Welcome to the Known Unknown international cellar door
Known Unknown is a garagiste winery based in Ngāmotu, New Plymouth that makes fun, delicious, organic, lo-fi wines and apéritifs.
Owned and run my winemaker Jules van Costello (@thewinejules), we are heavily inspired by the worlds of art, design, music and food and thrive on collaborating across disciplines.
From 2023 we’ve exclusively worked with organic grapes (and the occasional foraged apple) and endeavour to process any fruit intuitively; without any yeast or mechanical intervention (other than pump and a press), without fining or filtration, and bottle our wines with minimal amounts of added sulphur.
We believe a lo-fi approach is the best way to express the purity, personality and energy of the fruit we work with.
Ultimately we’re dedicated to making the world of wine a little bit more fun, approachable, accessible, and transparent.
Reviews
2024 Puma Pinot Gris
"Varietal and lifted bouquet with a core of ripe pear and flinty wild ferment qualities, there’s lees and some fruit spice along with a [Kirin] lager beer idea. Crisp and just dry on the palate with a core of white fleshed fruits, medium acid line and flinty lifted qualities that mirror the bouquet. Balanced and ready to drink from late 2024 through 2026."
90 Points - Cameron Douglas MS
2024 Flamingo Pinot Noir Rosé
"Utilising organically-grown pinot noir grapes from Gisborne’s Manutuke sub-region, this rosé is just like its namesake, all leggy, long and elegantly picks its way across your tongue and gums. Dry, snappy, and laced with red apple, soft citrus, hints of peach tea, and pink peppercorns, it’s got Summer days written all over it."
Four Stars - Yvonne Lorkin
2022 Sunburn Carbonic Cabernet Franc
"A lifted and fresh fruited bouquet suggesting plums and red currants, a fine light herb layer and gentle bubble-gum quality (that’s the carbonic process chatting). Dry, crisp, some layers of fine fruit tannins, plenty of acidity and freshness. Balanced and well made, drinking best now and through 2025."
91 Points - Cameron Douglas MS
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