Imagine a world without sauvignon blanc.
Impossible as that may be to consider, that was the reality just 30-odd years ago. It's due to the vision and perseverance of our country's top winemakers that sauv blanc is now a household name and an internationally recognised New Zealand wine.
It's along those same lines that Villa Maria senior Auckland winemaker Dave Roper now has more new wines in his sights. Among them is Villa Maria's multiple award-winning Albariño, which is one of the newer kids on the block. A unique and charming wine with great a balance of fruity, fresh and crisp flavours, it has wide appeal and shows great promise. Even its name has added allure: because it's an easy one to pronounce, it gives buyers great confidence.
Will it be tomorrow's sauvignon blanc or chardonnay? Says Dave: "If we were to fast forward to three years, we'll see more Albariño on the shelves. The quality and potential is very exciting."
Dave, who has been with Villa Maria for close to two decades, says it's the entrepreneurial spirit of company founder Sir George Fistonich that has allowed such new varieties to develop and flourish. "[Sir] George is always pushing the boundaries. He often challenges us to look for new ideas."
It's not just about finding the next big variety to come through, he adds. "It's a way to constantly challenge the way we do things."
The way he weaves enthusiasm about his job into every sentence, you would think Dave has been a winemaker for his entire working life. But it was a different career path that he originally set out on. The son of two science teachers, he originally trained as a microbiologist, and spent many years working in a hospital laboratory. But after a flatmate introduced him to wine and the art of winemaking, his interest was piqued. Soon a hobby became more of a career pursuit, and Dave began applying the technique and scientific curiosity of the lab to the creativity and artistry of making wine. It's a delicate combination, he says, with some winemakers leaning towards a scientific approach while others apply a more creative approach to the wines they craft, thus allowing for the great diversity in wines produced today.
Dave, who is married with two children, says he has seen many changes at Villa Maria since he started working his way up from his original job as a cellar hand.
In his eyes he has two families: his home family and his wine family. Some of his colleagues have become very close friends, and especially as harvest approaches, he spends a great deal of time in their company.
Albariño grapes have recently been planted in Villa Maria's Mangere Ihumatao vineyard, where Dave is based. That highlights the potential of the wine, he says. And it's got plenty of potential for both regular sauvignon blanc fans and those new to the variety. With its lively freshness and appealing acidity, it speaks to Villa Maria's ethos of making wines that people love.
Discover new wines with winemaker Dave Roper that you will love just as much as Sauvignon Blanc in the video below.