Author: EvelynD

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Babich Wines w/Antonia Romero, Aug ’23

Sustainably Crafted New Zealand Wine – 100 years in the making

Wednesday 9th August, 8 pm Start
Door Price: Members $14 / Guests $18

People thought Josip Babich was crazy back in 1912. Planting vines in West Auckland and then patiently making wine the difficult way – with great vision, graft, thoughtfulness, ingenuity, and true craft. That pioneering spirit is something that still runs deep in our veins today, and we’ll keep ‘paying it forward’ for as long as we exist.

Over 20 years ago, we registered our first sustainable vineyard – a New Zealand first. But we’re not content to look back because what you’ve done is not who you are. We’re more excited about our future than ever and applying 100 years and three generations of winemaking experience to sustainably craft the most drinkable wines from New Zealand to the world.

Sustainability is always better when shared. Babich’s iconic NZ wine regions: Marlborough is home to some of the world’s finest Sauvignon Blanc. And a second home to Babich since we established vineyards there in 1989. Hawkes Bay is internationally renowned for its soil profile – perfect for supple, robust
and sophisticated reds.

Wines for the evening will be:

  • Family Estates Marlborough Organic Rose
  • Family Estates Organic Albarino
  • Family Estates Organic Chardonnay
  • Irongate Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay
  • Black Label Pinot Noir
  • Classics Hawkes Bay Syrah
  • Irongate 2017 Cabernet Merlot Franc

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Committee Musings, July 23

Subscription reminder

Please ensure your subscription of $25, due on 1st July, is paid soon. Remember, we don’t send out an invoice. Thanks.

Special General Meeting

At the August Monthly Meeting, for the first 10 minutes, we will hold an SGM to discuss and pass some small changes to the Club’s Constitution. These changes will be circulated shortly and are an update to the wording as it is at present.

Heating

We hope everyone appreciates the new heating in the hall.

Support appreciated

It was great to have everyone help with the tables and chairs at the start of last month’s meeting and take the same down after the meeting. Also, taking the table’s contents: spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen. Could we please continue this new routine?

Setting-up

Please note, we can’t arrive to do the setting up activities any earlier than 7:30 pm as we interrupt the cleaner(s) schedule, as they are often in the hall until 7:30 pm.

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Looking Back – Askerne Vineyard, June 23

John Loughlin from Askerne Vineyard presented to us last month, and he was very pleasantly surprised to find 45 members and guests attending. We have to go way back to 2010 to find that number exceeded, so thank you, everyone, for supporting us with your presence.

John explained that Askerne now has 32ha to grow the 17 varieties of grapes that he and his wife now cultivate, and whilst Askerne is right beside the Tukituki River, they were spared the full force of Cyclone Gabrielle. It could easily have been much worse, as the water rose to 30cm below the top of their stop bank!

Their cellar door is now open 24/7, and John said please visit if you are up in Hawkes Bay for some tastings, He went on to explain that whilst we weren’t tasting these on the night, he felt their Pinot Gris was looking really smart, and their Pinot Noir really good too.

The wines tasted on the night were:

  • 2022 Sérieux Rosé – the welcome wine
  • 2020 Semillon
  • 2022 Reserve Chardonnay
  • 2021 Gewurztraminer
  • Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc
  • 2021 Cabernet Franc
  • 2019 Late Harvest Semillon

And it was pleasing to note that the quality of these wines was reflected in the excellent number of wines orders received on the night.

So, thanks again to everyone for your support and a special thanks for John for his well delivered tasting presentation.

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Mermaidary tackles the tricky topic of what wines to chill and by how much

Wine News – Imbibe from NZ House & Garden April 2023

Sparkling and sweet wines such as champagne and late harvests - 6-10C
Sparkling and sweet wines such as champagne
and late harvests – 6-10C

Mermaidary tackles the tricky topic of what wines to chill and by how much.

What temperature should you serve wine? The topic can be controversial. I have heard gasps of horror when pulling a bottle of chardonnay from the rack, opening and pouring it – bypassing the fridge. I prefer medium to full-bodied white wines at room temperature. And you can imagine the horror when I take a red wine from the fridge because I like reds slightly chilled, flying in the face of ‘the rules for how wine should be served.

The accepted serving temperatures are listed below, but I regularly flout those rules. I like my sparkling whites colder than 6C, which is a cardinal wine sin, but I find it gives the bubbles more vigour. I also enjoy reds when they are well below 13C, as it gives the wine more structure and definition.

In fact, in hotter climates such as in Australia, drinking red chilled is standard practice. Australian wine icon Taylors recently put a wine temperature sensor on its bottles which changes colour when the bottle reaches its optimum level of chill.

One place that always seems to get it wrong is your local bar or restaurant. Bar fridges are set to a standard temperature so juice, wine, beer and even milk are all stored in the same fridge at the same temperature. This means medium-bodied wines, in particular, can be served much too cold, which deadens the wonderful aromatics present in the wine. Red wines are invariably stored on a shelf in direct sunlight or near the warm kitchen. So, the best expression of your favourite wine might not be from your local eatery.

While there are guidelines, the perfect temperature is simply the one that you enjoy best. So open a bottle and you do you.

Agreed serving temperatures

Sparkling and sweet wines such as champagne and late harvests – 6-10C

Roses and light-bodied whites such as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris – 8-10C

Medium full-bodied whites such as Chardonnay and Albarino – 10-13C

Light-bodied reds such as Pinot Noir – 10-13C

Medium to full-bodied reds such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon – 10-13C

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Committee Musings June ’23

New Committee members

Welcome Tim and Ken.

The newly elected committee met for the first time in May, with Tim and Ken being welcomed on board.

Continue this new routine

It was great to have everyone help with the tables and chairs at the start of last month’s meeting and take the same down after the meeting. Also, take the table contents: spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen. Could we please continue this new routine?

Please note

We can’t arrive to do the setting up activities any earlier than 7:30 pm as we interrupt the cleaner(s) schedule. The cleaners are in the hall until 7:30 pm.

Looking Ahead

  • July – Club Dinner, details TBC
  • August – Babich Wines
  • September – Clearview

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Looking Back, Confident Wines with Victor Kattenbel, April ’23

Wow, nine wines! This was an interesting evening full of updated information about the Esk Valley region and touching on areas of Portugal that most members present haven’t been to yet.

The variety of wines was great, beginning with Linden Sparkling Rose’ from Esk Valley, a blend of Merlot and Pinotage, a delicious start to the evening. The rest of the evening’s selection was:

  • Confidencial Reserva Rose –10-grape blend
  • 2020 Casa Santos Lima Chardonnay
  • 2022 Moutere Hills Riesling
  • 2020Waipara Downs Pinot Noir
  • 2020 Confidencial Tinto-Red  – 10 grape blend
  • 2019 Mosaico De Portugal
  • 2017 Colossal Reserva Casa Santos Lima
  • Parcelas Portuguese Tawny Port

Most of the wines for the evening had received at least one gold medal in competitions, with some receiving ten gold medals.

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Askerne, Hawkes Bay with John Loughlin, June ’23

Wednesday 14th June, 8 pm Start | Door Price: Members $12 / Guests $16

Askerne Estate Winery commenced in April 1993 when wine lovers John and Kathryn Loughlin purchased the original 11.6 hectares site in Te Mata
Mangateretere Road. John and Kathryn had studied winemaking and viticulture in the previous years, with Kathryn, as the more diligent student, achieving the higher grades.

They called the property Askerne, being the olde English name of Kathryn’s birthplace, Askern, in Yorkshire, England.

John took up the role of Finance Manager of the large Richmond Limited meat company to provide the finance for the developing wine venture, and Kathryn assumed management of the vineyard operations.

Sauvignon Blanc vines were planted in late 1993, Semillon and Riesling in 1994, Chardonnay in 1995 and Gewürztraminer in 1996. The first wines were made at the Waimarama Estate Winery (then owned by Dr John Loughlin, John’s father) in 1996. These wines were released under their initial white label with green trees.

2015 Rebecca, the second Loughlin daughter joined the Askerne team working in the cellar door.
2015 Rebecca, the second Loughlin daughter joined the Askerne team working in the cellar door.

In February 1997, the Askerne cellar door was opened to the public, and it also sold Waimarama Estate’s red wines, including the then-famous Waimarama Dessert Cabernet.

The 1997 vintage produced very fine wines from Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay which confirmed the potential of the site.

Askerne commenced exporting with wines from the 1997 vintage and in 1998 Dr John Loughlin sold Waimarama Estate Winery and from the 1999 vintage Askerne’s wines were made on site.

John last presented to the Club in February 2019 and his presentation was a delight, both because of his delivery and the wines themselves. This month’s tasting promises to be equally compelling as we get the chance to taste the following wines:

  • 2022 Askerne Sérieux Rosé
  • 2020 Askerne Sémillon
  • 2022 Askerne Reserve Chardonnay
  • 2021 Askerne Gewürztraminer
  • Askerne Merlot Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 2021 Askerne Cabernet Franc
  • 2019 Askerne Late Harvest Sémillon

This selection of Hawkes Bay wines promises a lot and I’m sure we will not be disappointed by their taste or quality. Make sure you are there to find out which will be your favourite.

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Committee Musings, May ’23

Resignations

While there are two resignations from the present Committee, six people are staying on. Club members have been approached for new positions, and numbers are now back to eight for the new committee.

Member support

It was great to have everyone help with the tables and chairs at the start of last month’s meeting and take the same down after the meeting. Also, take the table’s contents: spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen. Could we please continue this new routine?

Arrival times

We can’t arrive to do the setting up activities any earlier than 7:30 pm as we interrupt the cleaner(s) schedule; the cleaners are in the hall until 7:30 pm.

Looking ahead

  • June – Askerne, Hawkes Bay
  • July – Club Dinner, details tbc
  • August – Babich, details tbc

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Looking Back – Victor Kattenbel, Confident Wines Apr ’23

Wow, nine wines!

This was an interesting evening full of updated information about the Esk Valley region and touching on areas of Portugal that most members present hadn’t been to, yet.

The variety of wines was great, beginning with Linden Sparkling Rosé from Esk Valley, a blend of Merlot and Pinotage, a delicious start to the evening. The rest of the evening’s selection was:

  • Confidencial Reserva Rosé – 10-grape blend
  • 2020 Casa Santos Lima Chardonnay
  • 2022 Moutere Hills Riesling
  • 2020 Waipara Downs Pinot Noir
  • 2020 Confidencial Tinto-Red – 10 grape blend
  • 2019 Mosaico De Portugal
  • 2017 Colossal Reserva Casa Santos Lima
  • Parcelas Portuguese Tawny Port

Most of the wines for the evening had received at least one gold medal in competitions, with some receiving 10 gold medals.

 

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Looking Ahead – April ’23

12 April – New Zealand and Portuguese Wines with Victor Kattenbelt, Confidant Wines. Check out…

10 May – Cellar Club AGM – The AGM Agenda was emailed with April’s newsletter. We would ask you to note that if you have any Notices of Motion, these need to be in the hands of the Secretary – Jenny Jebson – by 19th April ’23.

14 June – Askerne, Hawkes Bay

12 July – Club Dinner, details – TBC

 

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Committee Musings, Apr ’23

Committee review

Your committee continues to review how it operates, particularly in trying to work out which tasks need to remain with the committee and which can be delegated.

This review is timely, given that two of the committee are stepping aside for the coming year, and we need to ensure that we have a good match of skills to match the roles being vacated.

This process will only work if members continue to provide us with their support when asked. Thanks.

Hall setup

We also continue to be delighted and thankful for everyone’s help with the hall setup for our gatherings and then the pack down at the end of the evening.

But please remember: We can’t arrive to do the setting up activities any earlier than 7:30 pm as we interrupt the cleaner(s) schedule, who has the hall until that time.

 

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Looking Back – Forrest Wines with Carlos Rojas Stiven, March ’23

The Forrest Range
The Forrest Range

This was an evening of tasting grape varieties from around the world but produced right here in NZ.

Adding to this international flavour was our presenter Carlos, who was born in Chile and came to NZ in 2010, and now resides in Marlborough with his wife and daughters. Carlos informed us that Forrest is now second-generation owned and operated and that they loved working with many different grape varieties.

As a reminder of the wines we sampled during the evening:

  • The Doctors Riesling 2021 – German style wine
  • Forrest Albarino 2022 – Spanish/Portuguese grape variety
  • Forrest Chenin Blanc 2022 – French/now South African grape variety
  • Forrest Gruner Veltliner 2022 – Austrian grape variety
  • Tatty Bogler Pinot Noir 2020 – Burgundy French grape style
  • Forrest Lagrein 2020 – Piedmont Italy grape variety
  • Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2018Forrest has approximately 150 ha of grapes plants in Marlborough, with additional plantings in the Waitaki Valley, with the latter having limestone ground, similar to Burgundy conditions.
Visit Forrest
Visit Forrest

70% of their Sauvignon Blanc goes overseas each year, with 100 cases to Waitrose per year!

Notably, most of their Forrest Botryised Riesling, with a honey/marmalade taste – is made for and sold to Air NZ. So when COVID19 hit NZ, the unwanted stock was stocked by NZ based stockists – a bonus for the NZ public.

There were 15 orders from Club members for this tasting, evidence of just how much this tasting was enjoyed by our members.

Thank you to Carlos and Forrest Wines for your support of our club.

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