Our wine and what we produce
THE WINE
Our wines are lovingly produced in French oak barriques over an 18 month period in our underground cellar. Possibly the most beautiful cellar room in Waiheke.
Influenced by old world styled wine and grape varieties, our wines are produced with a respect for nature and minimal intervention on the wine making process. Focus is on quality above all else with the majority of vineyard work carried out by hand.
All the fruit used for Poderi Crisci wines is estate grown and selectively hand harvested. The grapes are extensively sorted in the vineyard to ensure that only the very best fruit comes into the winery, a second more intensive sorting process is then carried out prior the crushing, finishing with a natural melalactic and aged in French oak barrique using 25% of new oak for the red varieties.
THE GARDEN
One of the finest examples of a kitchen garden lines the entrance to Poderi Crisci. It is not uncommon to see the chefs in the garden sourcing what are definitely the freshest possible ingredients and herbs. Our garden is carefully managed by our talented head gardener providing fresh seasonal produce all year round.
From a bountiful herb garden, salad leaves and tomatoes, to artichokes, figs, pumpkin and some of the finest zucchini you will ever see. We truly believe you cannot match the goodness that comes when you go straight from the garden to plate. Via the kitchen of course.
The garden highlights the importance that we place in fresh ingredients used with high quality condiments such as our own olive oil and Sapa. Finish your meal with Agrumetto Citrus liqueur, Aquavite and other Italian influenced speciality products created at the vineyard.
Another reason things just taste better at Poderi Crisci.
Wine Notes
Poderi Crisci Zefiro – A new, exciting addition to our range. A prosecco style sparkling pinot grigio with the most flirtatious fine bean that dances over the palate. Crisp, dry yet flavoursome, a great way to start the day.
Poderi Crisci Ombra – An exciting Sparkling Rose with a fine yeasty, fresh bakery character reminiscent of Champagne. Floral nose contains hints of wild strawberry, peach nectarine and cassis. On the Palate, fine beads, very refreshing dry aperitif style. Wild Blackberry and Peachy with a great mouth feel and good length.
Poderi Crisci Rose (Merlot Predominant) – A great example of a Merlot Bianco style wine in the fashion of the southern French and Italian Roses. From Merlot grapes, the Rose displays light summer fruits with a flinty earthy character. The Salmon blush hints at the body, light and playful, a fresh lively Rosé, with a great structure with a very refreshing palate, dry style with a lingering fresh finish to stand up to all great summer luncheons. .
Poderi Crisci Pinot Grigio – Subtle pale straw with mineral notes, pear, quince and honeydew melon on the nose. Hints of roses and Turkish delight starting to come through but still hidden by flinty minerality. Quite rich but also very focused, more pinot grigio floral character on the palate wixed with orange zest. Good mineral drive on the finish.
Poderi Crisci Arneis – Poderi Crisci proudly lines up against a select group of NZ vineyards producing this exciting and cheeky variety from the Piemonte region in the north of Italy. Arneis is a colloquial term, translating to “Little Rascal”, a wine that exhibits intense citrus notes with apple, pear and vanilla in a bone dry style. A refreshing wine that is best enjoyed with delicate seafoods, sunshine, and company. Poderi Crisci is currently producing the only Waiheke grown Arneis.
Poderi Crisci Chardonnay – An elegant Chardonnay with a flirtatious light straw colour. Incredibly complex, flinty nose offering hints of freshly grilled nuts (almond) and marzipan alongside zests of citrus fruits.. A very finely structured wine with a good drive leading into a great lingering finish. An unmistakable Burgundian style Chardonnay.
Poderi Crisci “Viburno” (Merlot / Cabernet Franc / Montepulciano) – The Viburno exhibits a strength of flavor and aging potential, with more subtle tannins flirting with the palate. Intense dark fruits, leather and spicy notes are balanced with a smooth body and elegant full mouth feel. A special wine that is best appreciated with lamb and beef, but equally comfortable with a robust pasta.
Poderi Crisci Merlot Riserva (Merlot 100%) – The Merlot Riserva, offers a very concentrated, intense nose, full of black fruit and cigar box with leather and burnt cocoa, showing great Merlot concentration. An equally rich palate offers ripe black berry and also cherries, cigar box fine cedary tannins and chocolate, cocoa after taste, very big wine with great elegance. A very refined and balanced Merlot with great aging potential.
Poderi Crisci Montepulciano – A very well balanced wine offering leather, berry and rosemary notes on the nose. The palate is smooth, refined and complex offering lots of earthy dark berry notes, a hint of cinnamon and spices compliment the silken tannins leading to a long, pleasant off dry finish. Wild mushrooms and anise compliment the medium mouth feel the wine has to offer.
Poderi Crisci Syrah – The Poderi Crisci Syrah is an unmistakable Burgundian style Syrah, exhibiting smooth cigar box and cedar wood notes on the nose. A silken dark plum and cherry on the palate followed by a finish laden with spice, pepper and liquorice combine to make this wine attractive to a wide audience and leaves a lasting impression.
Agrumetto (375ml) – Citrus liqueur produced from fresh Waiheke Citrus fruits. in an artisan method with traditional family recipe from Napoli.
AcquaVite (375ml) – Produced from selected grapes, a more refined digestive than traditional Grappa due to the method of production. Very intense cinnamon and spice characteristics.
