Kumeu River profile, Decanter
In any global destination, there are must-see sights.
The Colosseum. Angkor Wat. Twickenham Stadium…
For wine geeks, every country has a couple of vineyards or producers that constitute compelling visits. In New Zealand, Kumeu River is just such a producer.
Their beautiful Chardonnays, which stand toe-to-toe with some of the great Burgundian producers, are the wines that have made them famous. (They have also, directly or indirectly, helped inspire a number of other world-class New Zealand Chardonnays, making this category super exciting at the moment.) But they also make Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer – and now, as of 2016, a brand new fizz dubbed ‘Kumeu Cremant’.
I found the Brajkovich family charming: brimming with talent, knowledge and humility. The family had originally emigrated from Croatia in the early 20th century and a certain pioneering, hard-working, realistic ethic is still evident. Healthily, the dinner table seems to be at the centre of everything they do.
And their wine – well, it’s compelling.
[Peter Richards MW profiles Kumeu River in Decanter magazine]