New Zealand Food and Wine TV

Virtual Tasting of Very Special New Zealand Wines

Ron McFarland — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:09:07 +0000

All wine regions throughout world produce a wide range of quality wines and these special wines from New Zealand are now gaining recognition and appreciation around the world. I wrote about this a while back and was excited to see this virtual wine event sponsored by New Zealand Complexity. It will be an evening that is both delightful and informative. To participate just follow this link.

Saturday February 4th, 2012

Virtual Tasting 7:00pm Central Standard Time

In association with Wine Channel TV we’re celebrating Waitangi Day, New Zealand’s National holiday, with a virtual wine tasting and cooking demonstration – and you’re invited to ‘come along’! With Celebrity Winemakers in attendance, and a live audience in Chicago, you’ll have the opportunity to message in questions as you sip along with us from the comfort of your living room. Gather up a group of friends, register, and tune in with fellow-wine lovers from around the globe for this fun, social way to taste and learn about New Zealand’s finest wines!

Be sure to stock up with a few bottles from our featured wineries at a participating retailer beforehand. To stay up-to-date with #nzwineday news including competitions, participating retailers and restaurants, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

See you online!

Got Questions? Email us! events@complexity.co.nz

Note: Once you’ve registered for this FREE event we’ll send you everything you need to know about how to access the virtual wine tasting online.

You will also be automatically entered to win a Complexity Fine Wine t-shirt and other great Kiwi prizes!

Filed under: Food, Wine

Is it New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc From New Zealand?

Ron McFarland — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:30:44 +0000

There is a difference between New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and here it is.

Not long ago, New Zealand wine commentator Jayson Bryant wrote a column with the title “Where Has All the New Zealand Wine Gone?“. Today there are multiple categories of production in the world of New Zealand wine, in fact the industry body lists producers by size and includes three categories of small – medium and large. This has nothing to do with quality - just raw volume of wine produced.

The wines in the Jayson’s photo are generally New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs - well made wines that are readily available in wine departments from Hong Kong – Tokyo – London – New York – Chicago – Los Angeles & beyond. These wines have won many awards, generally have honorable scores, priced fairly and adequate at most meals. These wines are produced by global conglomerates or large family run businesses. None of this is either good or bad – it is just the way it is.

To understand Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, you have to take a moment and imagine walking through a farmers market filled with vendors who have a dazzling array of fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, eggs, cheese and so on. This market is a true delight for the senses where the creators of these wonderful foods have assembled to sell their goods. This is Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, wines that are only produced in small quantities with limited availability.

In another blog Misha Wilkenson writes about the small New Zealand wine producers and the marketing challenges facing this large group of small producers. In round numbers about 90% of all New Zealand wine producers make less than 25,000 cases of wine. This is the farmers market of New Zealand wines – challenge is finding them.

This is why I suggest Sauvignon Blanc (or Pinot Noir etc) from New Zealand is the proper designation for these special and hard to find New Zealand wines. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is everywhere – Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, not so easy to find.

Back to the farmers market – basket loaded and now home in the kitchen preparing a meal for friends – imagine a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand with the first course and for the second a Pinot Noir from New Zealand – there was an effort to put it all together – the smiles on your friends faces confirm the effort was worth it.

Here is another side story that suggests if you truly want to find these special wines from New Zealand you have to either live there or get on a plane. (Quote is from end of article).

“I also met 2 charming Antipodeans from New Zealand who were working in Bristol to whom I apologised beforehand about part of my talk re the additives in cheap New Zealand wines.

Their reply was

“Please don’t apologise. It’s a well known fact back at home that the cheaper wines are produced for the masses and the locals won’t buy it – so we send it over to you!”

Wait - there is a Sticky from New Zealand for desert and a car with driver to take you home!

Filed under: Food, Marketing, Travel, Wine

Wineries to Visit in New Zealand

Ron McFarland — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:37:03 +0000

Planning a New Zealand trip to find undiscovered wines, restaurants or special locations for meetings or weddings then Wineries to Visit in New Zealand is a web site for you. The site lists wineries around New Zealand that are open to visitors for tasting’s, wine sales, meals, weddings, accommodation, functions, tours, etc.

It’s easy to find the big players, just look for the parking lots with the oversize buses, finding the hidden gems requires a little research. Wineries to Visit in New Zealand will make your trip more exciting and memorable.

Filed under: Food, Travel, Wine

New Zealand Wine Movie Bride Flight

Ron McFarland — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:08:52 +0000

BRIDE FLIGHT is a lavish romantic drama inspired by the true story of the 1953 KLM flight that won the “Last Great Air Race” from London to Christchurch. The flight was dubbed “Bride Flight” by the international press, because of its special passengers — young women with wedding dresses in their suitcases, traveling to join their fiancés who had already emigrated to New Zealand. Leaving behind the gloom and scarcity of post-WWII Europe, shy but sensual farm girl Ada, dogmatic Marjorie, and Jewish fashion designer Esther are filled with hope for a future of love and freedom. Each takes a very different path in their strange new land, but together with handsome bachelor Frank, they form a bond on the flight that continues to link them for decades to come. Honored with Audience Awards at film festivals across the country, BRIDE FLIGHT evokes a time of slim choices and desperate optimism, with sweeping views of the New Zealand countryside, stunning period dresses, and the faint smell of Pinot Noir from the thriving vineyard Frank establishes in New Zealand.

To watch the trailer and check local theater listings, please visit:

Bride Flight movie trailer

Facebook

Directed by Ben Sombogaart.

Stars Waldemar Torenstra, Karina Smulders, Anna Drijver, Elise Schaap, Rutger Hauer, Pleuni Touw.

Screenwriter Marieke van der Pol also wrote the best-selling novel.

A Music Box Films release.

Filed under: Food, Travel, Wine

The Specialist Wine Growers of New Zealand Wine Tasting

Ron McFarland — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:49:56 +0000

The next chapter of New Zealand wine is beginning to unfold and we are beginning to see more opportunities for consumers around the world to learn and sample the wines from the smaller boutique producers.

One example is ”The Specialist Winegrowers of New Zealand Ltd. They are an independent marketing alliance representing rare and exceptional wines from a small group of artisan producers. The alliance offers a single point of contact for sourcing some of New Zealand’s finest limited release boutique wine.”

Members of this group include:

Mike Spratt / Destiny Bay
Sarah Inkersell / Fairbourne Estate
Chris Canning / The Hay Paddock
Daniel Le Brun / No 1 Family Estate
Nick Nobilo / Vinoptima
Steve Farquharson / Wooing Tree

The Specialist Winegrowers of New Zealand Wine Tasting Mt. Eden, 8 September 2010

To make a booking for this event, follow this link

Filed under: Uncategorized

Willowridge Wanakafest Food and Wine Fest

Ron McFarland — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:23:33 +0000

A combined effort from 5 Wanaka vineyards and several of Wanaka’s top restaurants has created a food and wine fest to be held in conjunction with this years Willowridge Wanakafest.

For the first time, this is a solely Wanaka event. Only grapes grown in the Wanaka area and food prepared by local chefs will be involved. People will have the opportunity to head to Pembroke Park and sample some of our town’s top wines and foods, while listening to some relaxing music and socialising with friends.

The event has been largely driven by the Wanakafest community trust with help from Mount Maude wines and Rippon Vineyard.

Here is the link to the original post

Filed under: Food, Travel, Wine

How Sauvignon Blanc is Stored Does Matter

Ron McFarland — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:07:02 +0000

Auckland scientists studying the unique characteristics of New Zealand sauvignon blanc have shown that cold storage can triple the shelf life of the wine by reducing the loss of characteristic tropical fruit aromas over time.

Associate professor Paul Kilmartin, of the wine science programme and department of chemistry at the University of Auckland, says that New Zealand sauvignon blanc has a variety of styles and aromas, but wines from Marlborough in particular are known and valued for their intense tropical fruit and herbaceous aromas.

“It has been widely accepted that these aromas are lost with age and that the wine, which has traditionally been stored at room temperature, is best enjoyed young,” he says. For the rest of the article click here

Filed under: Wine

New Zealand Tea Coming to USA

Ron McFarland — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:21:03 +0000

Chicago Tea Garden will begin to import oolong tea grown in New Zealand. Read the full story here.

Filed under: Food

A Rockin New Zealand Glacier

Ron McFarland — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:53:32 +0000

Passengers aboard two Glacier Explorers boats at Aoraki Mount Cook last weekend were treated to a real show-stopper when the largest iceberg in the Tasman Glacier terminal lake rolled over and split in two right before their eyes. …

Filed under: Travel

New Zealand Heli Fishing Adventure

Ron McFarland — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:44:26 +0000

Join luxury New Zealand travel specialists Lookout Point on a remarkable heli fishing adventure from Auckland to Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. Arranged and managed by Lookout Point, the New Zealand luxury travel and adventure experts.

Filed under: Travel