With a rich wine history going back to 1889, Brown Brothers – based in Milawa, Victoria, Australia, have always looked to innovate and experiment with products. Emma Brown, fourth generation Brown family member, says, “After the successful launch of Brown Brothers Limited Edition Moscato Strawberries & Cream in Australia, we wanted to bring this exciting wine to Aotearoa, to give New Zealanders the opportunity to enjoy this light and refreshing wine.”
Combining one of their best-selling wines – the Brown Brother’s Moscato adds the flavours of sun-ripened strawberries, jam, and vanilla cream. It’s a ‘wine-based beverage’ that is naturally lower in alcohol (8.0%) and, to my mind, looks to european traditions of wine-based drinks such as Sangria, with a nod towards the popularity of flavoured seltzers and drinks that youngsters flock to these days. It is priced from $16.99.
A pale golden-green in the glass, with a frisson of light spritz on the tongue. The nose is a mixture of light citrus, green apple, and a sweet jube-like toffee apple and strawberry candy note. It’s a little off-putting with the confectionary element – like someone dropped a boiled sweet in your glass of wine, but get past that and into the palate, and it is pretty tasty for what it is. There is a creaminess as well as a yoghurt tang and flavour. The fruit is quite forward, juicy and ripe, but there is a dryness that helps balance the sweetness. It’s not ‘fine wine’ but it is a pleasant summer lunch tipple. 82pts
