Two wines from the southern hemisphere this week, both on offer in SuperValu for the next few days. We are familiar with sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, usually from Marlborough. This doesn’t indicate anything on the label, but I suspect the grapes come from Marlborough or neighbouring Waipara.
Most of the zinfandel we come across is from California, where it produces a wide variety of styles, from light sweet white zin rosé to rich robust red wines. Petite sirah, also sometimes called durif, is no relation to syrah but an old French grape variety that produces full-bodied, deeply coloured wines with dark fruits and chocolate.
Invivo Sauvignon Blanc 2023, New Zealand
12.5% ABV, €10 from SuperValu
This is a fresh, crisp, dry white wine with attractive subtle lifted aromas and clean green apple and mango fruits. Perfect on its own or with summer salads.
La Brutta Zinfandel Petite Sirah 2019, Nugan Estate, Australia
14.5% ABV, €10 from SuperValu
Big, rich and powerful with plenty of sweet dark plums and blackcurrants overlaid with dark chocolate. One to enjoy with grilled or barbecued red meats.
