Sun-dried wines have been made since the 5th century BC, and ‘Amarone’ wines from northern Italy are the most famous examples. But they should definitely be looking over their shoulders, because this Brookfields malbec is a cracker. Handpicked fruit is sun-dried in trays a few meters outside of the winery. Then, when the grapes start to ‘raisin,’ they’re crushed and fermented in open-top tanks before resting in old oak barrels. Cinnamon, mocha, dark berries, and bodaciousness abound.
Spaghetti puttanesca? Yes!
www.brookfieldsvineyards.co.nz
