Kindeli Verano 2022

Verano (Spanish for summer) is Alex Craighead's field-blend rosé, incorporating all seven varieties planted across his organic vineyards in Upper Moutere, Nelson: Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. The grapes grow on Moutere Series clay and brown gravel soils, which retain moisture and add structure to the fruit. White varieties outnumber red in the blend, though the exact proportions shift with each vintage.

Winemaking is direct and low-intervention. The seven varieties are co-fermented in three separate lots using a native yeast starter culture that Craighead builds each harvest by naturally fermenting a small batch of crushed grapes. Techniques across the lots include stem inclusion, direct press, and short skin contact. Everything is fermented and aged in stainless steel, then blended before bottling unfined, unfiltered, and without added sulfur. Sulfites measure below 10 mg/L.

The result is pale pink with red-fruit aromatics: cherry, strawberry, and floral notes with a thread of spice from the Gewürztraminer and Syrah. The palate is dry, with brisk acidity and an easy, mouthwatering finish. This is a wine built for the table, not the cellar.