I launched my own wine label in 2000 in memory of Alexia, my maternal grandmother. I always remember her as very stylish and these wines have been made to capture her spirit – gracious and full of vitality, with a dash of indulgence. My lasting memories are of her beautiful clothes and accessories – hats, gloves, shoes, scarves. The Alexia label is a tribute to her and my lovely mother, who inherited a similar zest for life.
I use fruit from two grape-growing regions in the North Island of New Zealand – Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from the Wairarapa and Chardonnay, Rosé and Merlot from Hawke’s Bay.
It is important to me that Alexia wines reflect the qualities of the vineyards where the grapes are grown and I like to allow the purity of fruit flavours to shine through. Other prime considerations are palate length and texture and, to this end, I practise minimal intervention in the winery.
The excellent quality of Alexia was endorsed with our first gold medal for this range at the 2009 Bragato Wine Awards to Alexia Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2008. The same wine is in the New World Top 50 and won a silver medal at the New World Wine Awards 2009.
Perfect partners for food, Alexia wines are equally at home in informal social settings. A good wine enhances any social occasion and is even better when enjoyed with good friends. Every now and then we all need to relax, forget about the stresses of everyday life and, in the above words of British wine legend Hugh Johnson, banish a little care.
