Mt Beautiful mixes business with pleasure
25/08/2010 5:21:00 p.m.
KIWI-BORN business intellectual David Teece is the Tusher professor of global business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Wife Leigh convinced him to establish a vineyard in his homeland. Rather than make for the well known regions, however, they asked some experts in the wine industry to find them a new area in which to make their mark. They came up with the Cheviot Hills, North Canterbury.
The Mt Beautiful vineyard is on land rich with agricultural history. It is part of the former Cheviot Hills station, one of the largest and most valuable in Canterbury during the 19th century. It was purchased by the government in the 1890s and sold off in lots as part of a policy to break up the big estates. In 2004 it was planted with grapes and joined the industry making modern agricultural history – wine.
Mt Beautiful makes varietally interesting wines around the $20 price point.
Mt Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc 2009 ($18) is a far cry from typical savs and much more food friendly. It’s fairly refined compared to its big fruity friends from over the Kaikouras, but good with food, like a Caesar Salad with crunchy croutons, parmesan, capers and anchovies.
Mt Beautiful Riesling 2008 ($20 at Regional) is top notch, with mandarin blossom aromas, layers of flavours from grapefruit pith to sherbet, and a nice long finish.
Wine of the week: The first vintage of Mt Beautiful Cheviot Hills Pinot Gris 2009 ($20) sets the bar for would-be gris producers. Made in the much sought after dry style it is rich and spicy like pear, apple and cinnamon crumble. Exuberant acidity is mellowed by a creaminess from six months on lees, the dead yeast that sinks to the bottom of the barrel.
There is a touch of heat there (14.5% alcohol will do that) but it is predominantly smooth and moreish with a pleasant leesy complexity. Beautiful.
Wife Leigh convinced him to establish a vineyard in his homeland. Rather than make for the well known regions, however, they asked some experts in the wine industry to find them a new area in which to make their mark. They came up with the Cheviot Hills, North Canterbury.
The Mt Beautiful vineyard is on land rich with agricultural history. It is part of the former Cheviot Hills station, one of the largest and most valuable in Canterbury during the 19th century. It was purchased by the government in the 1890s and sold off in lots as part of a policy to break up the big estates. In 2004 it was planted with grapes and joined the industry making modern agricultural history – wine.
Mt Beautiful makes varietally interesting wines around the $20 price point.
Mt Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc 2009 ($18) is a far cry from typical savs and much more food friendly. It’s fairly refined compared to its big fruity friends from over the Kaikouras, but good with food, like a Caesar Salad with crunchy croutons, parmesan, capers and anchovies.
Mt Beautiful Riesling 2008 ($20 at Regional) is top notch, with mandarin blossom aromas, layers of flavours from grapefruit pith to sherbet, and a nice long finish.
Wine of the week: The first vintage of Mt Beautiful Cheviot Hills Pinot Gris 2009 ($20) sets the bar for would-be gris producers. Made in the much sought after dry style it is rich and spicy like pear, apple and cinnamon crumble. Exuberant acidity is mellowed by a creaminess from six months on lees, the dead yeast that sinks to the bottom of the barrel.
There is a touch of heat there (14.5% alcohol will do that) but it is predominantly smooth and moreish with a pleasant leesy complexity. Beautiful.
