Leveret Estate Viognier

The story of Leveret Estate is long winded and, in all honesty, will bore your socks off. Something about a leveret being a baby hare, three hares featuring on the label, their ears connecting to make a triangular symbol, that symbol was used by an old tin merchant, it goes on and on.

What’s more interesting is Leveret Estate is actually owned by the guys that used to own Morton Estate and if you know anything about Hawke’s Bay and Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay you’ll know Morton made their name off making wine in The Bay region for a decade or more – including winning Best Chardonnay in the World back in the 90s!

They only produce wines under the Leveret Estate name when they think the fruit is A-grade stuff. Clearly it is seeing as it got listed in Michael Cooper’s list of “NZ’s less-familiar white wines well worth checking out” in the NZ Listener magazine.

“Ready to roll, this bright, light lemon/green wine offers easy drinking, with a touch of class. Full-bodied (14% alc/vol), it has generous, ripe, stonefruit flavours, enriched by a delicate oak influence, and a harmonious, smooth finish”

If you’re into this style of white you’re in for a treat. If you’re new to this style then you’re probably wondering how on earth you pronounce it first of all! It’s “vee-on-yay” and it’s a full bodied, rich and spicy style white that makes a perfect partner to spicy cuisine, especially Asian!