As a regular judge at the New Zealand wine shows, it hasn’t escaped my attention that there is perhaps one wine that just wins and wins and wins. I manage to track down the winemaker of that wine. Unfortunately, this time not in person… but we exchanged messages and here we have the resulting article. In discussion with Jane de Witt – maker of the extraordinarily successful Lindauer Vintage Series 2017 sparkling wine.
WineFolio: I’m obviously drawn here because of the extraordinary success of the headline-grabbing Vintage Series 2017 wine for Lindauer – Can I ask you… What? How? Why? do you think this has had such success?
Jane de Witt: The 2017 Lindauer Vintage Series was bottled in 2019 and won the Sparkling Trophy at the NZ Wine Awards that year. The wine now has eleven awards and seven champion titles to its name.
I was so excited at the time of blending and bottling and spent a considered time ensuring there was elegance, balance and complexity in the blend.
It is predominantly Gisborne Chardonnay with a touch of Pinot Noir and it has evolved beautifully in bottle over time, with the development of toasty characters shining through in 2022. I love this type of Sparkling wine, but it clearly resonates with a lot of people.
Lindauer Vintage Series Brut Cuvee 2017 | ||
Gold | NZ International Wine Show | 2019 |
Gold + Champion Sparkling | NZ Wine of the Year Show | 2019 |
Gold + Champion Sparkling | New World Wine Awards | 2020 |
Gold | Royal Easter Wine Show | 2021 |
Gold | Decanter UK | 2021 |
Silver | New World Wine Awards | 2021 |
Gold + Champion Sparkling | NZ International Wine Show (held early 2022) | 2021 |
Gold + Champion Sparkling | New World Wine Awards | 2022 |
1st place, 5 stars, Best Buy | Cuisine Sparkling | 2022 |
Gold + Champion Sparkling | NZ International Wine Show | 2022 |
Gold + Champion Sparkling | National Wine Awards of Aotearoa NZ | 2022 |
95 points | Decanter | 2021 |
WF: Yes, I judged at a few of those!! I can see that you’ve had success, that has flown under the radar, before – I know that Kingsley often mentions you in this way – and I’ve seen you on stage at Wine Awards before… but can you summarise your path to this moment in the spotlight?
JdW: I love what I do – I’ve been making sparkling wine for over 20 years. Recognition of this is the icing on the cake. The moment I look back to is 2010, when I did some trial work that achieved a ‘softer’ mousse for the bottle fermented wines that I make. That year Lindauer featured in the Top 5 in Cuisine. In 2011, Lindauer Brut took out the Sparkling Trophy at the Royal NZ Easter show, and in 2012 Lindauer Classic Rose The Air NZ Sparkling Trophy and it has gone on from there. Time en tirage (yeast lees) before you bottle is really important.
WF: How did the Lindauer Prosecco project come about?
JdW: It had been on our radar. However, it didn’t become a reality until we decided to collaborate with an Italian company that specialises in Prosecco.
In early 2020, I was very privileged to travel to Italy to blend Lindauer Prosecco. This was an amazing experience, working with Zonin a well-known family-owned Italian producer of Prosecco. I met some amazing people and left with a greater appreciation for Prosecco and of why the world can’t get enough of it. Shortly after my visit the pandemic hit the world which delayed plans, but in 2021 things were back on and we now have Lindauer Prosecco DOC and Lindauer Prosecco Rose sitting on shelves in NZ. I’m really pleased with the result.
WF: Can you tell me a bit about your winemaking style/philosophy?
JdW: I love creating quality wine for people to enjoy. I am always aiming to make the best wine I can, with minimal intervention but also with a commercial lens. It is about listening to what is required, trends, consumers, the business as well as being aware of our environmental footprint.
WF: What is it about wine that brings you the most joy?
JdW: I still find the evolution and intricacies of creating a sparkling wine exciting and deeply rewarding. The blending process is both time consuming and satisfying involving both my scientific and my creative sides, which I love. It takes time and patience to reap the rewards of a sparkling wine in bottle. How Sparkling wine evolves and the impact that the time in bottle on yeast lees has on the taste of the wine, never fails to amaze me and being able to capture this under cork at the right time is key.
WF: Is there a moment in the winemaking year where you just ‘get a feeling’ for what’s going on / going to happen?
JdW: Pre and post Vintage you tend to have a reasonable idea of how things are going to pan out. However, for me it is in May when I am blending up Sparkling Base and looking back on a vertical of wines I have en tirage.
WF: Can you tell me a bit more about the vineyards you are using ? Soil, clones etc?
JdW: Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. Strong Silt and Clay soils, Clone 6, 15, Mendoza for Chardonnay; Pinot Noir 10/5, Abel, Clone 6
WF: If you had the chance to make any other wines, what would they be?
JdW: I make Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Rose, Merlot and Syrah and 0% Sparkling.
WF: What do you think are any upcoming trends?
JdW: Wine that is lower in alcohol which has been around for a few years now. Sparkling wine is always in style.
Trends and styles evolve. Lower in alcohol wine has been on the radar for a few years now however this looks to be gaining in momentum as consumers think about their wellbeing and the way lower in alcohol and 0% alcohol is being made evolves and improves.
WF: With a few new, smaller labels popping up in New Zealand – do you see a change in the landscape a bit – more diversity?
JdW: There are so many amazing New Zealand wines and new labels are constantly popping up, both large and smaller producers alike.
WF: Are there any drinks that you enjoy, that people might be surprised to hear?
JdW: G&T and coffee. Nothing that surprising!
WF: In what ways do you think the NZ wine industry might be affected by Climate Change?
JdW: Vintages will be earlier, where grapes thrive will change, varieties from warmer climates will do well in certain regions of NZ.
WF: How is a big company like Lion managing its environmental footprint?
JdW: Lion has a comprehensive Sustainability strategy which includes targets and measures across three pillars – Environmental, Social and Governance. This includes ongoing efforts to be world class in our water efficiency, moving towards a zero carbon footprint across our entire value chain and reducing the impact of our packaging. As an example of this, with the Cuvee programme, glass is recycled over and over and has been for many years.
WF: Do you have favourite wines from other people/places, and think “One day I’ll make something as good as that”? Do you have any stories to tell about discovering those?
JdW: I think wherever you are in the world drinking the wine of the region always leaves a resonating memory, especially when that wine is shared with friends. These ones come to mind..
- A Taylors chilled white port in Porto, at Taylors overlooking the Douro River
- A glass of Bollinger Grand Annee at Bollinger.
- A 375ml bottle of Amarone in Venice at dinner, I was by myself and very excited to be able to get a 375ml bottle of Amarone – delicious.
- Marsden Estate Chambourcin at Marsden Estate on my honeymoon.
- A vertical of Stoneleigh Riesling at Corbans Stoneleigh winery in Marlborough..
- Whilst in the Alsace at Hugel a glass of Hugel Pinot Gris..
I just love wine. Chardonnay, Sparkling, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah are my go to.
WF: Who would you most like to share a glass of your wine with (and why)?
JdW: Madame Clicquot if she was still alive. She was an amazing businesswoman. She changed the way Champagne was made so is a real pioneer. We also share the same birthday… obviously not the year 😊
Michelle Obama is a role model for woman. I have read a couple of her books and was inspired by the difference she made while in the White House and continues to make as an advocate for poverty awareness, education, healthy eating and wellbeing.
