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 The first time Reunion Island-born entrepreneur Georges Michel visited New Zealand with his wife Huguette in 1994, they knew they were viewing a piece of the future. As owner of Chateau de Grandmont, a wine estate in Beaujolais/Burgundy, Georges was already heartedly enamoured by wine. In 1997 Georges and Huguette visited again, found the piece of land they were looking for and Domaine Georges Michel was born. New vines were planted and the winery revamped with the inclusion of new stainless tanks and French oak barrels. Then in 2000 a further 12 hectares were planted. With the aim of producing 200,000 bottles of fine wines from an annual crush of 200 tonnes of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir .
The first Sauvignon Blanc was released in 1998 followed by an oak-aged Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir crafted by the prestigious French winemaker Guy Brac de la Perriere, a man from one of France's oldest winemaking dynasties, who visits Domaine Georges Michel regularly to oversee production. Since then Georges Michel's wines have been awarded numerous national and international Awards including Top Gold Awards in the USA and Australia. Georges's daughter, Swan, joined the winemaking team in 2004. In 2005, after the vintage at the New Zealand family winery, Swan will be part of the winemaking team at the famous Clos des Lambray ( Ler Cru - Burgundy - France)
The stunning winery and its wine, gift and gourmet shop are open to the public . The restaurant "La Veranda", a huge Victorian villa in the style of languid Reunion Island dwellings, invites you to relax in the tranquil surroundings of the Richmond Ranges.
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Our People
Georges Michel - Director
Guy Brac de la Perriere - Winemaker
Swan Michel - Assistant Winemaker |
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Sample Tasting Notes: |
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Golden Mile Sauvignon Blanc 2005 |
Continuing the gold medal standard of our previous Sauvignon Blanc, and using grapes selected only from the Rapaura region this excellent wine perpetuates a winning tradition. A very typical Marlborough Sauvignon that showcases ripe fruit-filled gooseberry flavours and herbaceous aromas of freshly cut grass. The dry, lingering palate springs to life with zingy and zestful characteristics synonymous with this region |
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La Reserve Pinot Noir 2004 |
Fresh, vibrant and bright ruby in colour, this pinot noir displays a beautifully fragrant bouquet of spicy overtones, damp forest floor, ripe fruit and licorice, integrated with subtle oak characters. Finely balanced, complex and supple, the savoury palate reveals cherry compote flavours seasoned with fine French oak (13 months) leading to a long silky finish. |
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La Reserve Chardonnay 2002 |
Hazelnut and Vanilla aromas give way to delicate fruit flavours of guava and rock melon. Matured in French oak, the wine opens out to an elegant well-balanced palate with a lingering and classical finish. |
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