Matua produced the first Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand forty years ago, so it has got to know its market rather well.
Not all Sauvignon Blanc tastes the same. Some people work out the style that they like by trial and error. Others have done their research and know a bit about what to look for on the bottle such as region, vintage, winemaker and alcohol content.
Matua chief winemaker, Nikolai St George, acknowledges, “It’s really a no-brainer that getting a great tasting wine is an important factor when purchasing wine.
“As a winemaker I love the versatility of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and how the flavours can vary from the very vibrant, crisp and acidic to the softer, slightly sweeter and more tropical in profile. I know what to look for, but I completely understand that wine shopping can be intimidating for a lot of people who aren’t around wine every day and don’t know the cues.
“Our research suggests that 30% of wine shoppers who don’t have a lot of knowledge about wine find choosing wine stressful - and this just shouldn’t be the case.”
So Matua decided to reduce the guesswork. On the labels of its three new Sauvignon Blancs, it added taste clues.
Matua Smooth is described as “soft and elegant”, Matua Crisp - “fresh and tropical”, and Matua Lighter - “cool and fragrant”. Together with the wine’s vintage and region, these descriptions aim to reduce ambiguity and help wine drinkers make informed choices
“We want to shake the industry norms a little and take the confusion and stress out of wine shopping to give wine lovers the confidence to pick the right style for them. More Sauvignon Blanc is sold in Australia than any other white wine, so it’s the perfect place to start,” St George added.
