No.1 Rosé NZ $49

Made in the style, techniques and traditions of Champagne, available at a price long out of reach to its spiritual home, this has everything that fine pink bubbles hope to be.

Generations of French families have defined wine worldwide. In Aotearoa the Le Brun family define sparkling wine. As Marlborough’s No.1 Family Estate beds into the hands of the new generation, we’ve delicious reasons to give thanks for this French family tradition.

The Rosé nv might seem an odd choice. No.1 Family Estate do have more collectible, finer perhaps, certainly rarer and rivalling finer Rose Champagne. I chose this, having experienced its ability to match the chef's menu of GOAT by Sid Chopra. It excelled.

Make this your palate benchmark for choosing fine sparkling wine to invest in. “Tuku iho” goes the famous waiata, “handed down” and the brilliance of crafting fine sparkling wine is being handed down at No.1 Family Estate. I can’t commend this better than international critic James Suckling: “Extremely well done. Drink now.” no1familyestate.co.nz

Clos Henri Stones Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $75

To retain a world-class reputation every wine region must continually deliver, progress and enthral. This wine does exactly that.

When Famille Bourgeois, France’s storied Sauvignon Blanc makers, bought land in Marlborough, they had a clear motivation.

"We have always been committed to making the world’s best sauvignon blanc. To continue, we must have vineyards in Marlborough." That was the explanation for their arrival in Marlborough in 2000. Now they have their reward.

Clos Henri grow organically to make wines reflecting and expressing their specific vineyards and, their generational obsession with the white that made NZ wine. I was at the winery opening and last year took them a bottle of their first sav. Sharing its astonishing flavours and vibrancy. On that evidence, cellar this wine.

If you have ever savoured a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, you need to taste this closhenri.com