Our CEO MJ Loza takes a detour from Duloc to wine…
My eldest son recently turned twenty-three, and is still passionately devoted to Shrek. Not ironically. Not nostalgically. Properly devoted. He once stood up in Year Twelve English and delivered a speech titled “Why Shrek Is Possibly the Best Film Ever Made.” It was a risky topic for a teenager with a grade on the line, yet he backed it. He believed in it. And yes, he did pretty well. Commitment counts.
One of the things he loves most is the soundtrack. The line from All Star that goes something like: “What’s wrong with taking the back streets, you never know if you don’t go, you never shine if you don’t glow.” A simple message dressed in nineties pop. Try something new. Wander a little. Take chances.
That same sentiment applies to wine. Many of us come to wine as novices, thinking wine has a “correct” path. Certain regions to revere. Certain critics to trust. The list of “must-sees” in the tourist brochure. A map already drawn before we arrive.
Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes all we have time for, or budget for, or interest in, is a quick package tour of the highlights reel. I’ve seen the Mona Lisa, tick. Here’s me holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, snap. Some experiences stand on their own, and sometimes it’s enough to appreciate something at face value. A majestic cathedral, or a stunning piece of art, or a beautiful coastline. But if you’re interested, the experience can be heightened ten-fold by wandering deeper, by reading the information board that explains the tragedy or miracle or inspiration behind the artist, or the role a place played in events that shaped the world’s history.
Wine is like that back road. It’s more like discovery than doctrine. It is not about finding the most expensive bottle, or the one most esteemed by this critic or that. It is about finding what you like. Then, if you’re interested to explore a bit more, or go deeper, the wine that makes you feel something, or that reflects the season and the soil and the choices of the hands that made it.
And if you end up loving something you weren’t ‘supposed’ to love, to hell with it. Own and enjoy whatever your ‘Shrek’ happens to be. Life is richer when we let ourselves wander. When we follow the things that truly delight us.
Sometimes the backstreets lead us somewhere far more interesting than the main road ever could.
Our goal is to produce genuinely cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir recognised amongst the world’s finest – but if you’d like to explore beyond our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines there is a world of varieties to whet your appetite, and palate.
As we’ve enjoyed a warm, dry start to autumn, I’ve been loving our just-released Smith & Sheth CRU Heretaunga Albariño from the 2025 vintage. Steve claims it’s the best Albariño we’ve made and with its salty lemon characters sitting alongside rich nectarines and cashew, I’d have no qualms recommending it to a Chardonnay-loving friend. Same goes with our CRU Heretaunga Cabernet Franc as an occasional detour for Pinot Noir lovers who find Bordeaux blends too big or Bordeaux blend drinkers who find Pinot Noir too delicate. It’s a wine with body, florals, dark fruits and beautifully soft tannins … one to bring red wine lovers together!
MJ Loza
CEO, Aotearoa NZ Fine Wine Estates
Pyramid Valley, Smith & Sheth, Lowburn Ferry
MJ's recommended detours for the curious, the Smith & Sheth CRU Heretaunga Albariño and Cabernet Franc, are available now. Click through for details on these wines and current availability.
