Ever stuck your nose in a glass of white and been met with a mob of punchy aromas? That type of introduction tends to be from an aromatic wine. They’re a category of white grapes that produce vibrant aromas when made into wine. 

Unlike oak-aged wines, aromatics get their oomph from the grape itself during fermentation at cool temperatures. This allows the grape’s flavours to be preserved. 

The start of spring is the perfect time to start stocking up on these fruity vinos. Here’s what we’ll be drinking. 

?Aronui Pinot Gris 

This bright pale green wine is a concentrated and powerful Pinot Gris with pear-drip, stonefruit and spice on the nose. It has a weighty and textured mouth feel, which lets the fresh fruity flavours shine through. Hands down one of our favourite aromatics. 

Brown Brothers Moscato

Musky, strong fruit flavours are at the heart of this emerging varietal. Served chilled, you’ll notice the spritzy, sherbet taste of the palate and the sweetness of the fruit. Give it a go with Thai dishes or desserts. 

Jules Taylor Gruner Veltliner

Known as ‘Groovy’ to her friends, Gruner Veltliner is a cool climate wine somewhere between an aromatic white and a chardonnay. Pale yellow in colour, delicately perfumed with white peach, plum and apple blossom, this wine is a unique offering from Jules Taylor’s Marlborough vineyard. 

Coopers Creek ‘The Little Rascal’ Arneis

This Gisborne wine pays tribute to the Arneis grape, indigenous to Piemonte in North-West Italy. Its name literally translates to ‘Little Rascal’ in the local dialect, which describes just how difficult this grape is to grow and vinify.

Expect a chameleon-like aroma – sometimes it’s lemons and grapefruit, then it’s marmalade, then it’s peach and sometimes a hint of feijoa is lobbed in. Its palate is surprisingly rich, full and textural, which gives the wine its length. 

Spy Valley Gewurztraminer

A rich and powerful wine with spice, ripe citrus and stonefruit notes. It has an assertive structure with a long crisp finish – a must with spicy food. 

Main Divide Riesling

Hailing from the South Island, Main Divide has produced an enticing aromatic wine for the summer. The wine was slowly fermented at a low temperature to lock in the fruit’s aromas. Lively, elegant flavours of white nectarines, apples and citrus mingle with an underlying spicy element.

Ara Single Estate Rosé

No summer drinks list would be complete without a token rosé, and Ara has created a superb one. As their first attempt at a rosé, they’ve turned Pinot Noir grapes into the ultimate summer beverage – intense fruity flavours with a long, dry finish.