Wine Asylum

Posted by Enophile (A) on January 30, 2006 at 09:10:15

In Reply to: Does anyone know the origin of Aoraki Vineyards-Cloud Piercer Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand- posted by Carl G on January 28, 2006 at 17:43:04:

Well, I've searched high and low and can't find any record of a winery existing by that name.

Trader Joe's will often buy lots of wine made by different wine makers and have labels made that do not reflect who really made the wine. Sometimes, premium makers will have odd lots of grapes/wine that are either excess inventory or not quite up to the quality of the "main label" and they will sell them this way.

I bet that's what happened with Cloud Piercer.

Kind of neat, better quality per dollar than you'd expect!

There is another example right there at Trader Joe's with their Charles Shaw wine line - the product of Fred Franzia buying wine at about 60 bucks a ton (less than 1/3 the usual going rate for Central Valley grapes)during the recent glut and then slapping the Charles Shaw label on it. Better wine per dollar than you'd expect there, as well.

***Disclaimer: Not calling Two Buck Chuck a "fine" wine, just saying that it's about as good as a 6 dollar wine, but for less money.***

Anyway, I'll keep looking. If you have a bottle left, there may be some small clue on the back label that may lead us to the producer.