winery. This means all the grapes used in the wines are grown on land owned by the winemaker; in this case, that means the Quartz Reef Bendigo vineyard, which Bauer planted in Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Gruner Veltliner.

He studied viticulture and winemaking in his homeland of Austria for nine years before coming to New Zealand in 1985 to work at Mission Vineyards for four years until 1989. He then fell in love, married and moved to Central Otago.

Since then, he has become a certified biodynamic winemaker. So, it’s not only the flavour that has a great feel-good factor, but Bauer’s philosophy – “To leave the soil in better condition than I found it, for the next generation.”

This year he launched his first Blanc de Blancs bubbly. It’s a vintage wine from the very good 2013 vintage – a stellar year all over New Zealand.

The release date for the new and outstanding Quartz Reef 2013 Blanc de Blancs is 1 September this year. In the meantime, head to Regional to enjoy the great Quartz Reef Brut – one of our top selling wines, which grows in quality from one year to the next.