The Antipodean Sommelier is a privately owned, vineyard owner, producer, brand owner, importer and distributor, whose sole focus is to supply Independent Merchants and Regional On-Trade Wholesale, with great value, award winning wines, from New Zealand and Australia. We are owners of Snapper Rock, whose Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir comes from our very own vineyards in Marlborough's Wairau and Awatere Valleys. We work with the legendary Tony Bish on his groundbreaking Hawkes Bay Chardonnay and from the far south, we import the awesome Coal Pit and Neck of the Woods (Central Otago). We have some really interesting Lo-Fi Wines under the Vandal label and epic premium wines from David Clouston at Two Rivers and Louis Vavasour at Awatere River. Add to that, Silent Noise wines from Young Gun Charlie O'Brien in Mclaren Vale and the terrific value for money Growers Touch range from Australia and our current portfolio is complete...but watch this space.....2023 will be bringing some new additions!
The Antipodean Sommelier Catalogue
New Zealand Bottled. Single Vineyard. Made the Wine Magazine NZ Top 50 in 2023. Judges described it as "the best value wine of the day"
Delicious, Juicy, Off Dry style. Single Vineyard with only 400 cases made each vintage. Another Wine Merchant Mag NZ Top 50 entry. "Floral, Petrol, Fresh and Linear" said he judges. "Well balanced with a good long finish"
An Italian inspired field Blend of Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, Zibibbo, Fiano and Greco Blanc, this wine is fresh, crisp with notes of lifted white flowers and herbal back notes.
100% Barrel Fermented Chardonnay from the legendary Tony Bish and his Urban Winery in Napier. Made the Wine Merchant Mag NZ Top 50 amongst some more famous (and more expensive( competition. Th judges reckoned that Bish's Heartwood Chardonnay is a typically complex creation..."light smoke, lees, clove spice, Vanilla pod, lme and grapefruit all coming together on a fresh and racy palate". We reckon it has a touch of the old world about it....mini Mersault anyone?
One sunny day, whilst having a couple of beerzies, three Marlborough based winemakers decided to collaborate and make wines together under a single brand - Vandal. This ‘side project’ gives each member scope to make wines they would not normally have the opportunity to put to bottle. These wines could be considered a bit ‘weird’ in a conventional sense, however, at the core of the Vandal ethos is ensuring drinkability, so don’t freak out just yet.... Wines are made in very small quantities with minimal intervention and low sulphur additions. When possible the wines are sourced from organic vineyards. Ethos | credo | personnel dynamicWhy vandal | gonzo | bats? Vandal | The Vandals stuck it to the man, or more specifically the Roman Empire. Gonzo | Things never got weird enoughBats | They are cool. Be yourself, unless you’re batman...then be batman 2 0 2 2 G o n z o M i l i t i a f i e l d b l e n d o f C h a r d o n n a y , P i n o t G r i s , V i o g n i e r , P i n o t N o i r , S y r a h , R i e s l i n g , T e m p r a n i l l o a n d m a l b e c All fruit sourced a unique single vineyard in the Southern Valleys of Marlborough. All varieties were harvested on the same day. Fruit was destemmed and remained on skins for 24 hours. Spontaneous co-fermentation in seasoned French oak barrels 100% malo lactic fermentation. 6 months aging on full yeast lees. Put to bottle un-fined and unfiltered.
The brainchild of a mate of ours called AJ Johnson with winemaking duties falling to Jen Parr (of Valli fame), sourced from Bendigo in Central Otago. AJ's slightly forward philosphy "we're not interested in making mass produced s***" is proudly displated on the back of the bottle. It's another of our wines to make this years Wine Merchant Mag NZ Top 50 with he judges desribing it as "invitingly soft and smooth - really goof texture and deliciously ripe, well judged fruit. For the price, we reckon it's a belter!
If things were not weird enough, here comes Pet Bat for a second vintage. Very limited quantities 2 0 2 2 P e t B a t ‘ P é t i l l a n t - N a t u r e l ’ M u s c a t 3 0 % a n d C h a r d o n n a y 7 0 % Hand harvest fruit was sourced from a 30 year old single vineyard in the Southern Valleys of Marlborough. Grapes were gently pressed and co-fermented ‘wild’ in seasoned French barriques at ambient temperatures with high solids. At roughly 10 g/l residual sugar the wine was bottled to capture natural effervescence. Harmless yeast sediment remains in the bottle as a consequence.
2 0 2 2 G o n z o C o m b a t R o u g e B l e n d o f P i n o t N o i r , V i o g n i e r a n d C a b e r n e t F r a n c Inter-regional blend. Pinot noir and Viognier sourced from a site in the Southern Valleys Marlborough with the Cab Franc being soured from a site in the Hawkes Bay. 70% whole cluster, spontaneous carbonic fermentation. No pump over or plunging. 6 months aging in seasoned French oak barrels. Put to bottle un-fined and unfiltered.
Yes, it is called "MF" Extraordinary fuchsia colour with gorgeous aromatic flavours of intense concentrated raspberries mixed with memories of Berry Hubba Bubba bubble gum. Dried cherry biscotti make an appearance and there are suggestions of perfumed ripe rockmelon and hints of smoky mescal. The palate is round and gently spiced, wrapped in a gossamer blanket of desirable red fruit with bewitching yet subtle citrus notes.
Silent Noise is the new project of young Charlie O’Brien, son of famed McLaren Vale winemaker Kevin O’Brien of Kangarilla Road. Kevin is around to help source the fruit and consult on winemaking; but the distinctive name and branding is very much Charlie’s idea, contrasting the noise of winemaking - belts, crusher and presses - with the silence of the bottles waiting to be opened. Fruit sourced from the ultra low yielding, 35 year old vines of the Maslin Beach vineyard. Smoky, dark and brooding. This is a deeply perfumed elegant wine showing a multi layered nose of earthy beetroot, game, sweet citrus oil and a delicate hint of creme patisserie.