Nelsonians First in World to Taste New Wines

September 17 2012

Nelsonians First in World to Taste New Wines

Nelson Wineart is expecting another sell-out as it celebrates the fifth anniversary of the famous tasting event where locals get the chance to be the first in the world to sample the new release wines from the Nelson region.

The Nelson New Release Tasting Event is a highlight on the wine calendar. This year 21 wineries will be showcasing over 100 wines including their newest releases and some old favourites.

It is on next Tuesday 25 September from 5.30 - 7.30pm at The Boathouse, Wakefield Quay, Nelson. Entry is by ticket only, available through the Nelson wine art website www.wineart.co.nz. Tickets are limited to 150.

Nelson Wineart General Manager Gisela Purcell says it’s a unique chance for anyone who’s passionate about wine to sample what’s new and have the winemakers, winery owners and their expert staff on hand to talk about their wines.

“This is the first public tasting for many of the wines, and some are so new they were only bottled in recent weeks, so it’s a pretty special opportunity.”

Gisela says they have wine connoisseurs attend who taste and take notes but also just people who love their wine. “The great thing about this event is that when you taste a wine, you can talk to the person from the winery who either made it or was intimately involved in the process.”

Nelson Wineart are pleased to welcome two new wine companies to the tasting event – Harakeke Farm, based in the Moutere, and Wine Lord based in Brightwater.

Harakeke Farm is a small-scale family owned and worked vineyard in Upper Moutere. Joanne Costar & Andrew Sutherland hand pick and hand make a small range of quality wine from their 3 hectare vineyard.

Andrew says the Nelson Wineart tasting kicks off an exciting month for their label, as they prepare to officially open their Harakeke Farm cellar door at the Old Post Office in Upper Moutere on Labour Weekend.

“I think what’s really empowering for me as a winemaker is to be able to see the reaction when people taste your wine and it’s great to have that instant feedback about it. That satisfaction completes the winemaking process and I’m looking forward to talking to people who love wine about how we make ours,” says Andrew Sutherland.

The Winelord vineyard was started by Rob Grey on Brightwater land that’s been in the Grey family for over 50 years. The family firm is now run jointly with Rob’s daughter Kylie and son-in-law Ryan O’Connell.

They produce wine under four labels : Greys Fine Wines, Brightwater Gravels, Why Not Wines, and the most recent - Middle-earth™ Wines which will be available for tasting for the first time next Tuesday.

Winelord Spokesman Ryan O’Connell says; “We’re excited about the opportunity to finally share our newest vintage, Middle-earth Wine. It’s been a long journey to get to this point, but we have a great result, straight from the centre of New Zealand – the true middle of Middle-earth. When Nelsonians are the first to taste Middle-earth™ Wines at The Boathouse, we’ll be celebrating with them.”

The $35 ticket cost covers all wine tasting (no separate charges) gourmet nibbles from Blinc catering and musical accompaniment from Simon Williams and Gabor Tolnay.

Gisela Purcell says for the first time they’re offering a bus service from Nelson city to the Boathhouse and that can be booked at the same time you book your tickets online at www.wineart.co.nz and go to the events page.

Wineries attending the New Release Tasting include: Anchorage Wines, Blackenbrook Vineyard, Brightwater Vineyards, Greenhough Vineyards, Harakeke Farm, Kahurangi Estate, Kina Beach Vineyard, Kina Cliffs Vineyard, Milcrest Estate, Neudorf Vineyards, Orinoco Vineyard, Richmond Plains Organic Wines, Rimu Grove Winery, Riwaka River Estate, Ruby Bay Vineyard, Sea Level Wines, Seifried Estate, Tohu Wines, Waimea Estates, Wine Lord, Woollaston Estate.

ENDS

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