Michael Brown
This Kiwi describes his winemaking as "a little erotic"
- Based in Nelson, New Zealand, winemaker recently won best New Zealand White for under �10 at the Decanter Wine Awards
- So we were chuffed when he agreed to produce two tasty whites exclusively for Naked Wines
- A very talented guy who loves making wines he believes everyone other than a complete 'wowser' can relate to!
Michael Brown's Story
Michael Brown's Story
My leap into the world of wine started at University. As well as realising that there was life beyond bag-in-the-box student wine, I knew that a career as a winemaker would provide a great combination of growing things, a bit of science, a bit of art, a bit of talking it up, and a lot of enjoyment of the product!
It's a job that allows you to do something different as the seasons change, and avoid doing the same old drudge every day. I love making a product that everyone except a complete 'wowser' can relate to, and it certainly doesn�t stall the conversation when people ask what do you do for a living!
What are my 5 key winemaking philosophies? Well...
- Concentration. It's vital you concentrate in the vineyard, vital in making a quality wine
- Texture. You have to build up the layers of a wine
- Balance. All the elements of a wine need to be in harmony
- Finishing. Polishing and rounding are key
- Drinkability. I want to make elegant wines that are pleasant to drink, not big, showy, statement wines
Another important consideration for me is minimal intervention. Waimea Estates is accredited to Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, following best practice to grow grapes with minimal impact on the land. The idea being that you leave the land in a better state that when you started farming it!
I hope you enjoy my wines!
A few other Naked facts about Michael:
- He compares himself to a Pinot Gris � a lush wine and a lush winemaker!
- His favourite wine is a Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris
- He won a total of 14 medals during 2008 for his winemaking skills, and was recently awarded the Decanter Wine Awards Trophy for Best New Zealand White under �10
- There's one small thing that annoys him about the job; being told by his doctor that he must have 'non-drinking' days (not good when there's so much good wine to be tasted in the name of research!)
- His favourite winemaking experience? Plunging red ferments by foot, which he described a being a little erotic! �It's spa pool temperature, an aerobic exercise in an anaerobic environment, involves alcohol fumes, and let�s face it, you�re semi-naked in $100 grand�s worth of Pinot Noir��
- If he wasn't making wine, he can imagine himself either making or consuming beer. Or cheese
- And his pearl of winemaking wisdom would be... �Be empirical and pragmatic, and work out what the important things to get right truly are��
