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august 2015 / the tasting panel / 97 In New Zealand, Marlborough is often rec- ognized as the birthplace of the country's wine industry. Located at the northern tip of the South Island, Marlborough consists of three sub-divisions, including the Awatere Valley, a unique geographical crossroads and home to The Crossings winery. "The Crossings' name is derived from our strategic location in the Awatere Valley, where early 19th-century pioneers first crossed the fast flowing Awatere River," says Jeff Fyfe, Senior Winemaker and Marlborough native. With five years working at renowned Marlborough winery Villa Maria as well as significant vintage experience in Burgundy, California and Tasmania, Fyfe rededicated his career to redefining the boundaries of excellence in the Awatere Valley as leader of The Crossings' winemaking team. The Awatere Valley is remarkably different from the other parts of Marlborough, primarily in terms of climate and soil. Weather conditions are more extreme, from high winds to low rainfall, and high diurnal temperature changes [very hot days followed by cold nights]. This results in lower cropping, slower ripening and concentrated grapes that produce wines with intense fruit flavors, fresh acidity and balance. The diversity of soil structures in The Crossings' vineyards comes from ancient glaciers that carved out the valley, leaving alluvial stony deposits, glacial outwash and grey clay mixed with limestone, which lends a characteristic mineral acidity and crisp freshness to the wine that is unique to the Awatere. "We are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with three vineyard sites, each with distinct terroir variations," explains Fyfe. "The longer growing season of the Awatere increases the hang time of the fruit and allows for maximum flavor development. In many ways, The Crossings is the purest expression of what Marlborough has to offer." In keeping with the pioneering spirit of those early settlers who crossed the Awatere River, The Crossings is commit- ted to sustainable winegrowing practices. The agricultural methods enforced by Fyfe's team elevate The Crossings' production, which is 100% estate grown, to a higher level of quality. The Crossings participates in a rigorous, independent external audit called carboNZero certification, which demands year-on-year improvements in managing and offsetting carbon emissions. All three vineyards are also fully accredited through the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand program. This entails limited use of machinery, replacing mechanical mowers with grazing sheep for grass and weed control, using natural predators as vineyard pest control, monitoring soil water to prevent unnecessary irrigation and composting grape pomace for use as mulch. Renato Reyes, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits Chief Marketing Officer, takes pride in bringing these special wines into all 50 U.S. states. "It has always been our goal to produce the highest quality wines possible at an excel- lent value for consumers," he says. "Most people know the Marlborough region, but The Crossings allows them to discover the beauty of the Awatere Valley." The Crossings 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99) This wine shows lifted notes of bell pepper and passion fruit, underpinned with citrus notes. The palate is full with pure fruit flavors, yet balanced with a persistent, crisp mineral finish. For this wine, eight premium parcels of Sauvignon Blanc were identified from exclusive Awatere Valley vineyards and were harvested at the optimal time. Each parcel was picked and fermented separately, allow- ing varietal character to be enhanced using carefully selected yeast strains. Enjoy with both fresh and cooked seafood dishes such as oysters, prawns and fish. The Crossings 2013 Pinot Noir ($18.99) This expressive Pinot Noir has aromas of black plums and violets. Ripe berry fruit flavors combine with savory notes on the palate to produce a wine that is both elegant and approachable. The cool nights of the valley con- tributed to a short and very intense ripening period for the Pinot, which helped to develop healthy grapes with intense fruit flavors. Across the Palate: Tasting Notes