Weekend wine guide: Quality second label wines from top producers to try now

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Michael Cooper has 45 wine books and several literary awards to his credit. In the 2004 New Year Honours, Michael was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Many top producers offer good-quality, good-value wines under a different label. Photo / Getty Images

Looking for an affordable way to taste wines from a top producer? Around the world, many wineries release a “second label”, based on grapes harvested from young or more heavily cropped vines, or matured in old rather than expensive new oak barrels.

The good news is that second label wines can offer great value and be more enjoyable in their youth than an estate’s premier bottling, designed for cellaring. Main Divide wines are made by Waipara-based Pegasus Bay; Rabbit Ranch wines flow from Gibbston-based Chard Farm.

Rabbit Ranch Bright Eyes Central Otago White Pinot Noir 2024

★★★★

This distinctive white wine was crafted from pinot noir grapes, separated swiftly from their skins. Full-bodied, it is a rather chardonnay-like wine, drinking well in its youth. It has strong, fresh, peachy, spicy, slightly buttery flavours, a hint of tannin and a dry finish. (13% alc/vol) $23

Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Chardonnay 2023

★★★½

This is a vibrant, “fruit-driven” style of chardonnay (meaning not obviously oak-influenced). Still youthful, it is full-bodied, with lively acidity and fresh peachy, lemony, appley flavours, showing good depth and vigour. (12.8% alc/vol) $24

Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Pinot Rosé 2024

★★★½