From the atlas
Goldschmidt Vineyards
Goldschmidt Vineyards makes Sauvignon Blanc from a named Marlborough vineyard and adapts production to each area.
At A Glance
| Field | Detail |
| Region | Marlborough, New Zealand |
| Main grape | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Bottles | Boulder Bank Sauvignon Blanc and Forefathers Sauvignon Blanc |
| Defining feature | Handcrafted, small production artisan wines |
The Producer
Nick Goldschmidt grew up in New Zealand, lived in Australia, Chile and Argentina, and now lives in Healdsburg. He consults for 26 wineries in 6 countries and owns winery operations in 4 nations. Goldschmidt Vineyards makes handcrafted, small production artisan wines from named vineyards and individual grape varieties. His approach is to make wine appropriate to each area.
Boulder Bank Sauvignon Blanc comes from Marlborough, New Zealand. Forefathers is another Sauvignon Blanc bottling with its own harvest and cellar treatment.
Place
Boulder Bank vineyard sits in Marlborough, New Zealand. Boulder Bank Sauvignon Blanc puts the vineyard name beside Sauvignon Blanc on the label. Its single vineyard designation means the grapes come from one named vineyard, so the bottle pairs a place name with a grape variety.
Soil And Site
Boulder Bank's soil comprises river rock and sandy loam typical of vineyards near the Opawa River. Salinity in the soil imparts minerality to the finished wine.
Story
In 1998, Nick and Yolyn Goldschmidt released their own line of wines under Goldschmidt Vineyards. Nick Goldschmidt adapts production to each area, and the Marlborough bottling puts Boulder Bank, the vineyard name, beside Sauvignon Blanc on the label.
Vineyards And Cellar
At Boulder Bank, Nick Goldschmidt oversees a meticulous viticultural regimen and visits Marlborough to ensure it is followed. Forefathers Sauvignon Blanc is machine harvested at 2:00 am for maximum cold temperatures, immediately pressed and inoculated, then cold fermented entirely in stainless steel. It is aged on the lees for 3 months to accentuate creaminess. Lees are the spent yeast cells left after fermentation, and contact with them can soften the texture.
Wines
The named wines are organized around Sauvignon Blanc. Boulder Bank is the Marlborough bottle named for a vineyard. Forefathers is a separate Sauvignon Blanc bottling with an early machine harvest, immediate pressing, cold stainless steel fermentation and lees ageing. Boulder Bank carries the vineyard name; Forefathers carries the more explicit cellar method, with Sauvignon Blanc in both.
In The Glass
The Sauvignon Blancs are pale straw in colour. Forefathers opens with citrus blossom, apricot, pear and nectarine on the nose, then moves to white flowers and honeysuckle on the palate. Its finish is lingering and mouthwatering.
A Bottle To Understand It
Boulder Bank Sauvignon Blanc is the first bottle to open. It comes from Boulder Bank vineyard in Marlborough and uses Sauvignon Blanc alone. Its palate carries makrut lime, hibiscus and fresh herbs, finishing bright.
Anecdote
Nick Goldschmidt grew up in New Zealand, lived in Australia, Chile and Argentina, and now lives in Healdsburg. He visits Marlborough several times per year to ensure his meticulous viticultural regimen is followed at Boulder Bank. He checks the vineyard work in person at a named site in Marlborough, New Zealand, where the wine is Sauvignon Blanc. Goldschmidt Vineyards makes handcrafted, small production artisan wines from named vineyards. Boulder Bank Sauvignon Blanc carries the vineyard name.
Final Word
Goldschmidt Vineyards makes Sauvignon Blanc through named vineyards and distinct cellar choices. Boulder Bank carries the Marlborough vineyard name, while Forefathers uses an early harvest, stainless steel fermentation and lees ageing.
Sources
- https://goldschmidtvineyards.com/winemaker/
- https://goldschmidtvineyards.com/wines/boulder-bank/
- https://calwinecountry.com/nick-goldschmidt/
- https://goldschmidtvineyards.com/wines/forefathers-2/