Rejected wine going cheap
A New Zealand wine rejected by European buyers because of its high metal content is being sold at knock-down prices in New World and Pak'n Save supermarkets.
Last year, Martinborough-based Te Kairanga winery had a 4000-case shipment of its 2006 pinot noir returned after its German buyer discovered the wine's copper content exceeded European standards.
Copper sulphate or copper citrate is often added to wine to eliminate sulphurous odours produced during fermentation, but in this instance too much was added.
"This was purely and simply an error that occurred in the cellars, but while it might be above the German standard it is completely safe in terms of consumption," said Te Kairanga technical director Tony Prichard, who was appointed to the role late last year, after the affected batch had been bottled.
When the wine was returned, Te Kairanga said it had not decided what to do with it, but has since struck a deal with Foodstuffs grocery group. It is understood it will sell all 4000 cases through the New World and Pak'n Save supermarkets, at prices Te Kairanga described as "more than a 50% reduction".
Shoppers will have no way of knowing the wine's history. It is being sold under the Rosecreek label, a house brand of the German buyer who rejected it.
Te Kairanga is not listed on the label, and there is no reference it contains unusually high levels of copper, although there is no legal requirement in this country to disclose this.
Last week it was being sold at Pak'n Save Lower Hutt for $11.98.
At New World in Freemans Bay, Auckland, it was a "store special" marked down from $33.95 to $19.99.
However, consumers could be left wondering how genuine the markdown is, given Te Kairanga sold it on the basis of a "more than 50%" price reduction and this particular wine had not been sold on the domestic market before the return of the cancelled German order.
"We've taken a decision to clear it. Let's give consumers the opportunity at a bargain price," Te Kairanga chief executive Jake Jacob said.