Allan Scott Wines

A Pink and Sparkling Addition to Mother’s Day

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Sparkling wines the world over have been named after female family members or veuves who ran well-established wineries.

Following suit, the Allan Scott Family Winemakers (ASFW) Cecilia Rosé Méthode Traditionnelle Marlborough Brut NV playfully and lovingly nods to an exceptional member of the Scott family, Catherine Cecilia Scott, who alongside husband Allan planted the first of the family owned vineyards in Marlborough in 1975.

A subtle blush colour with warm hints of gold, son and head winemaker Josh Scott (with tongue firmly in cheek) reveals both the namesake and the Cecilia Rosé Méthode Traditionnelle Brut NV boast complex and elegant characters.

Vinted from a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, the sparkling wine is a true Méthode Traditionnelle style aged on lees and fitting for festivity. Dry yet crisp and refreshing, it has flavours of wild summer fruits such as ripe strawberries and raspberries with bubbles that enhance the aromas on the palate.

Josh knows better than to comment on his mother’s traits, instead highlighting that the three children (himself and his two sisters Victoria and Sara) now tasked with leading operations at the winery have forever credited the drop as the instigator of good times.

“Cecilia Rosé definitely has a place in our hearts that will always be connected to moments where we are able to gather as a family. It’s the bottle that has been present at family weddings, birthdays and anniversaries – and of course it would be rude not to get involved for Mother’s Day too,” says Josh.

Gifting a bottle of Cecilia Rosé will definitely have your mum feeling the love, but why not go the extra mile and serve alongside a home cooked meal? This wine would pair beautifully with a fresh Marlborough salmon risotto and a decadent berry dessert.

Allan Scott Wines

LEADING THE REVOLUTION IN RIESLING

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Introducing the Gold medal-winning Allan Scott Family Winemakers Marlborough Riesling 2014.

Move over Sauvignon, Marlborough has another wine varietal making waves in the white wine category.

Stepping up to the winner’s plate at the recent 2015 Air New Zealand Wine Awards with two gold medals, Allan Scott Family Winemakers (ASFW) is proving that everything happens for a Riesling.

Gold in colour with a balance of citrus and spicy floral characteristics that resonate on the palate, the Allan Scott Family Winemakers Marlborough Riesling 2014 is the perfect accompaniment to contrasting savoury or spicy dishes, hard cheeses or even on its own.

The grapes, harvested from the site’s “Moorlands” block which directly surrounds the winery, contain some of the oldest Riesling vines in Marlborough and were the first variety planted by Allan and his wife Catherine upon establishing the vineyard. Due to the vines maturity (over 30 years in age) this vineyard consistently produces quality fruit year after year.

Head winemaker Josh Scott believes New Zealand Riesling, or as he fondly calls it ‘terrace wine’, is now having its moment in the sun.

“Rieslings can be a hard sell with many people thinking that their German heritage make them overly sweet. We’re seeing quite the opposite here in Marlborough with our aromatic wines increasingly becoming more dry as the vines age,” Scott says.

“These older vines’ grapes tend to sit well with the local palette, producing wines you can find yourself quite easily sipping away while sitting in the sun – why wouldn’t that be appealing?”

The Allan Scott Family Winemakers Marlborough Riesling 2014 is harvested in the coolness of the early morning and fermented in steel tanks while being tasted until it reaches its optimum residual sugar level and fermentation is stopped. The varietal is available at most leading supermarkets and selected liquor outlets.