03/05/2012 » News
We have pretty much broken the back of the 2012 vintage, having harvested 450 tonnes of fruit. We have approximately 100 tonnes of fruit still to harvest mainly Sauvignon blanc from a couple of our local contract growers. The harvest has run smoothly thanks to a fantastic crew in the winery & to the weather which held on, as we all prayed!
The dig-out challenge has gone down to the wire with the 2 teams level however we had a clear individual winner – Tom who broke all records doing it in 3.47 minutes or 362kg/minute (the nearest competitor 280kg/minute). Tom is now going to take on Beauden Barrett of the Hurricanes in a dig-out challenge next Thursday10th May @ 3.30pm. Palliser is sponsoring Beauden this season & he is being a great sport for coming up to get involved in the real winery action. For those of you who were wondering, a “dig-out” is when the Pinot noir tank has finished fermenting, the wine has been drained off & the remaining skins are “dug-out” & pressed to get the remaining good bits out. It’s a dirty & hard job but someone has to do it & hence the competition to make it fun.
Yesterday Richard put on his vintage lunch special for the whole team – an impressive feast of white-bait fritters, crayfish & paua, plus a few extras from his sous-chef Jo! The 2012 vintage will be remembered fondly as one with a great team, great food & weather that came right when needed & saved us! Hopefully this time next week all our fruit will be off the vines & happily doing its thing in the winery.
Author: Pip
03/05/2012 » News
Hola… On Monday I had the fabulous opportunity to attend a lunch at The Ambeli on Marjoriebank Street in Wellington I joined the Wellington Negociants team and some of their key Wellington trade people. We met in honor of ‘Sergio Rostoll’ who is in charge of the Asia & Pacific regional sales for ‘Gonzalez Byass’. Gonzalez Byass are based in Jerez del la Frontera, Spain – where they have been making Sherry for 175yrs. Their most famous international premium Fino Sherry being ‘Tio Pepe’. Gonzalez Byass, also produce a range of fino to dulce wines such as Vilernau Brut sparkling Cava, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo, Crianza & Reserva Riojas, Anada Palo Cortado and Oloroso sherries.
Chef Josh Evans produced a gorgeous menu that complimented a collection of Gonzalez Byass wines we had for tasting and demonstrated Josh’s innovativeness in the kitchen. House-made Milk Curd, Fennel & Prosciutto di Parma paired with Tio Pepe. Lovely subtle salt flavours from the curd and parma immediately opened up the Tio Pepe and showed the gorgeous fruit purity with subtle heat. Dukkah Crumbed Veal Sweetbreads with Black Pudding and Date Jam paired with Vinas del Vero ‘La Miranda de Secastilla’ Garnacha Blanca ’10. The fruit from this wine is sourced from de Secastilla vineyard, Somontano region at the foothills of the Pyrenees this specific vineyard is 100 yrs old. This wine is fermented in Stainless Steel and finished in French Oak for the last 4mths of its journey. Its colour has the lightest hue of green with rich aromas and fresh crisp fruit flavours.
It just isn’t Spain unless you’re having Tempranillo. Tempranillo is considered Spain’s national grape. Braised Lamb Belly, Puy Lentil, Haloumi and an Almond psicha paired with Finca Constanica ‘Parcela 23’ Tempranillo ’09. Great dish worked so well.
We went on to enjoy two Riojas – the Beronia Crianza ‘08 & Beronia Reserva ’07, with Pork Belly and candied Eggplant, grilled artichoke. Then the gorgeous Anada 1982 Palo Cortado sherry – beautiful amber/ gold in colour and glistened in the glass, had wonderful mushroom characters then unfolded into citrus orange peel paired with Macadamia psicha, fresh fig and a maturo vintage cheddar. The finale was the Oloroso VORS ‘Matusalem’ served with a Hazelnut Praline & Blackberry Gliko, just perfect, say no more!
Thank you Clive for the invitation and many thanks to the people of Ambeli, service top notch.
After my lunch with friends on a gorgeous Wellington sunny day… I left Ambeli satisfied and feeling the Spanish love and before I knew it I was in Shozies purchasing a gorgeous pair of brushed leather boots, made in Spain.
Author: Jane
