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Giesen The August Sauvignon Blanc

A MARK OF THE MAN
Just like the Giesen brothers’ grandfather August (pronounced Aw-goost), the sommelier and restaurateur born in 1888 and immortalized on the label, this barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc pushes boundaries.

Expect depth and complexity, texture and purity of flavour. This is premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, elevated to its richest expression with meticulous care from our winemakers.
From selecting and hand-picking the highest quality fruit, to barrel fermentation with wild yeast, to the seasoned oak used in maturation, their dedication to producing a truly extraordinary wine reflects the extraordinary life and legacy of August Giesen himself.

Opening a bottle of The August makes any moment special.

Giesen The August Sauvignon Blanc was launched in 2010 with the inaugural 2009 vintage. Since the launch an image of August Giesen has featured on the front label. When we refreshed our Giesen Wines brand in 2020, we wanted to keep the Giesen brother’s grandfather on the front label but wanted to modernise what was a classic and traditional label, but also keep in line with the total Giesen brand refresh.

  • Year wine was released to market: 2020
  • Retail Price: $39.99
  • Designed by: Plato Design / Giesen Group
  • Designed for: https://giesen.co.nz/wines/
Entry Introduction
With his sense of fun, smart suits, love of steak tartare and passion for Mosel (the dry German Riesling that was his favourite wine), August Giesen was a legend.

His story begins in 1888, when a boy named August (Aw-goost) Herbert Giesen was born in the town of Wuppertal, Germany. Little did his parents know, this boy – one of nine children – was destined for adventure.

In 1902 at 14 years of age, August left school for a trade apprenticeship at Wuppertal Emperor’s Court Hotel, one of the city’s leading establishments. Enjoying a little fun along the way, August completed his apprenticeship and embarked on summer seasons, jaunting around the hotspots of Europe as a waiter and sommelier.

Eventually the New World and adventures called, and August sailed for New York in 1909. Initially he worked in the textile industry, but this didn’t suit his adventurous spirit and soon he was a sommelier for a German Club. In New York City August’s life was an up and down cycle. At rock bottom he was penniless and hungry. When he was chancing and hustling he was a winner – in love with a beautiful Russian prima ballerina. Eventually August returned to his roots at the Emperor’s Court Hotel in Wuppertal. His experience and charm enabled him to become Hotel Director before he bought the hotel. As hotelier his ‘tasting’ trips through Europe became legendary, as he wasn’t shy about indulging in the wine he wanted to sell. Its this love of life, warm hospitality and appreciation of food and wine which has been passed down to Theo, Alex and Marcel Giesen the founders of New Zealand’s Marlborough’s based Giesen Wines. The three brothers inherited their grandfather August’s love for life and adventure, starting their own winery in New Zealand. Now everyone can taste a little of August’s personality and zest for life with a wine created in his memory – The August Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

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