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

IN THIS ISSUE

DAFFODIL SUNDAY

NEW RESERVE WINES

TOP REVIEWS

SPECIAL OFFER

WAIRARAPA WINE CELLAR

WE NEED YOU AS A JUDGE

CHRISTINE'S CHATTER

WLG POP UP IN SYDNEY

COMING UP

As I write this, the wind is howling, a frost alarm has been sent (but we don't have bud burst for another week), and yet the daffodils are out, and the weekend weather was beautiful.

Spring is here, we can expect the unexpected.  But how irrelevant it is to be worrying about the weather, when we look at what has happened in Canterbury.  Our thoughts go out to friends and customers affected by the quake.

DAFFODIL SUNDAY

For us here at Gladstone Vineyard, the spring season kicks on Daffodil Sunday.  The second Sunday of September every year, is when our ever generous neighbours, the Booth family, open up their farm for hundreds of visitors to wander and pick from their field of daffodils, with all proceeds going to local charities.  This year the steam train is back on a special schedule to the Wairarapa so people can really make a day of it.  Come over to the Gladstone Vineyard cafe pre- or post- pick for a light lunch, glass of wine or coffee - tractor rides from the gate are available for young and old alike.  And the inside word from Jenny Booth is that the daffodils are at their best this year.  So see you this Sunday 12th September. 
 

Have you seen our wonderful new Reserve range of wines?  Thanks to Stan, our talented designer, our limited release reserve wines are now packaged in a style that befits them.

First up is the new Sophie's Choice 2009. 

Back by popular demand, and only its second vintage, this special Fumé Blanc is a limited release of 100% barrel fermented and barrel aged Sauvignon Blanc.  Named after our loyal retriever, Sophie, (now 14 and slowing due to her arthritic joints) this wine is made from our oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines, carefully handpicked from our home block.  Fermented and aged in French oak for 11 months, we have only made 80 cases of this wine. 

Up next is the Auld Alliance 2008.

 Fittingly, the superb 2008 vintage has achieved Reserve status.  From a top vintage, this wine has been made from a special selection of Bordeaux varieties. The final blend is 59 percent Cabernet Franc, 16.5 percent each of Merlot and Malbec and 8 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.  The wine has luxurious aromas of berry fruit, integrated oak and soft spices.  It is dense, yet youthful with a broad palate and a long finish.  You can enjoy it now or cellar for up to 10 years.

Both these wines are available to purchase at cellar door or from our website.

TOP INTERNATIONAL REVIEWS

Our Gladstone Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris have both recently received rave reviews from around the world.

The Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Gris has been rated highly in the UK, Canada and here in New Zealand.  Joanna Simon, wine writer for the UK Sunday Times, reckons its one of New Zealand's best, and our own Michael Cooper says this "full-bodied, distinctly Alsace-style pinot gris.............(is) already delicious."  It's a wine worthy of the lineage of great Gladstone Vineyard pinot gris.

And the Sauvignon Blanc, (a sauvignon blanc for non sauvignon drinkers) has just won a silver medal at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon.  As is our style, the wine has got great weight and fruit, but also has an interesting minerality, typical of our terroir.  Click here  for renowned British wine writer, Simon Woods' take on the wine. 

Again, both these wines are available to purchase at cellar door or from our website.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR GRAPEVINE SUBSCRIBERS

It's got to go...!

The last of the Gladstone Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008, still drinking well, with minerality palate weight and class...

It is the last of the GV SB's in the old packaging - so one for the cellar.  Only 50 cases left, and selling at just $119 / case to make room for the new vintage GV wines.  Call us now on 06 379 8563 to secure your entitlement.

We are proud to be part of  a group of vineyard and winery owners who are turning the old Greytown library into a wine centre to showcase what Wairarapa has to offer.  Greytown is not known as a vineyard town, but being at the hub of the Wairarapa tourism, it is an ideal place to promote Wairarapa wines and the region as a whole.
 
Instead of pruning in the past weeks, many of the group have been hard at work refurbishing, lifting carpets, painting, installing heating, counters, computers and more for the opening of the wine centre in early October.  The Wairarapa Wine Cellar will be a new cellar door for the region, providing a promotional venue for the wine industry and for tourism across the region.

While there has been a huge effort by many people, the driver behind the project who has made it all happen is Karl Johner of Johner Estate, so thanks Karl, for getting us all on board!  Click here for more details or become a friend on facebook. 

WE NEED YOU AS A JUDGE

Wines from 36 of New Zealand's premier vineyards - including Gladstone Vineyard - have been chosen for entry into the The New Zealand Week 2010 Wine Awards. 

These are the People’s Choice Awards, so you have an opportunity to become a judge yourself.  It’s really worth registering and having a good look around. This is going to change how wines receive the accolades they do (or don’t) deserve - it’s all in your hands!  Click here to check it out now.

CHRISTINE'S CHATTER

The wine industry is regularly in the news these days.  It's hard to get away from articles about the financial woes affecting grapegrowers and wineries alike.  These are certainly challenging times.  People who have been in the industry for 25 years believe this is the hardest it has ever been. 

In my view, it's all part of New Zealand's "production" mentality.  We've seen it before - goats, kiwifruit, venison and more....  The wine industry will survive, and will come through this in a stronger position.  There will be casualties, and it won't (unfortunately) necessarily be fair who survives and who doesn't.  But we all have to be light on our feet at the moment, keep flexible, keep producing top quality wine (that's a given), continue to develop and protect our key brands, and give top service to our customers.  It must be easy, surely!!  In a world of overproduction, cost cutting and recession, it's hard work. 

Here at Gladstone Vineyard, we are all working hard to continue to produce world class wine.  Our new branding reinforces our story and the pride and sense of our place in the world of wine.  As the first and foremost wine producer in the exciting and developing Gladstone region, we have a powerful story and produce exciting wines which reflect the amazing terroir of the Ruamahanga terraces. 

It's also a time to work together, to share costs and to seize opportunities, to remember that the whole can be bigger and better than the sum of the parts.  That is another reason we are pleased to be a part of the Wairarapa Wine Cellar.

Christmas functions
Do you know how many days it is to Christmas?  Scarily I saw a notice about Christmas posting dates at the post office the other day!  So it must be time to arrange your end of year work or family or friends outing...

We are now taking bookings for end of year functions. With our beautiful setting amongst the vines, we can offer you an unforgettable day.  We have a selection of Christmas menus designed by our award winning chef Zane Saba.   Not only can we offer you superb food and wine, we can also organise the following for you:

• Winery tour and tasting  
• Clay bird shooting   
• Petanque   
• Corporate gifts

Email Tanda for more information or give her a call on 06 379 8563.

Regular events

• Every third Thursday of the month,  "Ladies who Lunch" with us will receive a complimentary mini manicure.  Next up: Thursday 16 September 
• Live music every third Sunday of the month.  Next up: Wairarapa's finest, Barry Saunders kicks off Spring - Sunday 19 September

Bookings recommended - call 06 379 8563 or email us.

• Summer Shakespeare back 3-5 February 2011
• The Topp Twins Winery Tour, Friday 11 February 2011
• 'Sculpture in the Park' comes to GV 12 - 13 March 2011
• Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival, 19 March 2011

More details to follow, or keep an eye on our website for details.

Yours aye