One each of the following three Known Unknown Aperitif Wines:
2019 Vin Jeanne (375ml)
Kōwhai Amber Vermouth (500ml)
Bloody Vermouth (500ml)
Please note, this product will begin shipping on Monday 24 November.
2019 Vin Jeanne:
As you may be able to guess from the name, this is our take on the traditional Vin Jaune of the Jura. This has been a long time in the making and is a barrel fermented organic Sauvignon Blanc which has been aged under flor for six-and-a-half years, moving with us between three winery sites.
The name is a little sentimental, it is named Vin Jeanne (pronounced zhahn) after my Oma (grandmother) who was a consummate hospitality professional and entertainer. The wine FULL NOISE but is still incredibly fresh with super-ripe tropical (pineapple and mango) notes layered on creamy oak with notes of saffron, walnut, umami and a hint of wildness (this wine has been in barrel under flor for six years, it has a hint of pleasant volatility on the finish). The wine is best enjoyed cold at the start of a meal or with nutty, aged NZ cheese.
Kōwhai Amber Vermouth:
We describe this as a ‘herbal, bittersweet amber vermouth’. Stylistically it sits between herbal Spanish Vermouth and a cinchona-heavy aperitif like Cocchi Americano however we also think it’s ultimately a quintessentially Aotearoan vermouth.
It’s made with a base wine of 4-year-old Hawkes Bay Chardonnay and 6-year-old Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc which was fortified with a combination of grape spirit and botanical spirit distilled at Juno. It is then infused with a range of botanicals including wormwood, lemon, kawakawa, chamomile, cinchona bark, elderflower, borage, dill and fennel before being sweetened with honey and vintage sweet wines. Like all our vermouths going forward, it was made in barrel with as many locally grown botanicals as possible.
Enjoy over ice, in a spritz or in a long drink with tonic.
Bloody Vermouth:
"Category Medal Winner" - NZ Spirits Awards 2025
Bloody Vermouth is Known Unknown's signature Vermouth made to showcase intense blood orange flavour and is ideal in a Negroni (we recommend switching out the gin for mezcal), Manhattan or over ice to sip.
This is our biggest and best batch and is built on a base of organic Bridge Pa Syrah with intense blood orange, fine bitterness from wormwood and cinchona bark and soft spice fronted by cardamom and a hint of saffron. It is back-sweetened to 40g/l which we found to be the perfect sweetness to heighten the aromatic and citrus punch. It is also now bottled in a more impressive clear glass spirts bottle making it ideal for gifting.
Ingredients: Organic Hawkes Bay Syrah, Imported Blood Oranges, Taranaki Oranges, Bitter Herbs, Spices, Neutral Spirit and Sugar. 15.5% ABV
"Made in Taranaki with a base of organic Hawkes Bay Syrah, local and imported oranges, bitter herbs and spices with adjuncts of spirit and sugar - leads to a bouquet of promised sweetness and dried herbs, some bitter appeal and plenty of intensity - there’s no mistaking this is a vermouth. On the palate, there’s a distinctive and equal measure of fruit, sweetness and bitterness, flavours of orange and spice, dark berries and coffee-like after taste and plenty of spice qualities. Balanced and well made." 91 Points - Cameron Douglas MS