The Two Legends of St. Jerome
The Old Legend from the Old Country
St Jerome was born in Strido, Dalmatia, in 342A.D. He was a doctor of the church and one of the world's greatest Biblical Latin Scholars. According to legend, he lived in a cave for 30 years, while translating the Holy Bible from Hebrew into Latin.
St.Jerome is often depicted with his most faithful companion, a lion. This unusual friendship was formed when the saint healed the lion by removing a thorn from its paw. St Jerome is the patron saint of the Ozich family, makers of St. Jerome wine. His feast day on 30th September is celebrated by the family each year, in traditional festive fashion.
The New Legend from New Zealand
St. Jerome has become known as "the winemaker's winemaker". Its legendary Matuka, the Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, is considered to be one of New Zealand's most spectacular reds. In fact, in a blind tasting, a panel of local wine experts rated St. Jerome Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot '89 equal to Chateau Lafite-Rothschild '88 and ahead of other top French reds.
No Compromise and total commitment
The Ozich brothers of St.Jerome make no secrets of the processes they use to produce their multi award-winning wines, for few winemakers would have the patience or skill to persist with the time-honoured methods employed by Miro and Davorin Ozich. Their 20 acre vineyard in Henderson has a micro-climate ideally suited to the growing of flavour-full Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes - the beginning of great wine.
The biggest, longest-living red Matuka Cabernet-Merlot is St. Jerome's flagship wine. It is made for serious wine drinkers who have the patience to let it develop its full potential. Prolonged skin extraction makes this wine one of the most intense and concentrated reds in New Zealand. St. Jerome also produce a range of distinctive whites, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtztraminer and Rhine Riesling. Every bottle of St. Jerome wine is an uncompromising expression of the traditional winemaker's craft. By keeping human intervention to a minimum, St. Jerome wines develop natural character and outstanding cellaring qualities.
A legend to discover and enjoy
St. Jerome wines are available now at most good wine shops and selected restaurants. You can also order St. Jerome wine by direct mail or visit our cellar in Henderson.
Please feel free to have a look at our wines in more detail and if you have any questions or we can help you in any way please contact us.