New Zealand's Lindauer switches to Australian grapes to cut costs

Top New Zealand sparkling wine brand Lindauer will be made largely with Australian rather than Kiwi grapes in an attempt to cut costs, as from next week.

Previously made from all New Zealand fruit grown in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, the Lindauer Classic Brut will in future be made from grapes sourced from Australia, while the Classic Rose will be a blend of Australian and New Zealand fruit.  

“As with everything that’s happening at the moment, costs have increased significantly for us," said Jane de Witt, head winemaker at Lindauer owner Lion. "We’ve really struggled to find the volume and the quality that we’re happy with to ensure the quality and the value that our consumers expect. Costs are increasing, so if we are to supply Lindauer to the consumer at the same or similar price point we just couldn’t continue using New Zealand grapes."

The new classic Brut and Classic Rose grapes will be sourced from South Australia, which provides the best climate for the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinotage grapes used in the styles and best replicate the New Zealand grapes that had been previously used. While de Witt said she was initially disappointed to be forced to use foreign grapes, she now says she’s “really happy with what we’ve got in the bottle.” 

Great effort has been putting into keeping both the Brut and Rose consistent, as De Witt said you can never underestimate consumers’ ability to notice any difference. The shift to using Australian grapes is a permanent one, with the only other Lindauer wine made from  non-New Zealand grapes being the Prosecco, which uses Italian fruit.