Welcome to the May 2010 issue of the Gladstone Vineyard Grapevine.

IN THIS ISSUE

GLADSTONE VINEYARD COMES OF AGE

NEW RELEASES IN NEW PACKAGING

HIGH FIVE FOR GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR

VINTAGE 2010

WHAT'S ON

The name is the same and the wines are better than ever but we felt the time was right for a change.  Having lived with our old identity for nearly a quarter of a century, Gladstone Vineyard has come of age with its own unique logo – our new symbol of enduring excellence...

Established in 1986, Gladstone Vineyard was the first of a cluster of boutique wineries to emerge on the old riverbed of the Ruamahanga River, in Gladstone, in the heart of the Wairarapa. We aim to craft beautiful wines of exceptional quality, with a richness that expresses the individuality of the soil and outstanding exposure of our vineyards. We are immensely proud of our position in the world of wine and felt the time was right to create a fresh new look for our growing brand. We needed a distinctive symbol that could carry the Gladstone Vineyard story to the world.

And so our new logo was born.

You will note the emphasis on our name – Gladstone Vineyard. Gladstone is a growing wine region but there is only one Gladstone Vineyard.  Watch out for our new branding on our labels, website, packaging and advertising over the next few months.

The first of our wines in their 'new clothes' has just been released, the Gladstone Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and the Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Gris 2009.  These beautiful and elegant wines follow in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors. 

Handcrafted with elegance, style and texture these wines are true to the vineyard.  These are now available to purchase at cellar door or direct from our website.

Gladstone Vineyard’s Pinot Noir has scooped gold for a fifth consecutive year, collecting its latest accolade from one of the most prestigious and influential independent wine competitions, the International Wine Challenge in London.   We are  thrilled to receive recognition for the 2008 Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir at such a well regarded competition.  But we’re even more elated that this award cements Gladstone Vineyard’s record for consistently producing Pinot Noir at the top level. It’s proof – if we needed it – that Wairarapa Pinot Noir ranks among the world’s best.

The judges described Gladstone Vineyard’s Pinot Noir 2008 as “Lovely, smoky bacon and vegetal character. Soft, quivering mid palate. Lots of fruit delivery and lovely tannins. Excellent expression of Pinot.”

The International Wine Challenge is a renowned international wine contest, which takes place annually in London. With more than 10,000 entries, it is the biggest blind tasting in the world.   Don't miss out, buy some of this world beating Pinot Noir here!

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Vintage 2010 harvest promised much for an unabated record of world beating Pinot Noir.  After a cool summer, autumn was warm and benign and let the fruit ripen nicely. The weather was magnificent during harvest, enabling us to pick when we wanted to optimise fruit flavours and ripeness. The longer, cooler ripening period encourages good flavour development in the grapes at lower potential alcohol levels, so we are optimistic for very good quality wines from 2010.

These conditions made for a slightly longer and later, but very relaxed harvest.  Gerhard was joined in the winery by Craig Anderson, a Kiwi who had found himself working in big Australian wineries and was needing to get back to the 'real oil'.  Kyle and his regular vineyard crew of Shane and Vicky took my nephew Iain, from Scotland, under their wing, out here on some OE after university.

We decided to start any machine harvesting around 4am this year.  This means we have the advantage of picking the fruit at a reasonably cool temperature, and also that we start the run of several press cycles around 6.30am and can work most of it through the day and early evening.  It does mean an early start for all, particularly for the vineyard team.  No wonder that tummies are rumbling around 9.30am on these days.  My big brekkie became a bit of a favourite - bacon, eggs, beans, sausages, mushrooms and hash browns were much enjoyed.  Next year we'll introduce them all to some black pudding too! 

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We've got some great events at the Gladstone Vineyard Café this winter, including:

• Ray Henwood’s ‘All the World's a Stage' on Friday 25 June 6.30pm - tickets $60 for the show and 3-course dinner.
• A Schoc Chocolate Degustation Dinner on Friday 9 July -  a gastronomic extravaganza of winter-warming food married with Greytown's divine Schoc chocolate and matched with our own superb wines. Details TBC.

Bookings are essential - call 06 379 8563 or email us. 

We've taken the opportunity with changes in our website to update our updates!  We will now be sending out two updates - the main Gladstone Vineyard Grapevine (this one) which will be sent out every few months and a What's Happening update to let locals know of events here at Gladstone Vineyard.  I've taken the liberty of subscribing all 'local' people (if I have those details, from Palmerston North to Bulls and down to Wellington) to the local events mailing list.  You can change what newsletter(s) you get (subscribe or unsubscribe) at any time on our website.

Thanks for your ongoing support of Gladstone Vineyard and our wines.  It's good to have you with us!

Yours aye

Welcome to the June 2010 issue of What's Happening at Gladstone Vineyard.

IN THIS ISSUE

WHAT'S HAPPENING

The weather may be awful, but we've got some exceptional reasons to wrap up and head on out!  We hope to see you soon at one or other of these events (or more...)

LADIES WHO LUNCH

Make a date in your diary to catch up with your friends at the Gladstone Vineyard Cafe on the 3rd Thursday of the month  (that's this week, Thursday 17th June).  Kelli, from Xtreme Nails will be there to give you a complementary manicure if you lunch with us.  Go on, treat yourself, and your nails - you know you deserve it.

BRASSERIE ONE DEGUSTATION DINNER

We're proud to have been selected by Jurgen Synman to partner him in a very special chef and winemaker's degustation dinner this Friday 18th June at Brasserie One in Martinborough.

As David Burton said in his recent review in the Dominion Post:

"Jurgen Synman is vying with Wendy Campbell at the French Bistro and Kent Baddeley at Parehua Country Estate to produce the very best cuisine in the Wairarapa; so to call this restaurant Brasserie One is not so much cheeky as possibly true. "

Jurgen is cooking a very special dinner, starting with canapés and a glass of bubbles, then followed by five courses, each matched with one of our Gladstone Vineyard wines, for only $135 per person.  There are very few places left for this amazing night.  Contact Sharon or Jurgen on 06 306 9800 to book your seat now.

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE WITH RAY HENWOOD

Enjoy Ray Henwood's much acclaimed "All the World's a Stage" fireside at the Gladstone Vineyard cafe on Friday 25 June from 6.30pm.  This is Ray's solo Shakespeare show, a "Round-the-Bard trip" in 90 minutes.  Join him as we meet Romeo, Shylock, Prospero, Hamlet and a host of other enchanting characters sure to surprise and thrill you.  It will be a great night out  and tickets are only $60 for a three course dinner and the show.  Bookings are essential  - call 06 379 8563 or email us.

CHOCOHOLIC? THIS IS THE NIGHT FOR YOU!

You might need to get in training for our  Schoc Chocolate Degustation Dinner on Friday 9 July.  This will be a gastronomic extravaganza of winter-warming food married with Greytown's divine Schoc Chocolate matched with our own superb wines.  Tickets $110 per person.  Spaces are limited so book now on 06 379 8563 or email us.

COMING UP IN AUGUST

After a hugely successful first year, Wellington on a Plate is back from 14 - 29 August.  Gladstone Vineyard is proud to be both a dine partner and event partner.  Details will be announced in early July.  Check out Wellington on a Plate or our website for more details shortly.

Yours aye