Palliser Estate Wines

Barrel racing at its funniest

Pip Goodwin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:36:59 +0000

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 2^nd 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) 3^rd.

The true hilarity however was had in the 2^nd 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 20^th 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!

Wet, wild morning spent at Onoke Spit but all for a good cause!

Pip Goodwin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:46:12 +0000

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.

Champion Pinot Noir & Open Red trophies for our 2010 Pencarrow Pinot Noir

Pip Goodwin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:58:14 +0000

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.

Pure Gold Medal – Air New Zealand 2011 Wine Awards

Carla Burns — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:43:36 +0000

Gold Medal – Air New Zealand 2011 Wine Awards

Carla Burns — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:41:35 +0000

Thank You

Richard Riddiford — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:32:34 +0000

THANK YOU

It was never going to be easy, the final was just a little close for comfort, but as a drama it was hard to beat. If the English needed a lesson on tenacity, bravery and courage I do hope they watched Les Bleus who were magnificent BUT our boys won and that is what history will record. From the moment Les Bleus challenged the Haka you knew it was going to be all on. I have never been in a Kiwi crowd who sang our National anthem with such pride and VERY loudly—it was emotional and passionate.

You knew this RWC was going to be special from the moment the Wakas slid silently into the Viaduct. The hosting rights were sold pretty much on the stadium of 4.5 million and that was a big call but New Zealand responded magnificently. It was not a cheap exercise going to the games but right across the Country people responded in their thousands and opened their hearts and homes to our visitors.

So thank you to Ritchie and his men for returning The Webb Ellis trophy to New Zealand. Thank you for the way you played against Australia in the semi final—I have never witnessed an All Black team play with such a clinical ferocity and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the courage, bravery and self belief in winning the final. Thank you to Jock and his team for winning the hosting rights. There were many special moments in this tournament but none more so than Jock presenting Ritchie with his 100^th Cap—two warriors each with their own mountain to climb. Thank you to Ted, Steve and Wayne you were the best coaches. Thank you to Martin Snedden and his team for staging a truly remarkable occasion. I have had messages from colleagues all over the World saying it was our time—my Australian colleagues being particularly gracious. So thank you to all involved, you made New Zealand very proud – our chests are bursting with pride.

KIA KAHA

Gold Medal – 2011 New Zealand International Wine Show

Carla Burns — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:54:47 +0000

Gold for our 2009 Chardonnay… more

Gold Medal – 2011 New Zealand International Wine Show

Carla Burns — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:52:49 +0000

And for our 2009 Pinot noir… more

A Native Wonderland In The Making

Carla Burns — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:36:58 +0000

We like to be responsible citizens of the world and we take our responsibility towards the environment very seriously. Last year we purchased a new vineyard on the Martinborough Terrace and one of the most exciting things about it is the area of wetlands and an escarpment leading down to those wetlands. We realized this area would be the perfect project to develop and plant up with native plants.

Today the crew have spent the day digging holes, heeling in native trees and fertilizing. We have used a selection of plants that the Department of Conservation recommended as being endemic to our area, and that are also beneficial to the native birds. These plants are predominately native, and include Flax, Kowhai, Lancewood, Hebe, Coprosma and native grass. We have also planted Tree Lucerne (loved by the native Wood Pigeons) and winter flowering gum, which are a valuable food source over the winter. We look forward to seeing this area grow and turn into a beautiful native wonderland.

The Power of Passion

Carla Burns — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:45:27 +0000

There’s been some exciting, stirring rugby already and we look forward to the weeks ahead. We have had a huge influx of RWC visitors to the cellar door – all nationalities, all ages, all inspired by our beautiful country and the great game they have come to follow.

Yesterday a coach load of French arrived. We love the French – they are so passionate and patriotic – as soon as they saw the French flag flying they gathered beneath it and with hands on heart sung their wonderfully stirring anthem “La Marseillaise”.

Waka, the loyal Palliser dog, was so excited he started warbling with them!