Session 25 - The NZ Files

New Zealand launched itself on the wine-making scene with some radically different wines back in the late 70s and early 80s. It's industry was largely focussed on the Marlborough region and Sauvignon Blanc was its key variety.

It still is in many respects, with 80%+ of its exports coming from that variety. However, it is much more than a one-trick pony, with areas of production ranging from around Auckland in the North down to Central Otago in the centre of the South Island.

As ever with Swirl, Sniff, Spit we're looking to show diversity, quality and to introduce some producers you may not have heard of.

Bracket 1 Sav Blanc
2012 Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc @Catalina_Sounds
2012 Te Whare Ra Sauvignon Blanc @TeWhareRaWines
2012 Geisen 'The August' Sauvignon Blanc @GiesenWines

Bracket 2 Aromatic Whites
2011 Te Whare Ra Gewürztraminer @TeWhareRaWines
2012 Maude Pinot Gris @MaudeWines

Bracket 3 Martinborough Pinot
2010 Escarpment Pinot Noir @LarryMcPinot
2009 Kumeu River Village Pinot Noir @ n/a

Bracket 4 South Island
2011 Terra Sancta Estate Pinot Noir @TerraSanctaWine
2010 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir @PegasusBayWine

Bracket 5 - Syrah/ Cabernet
2009 Ata Rangi 'Celebre' @Ata_Rangi
tbc

Session 24 - That Vintage - A Look at 2011

After Session 23 - Myth Busters, dedicating an event to the wines from the 2011 vintage could be seen as a natural extension from there. That vintage - possibly the biggest myth of all to look to bust.

It was wet in many places. We get that. We certainly won't shy away from that. But that doesn't tell the whole story: that in Western Australia conditions were actually quite warm, that in the Hunter Valley they celebrated a highly regarded vintage, that it could be regarded as a producers' vintage, with great wines to be had if you know where to look.

We often find that in search of an attention grabbing headline too many commentators generalise about the state of the wine industry on this island continent. So, let's take a look at wines from that vintage and draw our own conclusions.

Bracket 1 – 'White Rhone' Varieties

John Duval Plexus 'White' n/a

Yangarra Viognier @Yangarra

Bracket 2 – Other Whites
Meerea Park Hell Hole Semillon @MeereaPark 
Xabregas Fig Tree Riesling @Xabregas_Wines
Xabregas Spencer Riesling @Xabregas_Wines

Bracket 3 – Chardonnay

Kooyong Clonale Chardonnay n/a
Yalumba FDW7c 2011@Yalumba
Tapanappa Chardonnay 2011 @Tapanappa

Bracket 4 – Pinot Noir
Stoney Rise Holyman Pinot Noir @StoneyRise 
Henty Farm Wines Pinot Noir @HentyFarmWine

Bracket 5 – Grenache & Friends
Brash Higgins GR/M Grenache Mataro 2011 @BrashHiggins
Cirillo Wines The Vincent Grenache 2011 @Cirillo1850Wine

Bracket 6 – Shiraz

De Iuliis Steven's Vineyard Shiraz @MikeDeIuliis

Cirillo Single Vineyard Shiraz @Cirillo1850Wine

Bracket 7 – Other Reds
Inkwell Wines Primitivo 2011 @InkwellWines
A.Rodda Cuvee du Chez @ARoddaWines