So what exactly is a boutique wine? You may have heard this term thrown around, but how is boutique wine different to other wine?
Does size matter?
The term “boutique wine” is used to describe wine produced in limited numbers. If an estate delivers only 200 or 300 cases every year of Cabernet Merlot, that wine is considered boutique wine because there isn’t much of it. Fewer bottles on the shelves means it is exclusive and rare, and therefore more expensive than other Cabernet Merlots. Someone in a wine shop might tell you that “boutique wine” is produced in 2,000 cases or less. Others say less than 500 or 1,000 cases.
That personal touch
Yes, boutique wines are produced in small numbers, but not all wine produced in small numbers is boutique wine. Any winery can turn out a few cases of wine type of wine, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything special about it. A boutique wine has a certain personal stamp on it, a unique dose of the winemaker’s passion and dedication to crafting the perfect wine. Boutique wines express the quirkiness and individuality of the winemaker, who is usually also the owner of the winery.
A perfect example
A great example of a real boutique wine is the Cabernet Shiraz blend produced on the Sons and Brothers winery in New South Wales. It’s the only wine made on the estate. Owner and winemaker Chris Bourke is not interested in what a panel of wine judges makes of his wine. He loves the art of wine-making and is only concerned with tweaking his technique and improving his wine. He sells the wine in packs of six because he believes a case of 12 is too heavy to carry!
Discover what real boutique wines are all about at BoutiqueWineries.com.au.
Visit these boutique wineries to grow your knowledge of boutique wine and boutique wineries:
