21/11/2011 » Events, News
The Palliser team (dressed as world cup champions- well that was the intention anyway!) pulled out a stunning performance surprising not only themselves in coming 2nd in the winery barrel race around the square. The team was put in a good position by Pip (even better if she hadn’t been interfered with!), held steady by Derek & Narida & then brought home very strongly by our star Blair. Martinborough Vineyard was convincingly first & Dry River a close(ish) 3rd.
The true hilarity however was had in the 2nd race where 3 local businesses had been allowed to put wheels on their half barrels. In between water balloons being thrown constantly & the 3 very competitive teams trying to take each other out it was one of the funniest spectacles & a great addition to the annual pre-Toast barrel race.
Toast the following day was yet another fun day and ran smoothly with Carla running it for the 20th year. It has to be said however that we are all glad to have it over for another year & that the day wasn’t as blustery as it is today!
Author: Pip
17/11/2011 » News
Narida, Jo Crabb (www.careme.co.nz) and I joined the DOC crew & students from Kahutara School last week for a mornings work at Onoke Spit. We spent the morning applying weed matting & protectors to the native grasses & daisies planted a month previously. These plants & protectors have been purchased using Palliser’s annual sponsorship money so it was good to get involved & see the progress made to date.
After we left, the DOC staff did some further work and counted 30 Caspian Terns nesting on the west-end of the Spit. They visited a few days later counted 18 and concerningly found that 8 eggs had been taken out of their nest and either eaten or crushed. Unfortunately no predators have been photographed or caught so more traps are going to be set.
Onoke Spit is a dramatic and beautiful place and Palliser is proud of our on-going association with the restoration programme. The photos below show how dramatic it was last week and although the weather wasn’t very hospitable we thoroughly enjoyed our time spent out there.
Author: Pip
14/11/2011 » 2010, News, Pencarrow, Pinot Noir
We were very thrilled to receive 2 trophies for our 2010 Pencarrow Pinot at the Air New Zealand wine awards on Saturday night. Allan was there to receive the trophies which now brings our tally at these awards at 21 trophies – the first however for our Pencarrow range.
These awards reiterate what exceptional value and quality this Pencarrow Pinot noir is, so enjoy like the boys from Midnight Youth did on this youtube clip!
The judges citation was as follows: Brilliant dusky black cherry colour, full of Pinotness, with wild strawberry, cherry, warm forest, spice and briar notes on the nose. Brilliant tight sinewy autumn forest, whispy and wild, a bit Lindsay Lohan but with more spine and a lot more fine. Lovely long warm earth tannins with a hint of chalk dust. Greatness prevails.
Author: Pip
