Two of New Zealand's high-profile wineries, Hawke's Bay's Te Awa and Martinborough's Dry River, have joined together under the guiding hands of their winemakers Ant Mackenzie and Dr Neil McCallum to release a new premium wine brand - Kidnapper Cliffs.
The 2009 Kidnapper Cliff's Solan Sauvignon Semillon is named after an
old mariners' term for the gannet bird.
There is also a 2009 chardonnay, a 2009 pinotage, a 2009 syrah and a special merlot/cabernet franc blend called 2008 Kidnapper Cliffs Ariki.
Ariki is a Polynesian name for the first-born of noble rank, which, according to Ant Mackenzie, is the perfect moniker for this solid red which oozes cellaring potential.
Owners of Te Awa and Dry River wineries, the Robertson family, also own luxury resorts Kauri Cliffs and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, and they're excited about this joint venture between Te Awa, Dry River, Mackenzie and McCallum.
"Kidnapper Cliffs is very much a team effort," says Ant.
"Neil is the chief winemaker and oversees the viticulture, while I'm the overall project manager."
Says Neil: "We aren't here to replicate what has gone before. Expect surprises, expect fine wine."
