KINDELI Tinto

"Kindeli Tinto" is a lively and expressive natural red wine from New Zealand, crafted by winemaker Alex Craighead at his organic estate in Upper Moutere, Nelson, on the South Island. This wine is a playful blend of Pinot Noir (typically around 70-90%), with smaller portions of Merlot, Riesling, Syrah, or Pinot Gris, depending on the vintage, sourced from clay, gravel, and silt soils across his 11 hectares of vineyards. Craighead’s minimal-intervention approach shines through: a portion of the grapes undergoes carbonic maceration for a juicy lift, while the rest macerates on skins for 5-12 days with about 10% stem inclusion, extracting gentle tannins and vibrant fruit. Fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks or amphora, it’s aged briefly, then bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without added sulfur. The result is a light- to medium-bodied red with a slightly cloudy appearance, bursting with red berries—think tart strawberry, cherry, and pomegranate—layered with herbal spice, a touch of earthiness, and a crisp, zesty acidity. It’s a crunchy, refreshing “vin de soif” (thirst-quenching wine), perfect chilled with charcuterie or pizza, embodying Kindeli’s ethos of purity, place, and unfussy enjoyment.