Kim Crawford's wife's name is Erica. He's not a lesbian and neither is she, but they have a lot of gay friends and have for many years enjoyed a drink at a local Auckland gay bar. On a visit to Toronto last summer, Erica Crawford explained the name: "One night there was a group of us and someone said 'you should make a gay wine' and someone else said 'yeah, and it's gotta be called Pansy!"
Pansy! is not the only "gay" wine in the world - there's one made right here in Ontario by Daniel Lenko, called Chardonngay.
But back to Pansy!, "It wasn't at all thought through or researched," said Erica. "We just did it. Gays have always been in my life. When I lived in Cape Town I shared a flat with a flaming queen from the Bronx."
For winemaker Kim Crawford it was obvious that a gay wine should be a rosé and he made the first one in 2002. The grapes vary from year to year and are sometimes blends - the 2008 is all merlot, for example. Pictured is the 2007 bottle (which cost a dollar less btw - I thought inflation was like 1 percent or something...)
Another of Kim Crawford's wines sounds suspiciously like a nightclub where the homosexually inclined might be found dancing with their shirts off, but that's not why it's called "Boyszone". The name is in fact a memorial to one of the Crawfords' main grape grower's sons. The family had four boys, all of whom helped out in the vineyard. The youngest, then 19 years old, was using a tractor on a hillside when it tipped over, pinned him down and he died. The block of vines he was working on had been managed exclusively by the boys and was called the "boys' zone". Kim Crawford has named the pinot gris that comes from it Boyszone in his honour.
At the recent New Zealand Wine Fair at the Design Exchange, several Kim Crawford wines were on display. Though he's well known for his fine sauvignon blanc, which is a Vintages Essential and is usually in good supply, Crawford was showing off some of his others, including a good riesling.
Pansy! by Kim Crawford
Pansy! Rosé 2008. $17.95
Gisborne, North Island
Very pink colour and a somewhat muted nose of red berry fruit. Big contrast on the palate as it explodes in the mouth with cherry, raspberry and cranberry fruit. Great acidity keeps it fresh and it's nicely smooth, there's some sweetness and in general this is pretty big and brash New World style rose. Pick up some for Pride! 87/88 points.
Kim Crawford's signature Sauvignon Blanc - a classic of the New Zealand style - is now a "Vintages Essential", meaning it's pretty much always available. Other wines of his come and go and I'm generally always impressed with his whites. Also recently released is this fine riesling - with another cheeky name:
Kim Crawford SP The Mistress Riesling 2005. $24.95
Waipara, North Island
Lovely fresh aromatic nose with floral and mineral notes. Fairly full and zesty on the palate, which is dry and has a bit of green apple. There's a smooth but fresh finish. 88 points.
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Pansy! was released on June 6th.
Alternatively contact Crawford's Ontario agent colin.brodie@vincor.ca for more on how to order.
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