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Cape Campbell 2008 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
 Usually
I just write about the wine I am reviewing, but occasionally I also
write about the company producing the wine, this is one of those
occasions. The reason to write about Cape Campbell is simple; it is
the 6th New Zealand winery to achieve carboNZero certification.
Landcare Research’s carboNZero programme offers highly acclaimed
greenhouse gas certification and comes after Cape Campbell set
themselves an environmental challenge to address the impact of the
greenhouse gas emissions associated with the winery’s use of
electricity and fossil fuels used in the organisation, production
and distribution of its wines. Working in partnership with Landcare
Research, Cape Campbell used international standards to measure its
greenhouse gas emissions, then continually sought to reduce these as
much as possible, as well as offsetting the remaining unavoidable
emissions by purchasing verified carbon credits from wind farm
projects.
The carboNZero certification involves three important steps
including measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions then
finally offsetting or mitigating the remaining unavoidable
emissions. The entire process is then independently verified to
ensure its credibility and integrity.
Ann Smith, carboNZero programme Technical Manager says “I am
delighted to welcome Cape Campbell to our growing family of
carboNZero certified wineries and wines. Cape Campbell has set an
excellent example for other New Zealand companies, showing how
putting company environmental ethics into practice can add value to
a product.”
Cape Campbell’s wines are all now carboNZero certified products and
the winery’s Marketing Director, Dion Brown expects this to fuel
future growth in domestic and export sales.
“Wine drinkers all around the world are increasingly aware of the
environment and are keen to embrace wines produced using
environmentally sustainable practices,” he says.
Cape Campbell’s wines will carry the carboNZero certification logo
on all its wines sold throughout New Zealand, the UK, Europe, North
America, Australia and Asia. Other New Zealand wineries to achieve
certification include: Dry River, Huia Vineyards, Kaimira Ventures,
Wairau Valley and The New Zealand Wine Company.
And now to this week’s wine, Cape Campbell’s 2008 Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc. I must firstly point out that after all the work
that went into ensuring this wine was carbon neutral, you feel a bit
guilty travelling by car to pick it up from the shop or drinking it
at home with hot food under lights. It feels like it would be more
appropriate to walk to the shop to buy it, then take a trek up the
nearest forest covered mountain, sit by a mountain stream and enjoy
it with a salad made from plant leaves and berries you have gathered
along the way.
I didn’t do that, however, and must admit that I even had to have
the heat pump on while I enjoyed the wine with my evening meal. I
found this pleasant pale coloured wine to have aromas of peach
pineapple and pear, actually probably better described as fruit
salad. The bouquet is more subtle than a lot of New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc and therefore might appeal more to those who can
find the strong vibrant aromas less appealing. On the palate I also
found the wine has a subtle note about it along with a medium dry
feel. The flavours are of citrus, especially pink grapefruit and
lime, with the characteristic Sauvignon Blanc gooseberry flavour,
and notes of fresh herbs. The palate is of good length making it a
pleasant, easy drinking wine.
Even though it uses electricity and some will complain about the
effects on the environment (especially to our depleted fish stocks),
I would recommend trying this wine with pan fried fish coated with
herbs and served with a splash of lemon juice.
Reviewed by Stephen Clark (4/5/2009)
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