Category: looking forward

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Nov tasting – Bubbles Evening w/Keith Tibble, EuroVintage

Wednesday 13th November, 8 pm Start
Door Price: Members $20 / Guests $25

Discover the Art of Sparkling Wines: A Special Wine Tasting Event

EURO-FIZZ

Join us for an exquisite journey through some of the finest sparkling wines from around the world. Whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or a novice eager to explore, this curated selection promises to delight your palate and expand your appreciation for bubbly wines.

The Club can provide a flute for members, stressing one per member, but please feel free to bring your own if you wish for the evening.

Here’s what’s on our tasting list

 

Hunters Offshoot Pet-Nat Origin: Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

We kick off this sparkling adventure with the charming Hunters Offshoot Pet-Nat. Sourced from the picturesque Waihopai Valley, this wine is a true artisanal creation. With its natural fermentation process, it captures the essence of the lush Marlborough terroir. Expect vibrant bursts of fruit and a refreshing, slightly effervescent profile that sets the tone for an exciting tasting experience.

Louis Perdier Brut Excellence Origin: Languedoc, France

Next, we venture to the sun-kissed vineyards of Languedoc for the Louis Perdier Brut Excellence. Known for its elegant balance of fruit-forward flavours and crisp acidity, this Champagne-style sparkling wine is predominantly composed of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Its fine bubbles and hints of green apple and brioche make it a delightful choice for
those who appreciate the classically refined sparkling wines of France.

Tempus Two Prosecco Origin: King Valley, NSW, Australia

From the King Valley in New South Wales, we bring you the Tempus Two Prosecco, crafted from the Glera grape. This refreshing sparkling wine charms with its light, fruity notes of pear and citrus, accompanied by a delicate floral aroma. A perfect aperitif, it pairs beautifully with antipasti or can be enjoyed on its own for a sunny afternoon.

Gancia Prosecco Origin: Trentino, Italy

We cross the globe to Italy’s Trentino region to sample the renowned Gancia Prosecco. Known for its crispness and elegance, Gancia Prosecco features a light, frothy mouthfeel with an array of flavour notes from ripe peaches to refreshing herbs. This wine is a testament to timeless Italian tradition in sparkling wine production—perfect for any celebration.

Maude Methode Traditionale NV Origin: Central Otago, New Zealand

Experience the careful craftsmanship of Maude Methode Traditionale NV from Central Otago, an area celebrated for its unique climate and soil, ideal for high-quality wine production. This traditional method sparkling wine offers complex layers of flavour, featuring stone fruits, nutty undertones, and a long, creamy finish, making it a standout selection for any true wine lover.

Champagne Lanvin Origin: Epernay, France

No sparkling wine tasting would be complete without the iconic Champagne. We proudly present Champagne Lanvin from the heart of Epernay. This exquisite bubbly epitomizes the elegance of true Champagne, characterised by fine bubbles, balanced acidity, and flavours that blend ripe fruit, floral notes, and a touch of minerality, making it a luxurious choice for any occasion.

Veuve du Vernay Brut Rose Origin: France

We conclude our tasting with the beautifully vibrant Veuve du Vernay Brut Rosé. This charming French sparkling wine features a delightful pink hue and lively notes of red berries, perfect for those looking for something fruity yet refreshing. The appealing aroma and taste will leave a lasting impression, making it an excellent way to end the tasting.

We look forward to seeing you Wednesday 13th November for a memorable evening.

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Tasting – Peregrine with Justin Hart, Oct’24

Wine with Altitude | Peregrine Wines
Wednesday 9th October, 8 pm Start
Door Price: Members $14 / Guests $18

Taking a ‘hands on’ approach to winemaking since 1998 the McLachlan family strive to produce wines that embody the absolute best of Central Otago.

This passion for the land runs in their family and is a hallmark of Peregrine as a business.

Organic farming is fundamental to every aspect of Peregrine Vineyard Estates, with an holistic approach that integrates crop and livestock farming with vineyard management.

The talented estate farming team are as adept at nurturing wines, as they are developing new land, or working with livestock.

Cellar door & Barrel hall tasting rooms.
Cellar door & Barrel hall tasting rooms.

Peregrine’s quest for outstanding Central Otago wine begins in the three distinct sub-regions from which they draw their fruit: Bendigo, Pisa and Gibbston, where their landmark winery rises up amongst rugged rock reefs and ancient hills.

In each of these locations, their commitment to the organic farming and viticulture guarantees fruit of the highest quality, imparting the clearest expression of character to every vintage.

A natural extension of their passion for the land, Peregrine are dedicated to helping protect some of NZ’s rarest native birds. As well as taking part personally in some of this country’s most successful preservation  programmes, Peregrine is proud to have worked with the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, DoC and the Fiordland Conservation Trust.

Peregrine wines spectacular, architecturally designed Winery and Cellar Door are open Mon-Sat 11 am-4 pm for wine sales and experiences.

Our wines for the evening:

  • 2023 Saddleback Riesling
  • 2023 Peregrine Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2023 Saddleback Rosé
  • 2023 Peregrine Pinot Gris
  • 2022 Saddleback Pinot Noir
  • 2022 Peregrine Pinot Noir

We look forward to seeing you Wednesday, 9th October.

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Committee Musings Aug ’24

Membership

Membership is still at the top of mind for your committee members. Can all members please endeavour to seek out new members. Bring along fellow wine enthusiasts, neighbours or friends that want to join in our monthly evenings, emphasizing that this is a very good value proposition and a great exposure to wines you may never have known about, or tasted!

Please remember to promote that as a bonus for potential members, our meetings are held in close proximity to both the Johnsonville Train Line and the bus station.

The committee is formulating a short pamphlet for anyone who wants one to hand out to explain our Club a little bit.

Thanks

Thanks again to everyone who helps with the tables and chairs at the start of our evenings and taking the same down after the meeting. Also taking the tables contents: spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen.

Looking ahead

September – Misty Cove, Blenheim with presenter Carlos Rojas Stiven
October – Peregrine, Gibbston Highway Queenstown
November – Bubbles Evening, tbc

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Looking Back – Mid-Winter Club Dinner at Featherston Tavern, June ’24

The location in the CBD was easy to get to and easy to get home from. The evening was a success, as usual, with 29 happy diners. Everyone was handed a glass of bubbly from your Club Cellar upon arrival.

Below is a reminder of the menu for the evening:

To start

Prawn fritters
Woodys’ smoked chicken breast with cranberry sauce and toast
Pumpkin & haloumi fritters

Main courses

Honey-roasted ham off the bone with roasted baby potatoes, carrots and a mustard sauce
Prosciutto wrap chicken breast with roasted baby potatoes, spinach & a sage butter sauce
Pan-fried fish with fried new potatoes & salsa verde

Dessert

Deep South vanilla ice cream with Hershey’s chocolate sauce
Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce
White chocolate cheesecake

Whilst the evening was very enjoyable for those in attendance, given the low attendance, Waye is surveying all members who chose not to attend to see if there are any learnings that the committee needs to consider when planning future dinners. Wayne will provide a summary of the findings in a future newsletter.

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Tasting – Wairiki Estate, & Petane, Esk Valley presented by Brent Linn, July ’24

Sustainably Crafted New Zealand Wine

NOT TO BE MISSED: These are two vineyards you normally don’t see and taste,

Wednesday 14th August, 8 pm Start
Door Price: Members $15 / Guests $19

Wairiki Estate was founded by Brent Linn in 2008, but his passion for wine began long before that. Brent’s interest was sparked when he worked in banking, helping winemakers find the funding to plant their vines in the soil and establish their labels. From there, his curiosity about the industry grew.

In 2008, a special property was found on the terraces high above the Garuroro River in the Maraekakaho area of Hawkes Bay. ‘The winery was named ‘Wairiki’ because of the importance of this land. Wairiki means ‘little water’ in te reo, and our land is blessed with a small stream that runs through it in Winter. Our soil, climate and passion for viticulture have brought us here: we’re proud of the results. Our small batch Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines are select, special and full of flavour.’

In 2010, family and friends worked together to plant just under 2 hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. After supplying commercial wineries with our grapes for several years, we grew restless, wanting to see the true potential of our land realised in our wine label. The first Wairiki vintage under our label was released in 2018.’

Feast on the flavour of our handcrafted, small-batch wines. Wines for the evening will be:

Petane is in the Esk Valley and was severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, with their vineyard suffering extensive damage. Thanks to the support of their family and friends, community and customers, they continue to create beautiful wines made with love and dedicated to the production of boutique single-vineyard wine. Their wines are unique from vintage to vintage.

To give us an understanding of the quality that these two wineries can  produce, we will be tasting the following wines:

  • Grace White Pinot 2023
  • Petane Viognier
  • Wairiki The Matriarch Chardonnay 2023
  • Wairiki La Briar Rosé 2021
  • Wairiki The Optimist Pinot Noir 2020
  • Wairiki The Redeemer Reserve Pinot Noir 2020
  • Petane Merlot Cabernet Franc

If you want to read about these wines in more detail, you can go to the following websites:

Wairiki Wines Hawkes Bay
Petane Wines, Esk Valley

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Committee Musings July ’24

Membership

Membership is at the top of mind for your committee. We want to encourage all members to seek out new members and to help you do this, we are currently preparing a small handout for you to use when explaining who we are and what we do. This will not only highlight what a great value proposition we are, it will also mention our range of activities and promote our closeness to both the Johnsonville train line and the bus station.

Please remember to promote that as a bonus for potential members, our meetings are held in close proximity to both the Johnsonville Train Line and the bus station.

The committee is formulating a short pamphlet for anyone who wants one to hand out to explain our Club a little bit.

Thanks again

Thanks again to everyone who helps with the tables and chairs at the start of our evenings and taking the same down after the meeting. Also taking the tables contents, spittoons/water & jugs/cracker plates, back to the kitchen.

Looking Ahead

  • August – Wairaki, Hawkes Bay
  • September – Misty Cove, Blenheim
  • October – TBC

Spotted

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Committee Musings Apr ’24

“I’m all about trying things that people haven’t done before or say can’t be done.”

AGM

“I’m all about trying things that people haven’t done before or say can’t be done.”
“On reflection, I’m all about reflecting on the things people haven’t done before or say can’t be done.”

At the upcoming AGM in May, we are still looking for nominations to welcome someone to be the Secretary of the Committee. Please think on this. We are using templates for the Minutes now, and rosters are done at the beginning of the year only once, so the job is not arduous.

Hall setup

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

Looking Ahead

  • 8th May – AGM
  • 12th June – Brockenchack, South Australia
  • 10th July – Midwinter Christmas-themed Dinner, Featherston Tavern

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Committee Musings ‘Mar 24

Role of Secretary

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

We need to ensure that we have a good match of skills to match with the roles being vacated and in relation to this your committee is looking for someone to take on the role of Secretary.

This role is not arduous but includes attending the monthly committee meetings and taking minutes. The process of minute-taking has largely been templated to lighten the load on the person in this role.

Hall setup

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

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

Upcoming events

April – Gold Medal Wines from the New Zealand International Wine Show, hosted by Michelle Fraser (Clearview Wines and Wine Judge). This tasting includes a number of trophy wines and so is a best of the best tasting, not to be missed.

AGM – Checkout AGM posts.

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Pegasus Bay, Waipara Valley w/ Ed Donaldson ‘Mar 24

www.pegasusbay.com
Wednesday 13 March, 8 pm
Door Price: Members $16 / Guests $20
PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR GLASSES

The Family, mmersed in the wine industry since the early 1970s and were pioneers of local grape growing and wine making.
The Family, mmersed in the wine industry since the early 1970s and were pioneers of local grape growing and wine making.

The Donaldson family have been seriously involved in wine since the early 1970’s and were pioneers of local grape growing and wine making.

Associate Professor and Consultant Neurologist, Ivan Donaldson, first became interested in wine when his girlfriend at the time, Christine, gave him a book simply called ‘Wine’, penned by English industry legend, Hugh Johnson.

After travelling to explore the wine regions of Europe, Ivan return home to plant one of the first vineyards of modern times in Canterbury, and to marry Christine, who has been an integral part of the Pegasus Bay story.

The first vineyard was a hobby with Ivan making wine in the garage at home on the weekends. In-between seeing patients at his private practice in the evening and after his shifts at the public hospital. He also started writing a wine column in the local newspaper and was a judge in numerous wine shows around the globe.

By the mid-1980s Ivan and Chris had decided there was definitely a future for wine making in Canterbury. They went on to plant Pegasus Bay with the help of their four sons, who have all ended up working in key role within the business.

Ed will be presenting a selection of wines from their premium Pegasus Bay label as well as some from their Main Divide collection:

  • Main Divide Rosé 2023
  • Pegasus Bay 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
  • Pegasus Bay 2020 Chardonnay
  • Pegasus Bay 2023 Bel Canto ‘Dry Riesling’
  • Main Divide 2021 Te Hau Pinot Noir
  • Pegasus Bay 2020 Merlot Cabernet
  • Pegasus Bay 2021 Finale ‘Noble Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

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Tasting – Riverby Estate, Feb ’24

Wednesday 14th February 8 pm start
Door Price:  Members $10 / Guests $14

We have lined up for your February Club Monthly meeting an evening with Kevin Courtney of Riverby Estate from Blenheim.

Riverby are a boutique, family owned and run wine producer in Marlborough’s Jackson Road heartland. All grapes are grown on the estate vineyard by descendants of the Matthews family, who have been farming the property for over 100 years.  The Matthews farm was called Riverby and the original homestead, depicted on the Sauvignon Blanc back label, is still in use.

On their approximately 70ha vineyard they have three different soil types that allow the family to grow a variety of grapes, and their range of award-winning wines come from individual parcels on that single vineyard. Although not all their wines are made every year, as this depends on the quality of grapes for vintage.

The Riverby name originated from the Opawa River and its tributaries, which meandered through the property. This river was diverted in the 1930s to stop Blenheim from flooding, creating what was eventually to become ideal grape growing land. The rainbow trout on the Riverby label is symbolic of the fish that used to swim where grapes are now grown.

Old Vines Reserve Chardonnay 2020 - Silver Medal NZIWS 2022
Old Vines Reserve Chardonnay 2020 – Silver Medal NZIWS 2022

They are proud to practice sustainable grape-growing techniques throughout the whole grape-growing and winemaking cycle and are also pleased to be eligible to be members of Appellation Wine Marlborough (AWM) because of their vineyard practices and restricted yields.

In a throw-back to past glories, sheep are used extensively throughout the vineyard to control weeds and grasses.

Wines for the evening: 

  • Riverby Rose’ 2023 – Welcome wine – gold medal winner at NZ International Wine Show
  • Cicada Gewurztraminer 2023 – gold medal winner at NZ International Wine Show
  • Riverby Reserve Chardonnay 2022
  • Riverby Sauvignon Blanc 2023 – gold medal winner at NZ International Wine Show
  • Riverby Gruner Veltliner 2022
  • Riverby OVB 2021
  • Riverby Reserve Pinot Noir 2020
  • Riverby Noble Riesling 2019 – multiple award winner

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Christmas Dinner, The Wellington Club, Dec ’23

Christmas Dinner is being held in the Terrace Room, The Wellington Club, 5th Floor, 88 The Terrace, Wellington, Wednesday 13th December

Please arrive at 6.30 pm for seating at 7.00 pm

The Wellington Club, 88 The Terrace, Wellington
The Wellington Club, 88 The Terrace, Wellington

For those unfamiliar with the establishment, the Wellington Club is similar to Bellamys, and members are asked to adopt a dress code that befits such a prestigious venue.

Getting there

And to repeat Wayne’s original instructions on getting there: If using public transport, get off the bus at the old Kirkcaldies/David Jones building and walk up Woodward Street.

Go through the tunnel under the Terrace and immediately on your right, you will find steps which will take you to the entrance of 88 The Terrace.

The lifts will be unlocked from 6.15 pm to allow you access to the Level 5 Terrace Room where our dinner will take place.

First time for some

Given that some members may attend the dinner for the first time, it is perhaps an opportune time to mention how our dinners operate.

  • You are asked to arrive as close to 6.30 pm as practical
  • When you arrive, you will be greeted with a complementary
    glass of bubbles
  • The meal is BYO wine, and your prepaid cost includes corkage. During the evening, it is customary to share the bottle of wine you have brought with your neighbours
  • We are expecting to finish sometime between 9.00pm and 9.30pm, but this is a guideline only, in case you are arranging transport home. Please try and stay as flexible as possible

Please contact Wayne if you wish to attend this event and have not already contacted him. Cost is $80 per person and must be paid on or before the 1st December, which is the close-off date for this event.

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Maison Vauron ‘Le Tour’ – Oct 23

French Wine Merchants, Established 1999
Dedicated to bringing the best of French wine and food to New Zealand

Presented by Scott Hurrell, Wednesday 11th October, 8 pm Start

Door Price: Members $18 / Guests $22

For our newer members, Maison Vauron is a French Wine Merchant company set up in Auckland in 1999 to bring the best of French wine and food to New Zealand. They have presented their wines to our club several times previously and we are very lucky to have them do so again.

Pierre Vauron’s original business card in 1918. ‘A la grappe dorée’ (‘The golden bunch’) was the name of the business then, established and based in the town of St Etienne (South West of Lyon) since 1879. The card mentions that Pierre was specialising in white wine from all regions and red wines from the Beaujolais.
Pierre Vauron’s original business card in 1918. ‘A la grappe dorée’ (‘The golden bunch’) was the name of the business then, established and based in the town of St Etienne (South West of Lyon) since 1879. The card mentions that Pierre was specialising in white wine from all regions and red wines from the Beaujolais.

The company resulted from a visit to NZ in 1991 by Jean-Christophe Poizat who wanted to learn more about NZ wines. Jean-Christophe is the great-great-grandson of Antoine Vauron who in 1879 set up a wine merchant business in Saint Etienne, 50kms southwest of Lyon, the city scheduled to host the All Blacks last 2 pool games in the 2023 RWC.

Six months after arriving JC [as he is often called] would meet his future wife and then some years later, his business partners, Peter & Scott. The importance of family is central to Maison Vauron’s operation, with siblings of JC and Peter involved in the business, as are the partners of JC and Scott.
Every year Maison Vauron likes to return to France to taste the wines and try the cheeses, meet their producers and most importantly, make new discoveries. This year, wine mentors, Jean-Christophe and Will are also attending the Rugby World Cup, hosted by France.

As a result of their absence, Scott [responsible for trade sales] has agreed to step up to the batting plate and will lead us through a tour of French vineyards that will reflect various grapes and wine styles.

Scott is well qualified to present these wines, as he previously trained for 11 years as a winemaker in the Bordeaux area of France.

The wines to be tasted are:

  • Monmousseau Brut “Etoile” NV (Loire Valley – Chenin Blanc, Ugni Blanc)
  • Chateau le Cedre Blandine le Blanc 2021 (Colombard – Ugni blanc)
  • Cave de Lugny Macon-Villages 2021 (Burgundy – Chardonnay)
  • Château Roubine Cotes de Provence Rosé 2022 (Provence – Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault)
  • Burgaud Beaujolais Villages 2022 (Beaujolais – Gamay)
  • Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf du Pape 2020 (Rhône Valley – Grenache, Syrah)
  • Château Baulac-Dodijos Sauternes 2020 (Bordeaux – Sémillon)

We look forward to seeing you Wednesday 11th.

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