The most exciting wine and food region in New Zealand presents our annual festival. Every year we celebrate the upcoming harvest with a festival. After the earthquake damaged the Glenmark church last year, the festival has moved to a new home in another stunning Waipara Valley environment.
Over 20 wineries and many local food producers will come together in the beautiful Waipara Valley setting of the Mud House Winery and Cafe, serenaded by:
Herbs
Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra
Christchurch Pops Choir
Join us for a wonderful day of wine, food and music. Observe cooking demonstrations, and be encouraged to make your own Waipara Valley platters with ingredients from the food producers themselves.
The festival is located just 50 minutes north of Christchurch at the Mud House Winery and Cafe, 780 Glasnevin Road, State Highway 1, Waipara.
PS — If your calendar is booked for this weekend just plan your own private Waipara Food and Wine tour at your next opening – don’t forget to bring your friends.
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.
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).
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.
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:
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.
2 Atkins Ranch Racks Of Lamb, frenched if you like
2 T fresh chopped marjoram, basil, mint or parsley
2 tsp melted butter 4T bread crumbs– whole meal
2 tsp Dijon mustard Grated rind of 2 lemons
1. Toss melted butter through the breadcrumbs, add fresh herbs and lemon rind.
2. Coat the back (meaty) side of the rack with mustard. Firmly press on the herbed breadcrumbs.
3. Preheated oven to 4000 F, cook the racks for 20 minutes for rare lamb, 25 minutes for medium.
4. Remove lamb from the oven and let stand, covered, 5 minutes before serving.
Serve with: Small whole potatoes, with a side dish of tomatoes, zucchini, onion and peppers sautéed together till tender. Sprinkle with fresh herbs.
To Barbecue: Cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes each side. Cook the herbed side last.
A wide choice of New Zealand wine will complement this dish. Look for Pinot noir from Central Otago, Waipara or maybe Martinborough. Or Bordeaux blends from Hawkes Bay or Waiheke Island.
Delicious venison from New Zealand is called Cervena.
Some of the most celebrated chefs and culinary innovators from around the globe will show off their skills at the world’s largest restaurant industry trade show this spring.
This year’s NRA Show® will feature the brand-new World Culinary Showcase, where attendees experience high-energy, interactive cooking demonstrations and find the information and inspiration to create fun, flavorful and nutritious menu ideas.
NRA Show 2010 will be held May 22-25 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
Entirely Kiwi is an online New Zealand travel agency who recently held a contest to find a spokesperson to travel then length of New Zealand to promote the country and New Zealand tourism for three months.
The promotion known as the Entirely World Famous New Zealand Tour had over 300 applicants and was narrowly won by Nicquel Rhoden from Australia. The website shows her full itinerary, some information about each location and is updated with her blogs and videos about her adventures.
The video is a good reminder “It’s all in a days work”
The most exciting wine and food region in New Zealand presents our annual festival. Every year we celebrate the upcoming harvest with a festival. After the earthquake damaged the Glenmark church last year, the festival has moved to a new home in another stunning Waipara Valley environment.
New Zealand Food and Wine TV 