Cable Bay Vineyards launch seasonal degustation

Media release 16 July 2007

Cable Bay Vineyards launch seasonally inspired degustation menu

Cable Bay Vineyard estate on Auckland’s Waiheke Island has introduced a six-course seasonally inspired degustation menu to complement its extensive vineyard offering.

Guests can savour a selection of carefully crafted flavours matched to perfection with fine wines from Cable Bay Vineyards or choose from an extensive wine list. This special menu will attract food and wine lovers from afar and is the perfect excuse to visit the exquisite Cable Bay Vineyard restaurant and winery complex - only 40 minutes from downtown Auckland.

The special degustation menu will be available every Friday at the Cable Bay Vineyards restaurant, which serves an à la carte menu for lunch Tuesday to Sunday, from midday to 3pm and dinner from Thursday to Saturday from 6pm. The degustation menu is priced at $80 without wine for six-courses or $120 with Cable Bay Vineyards Waiheke Island and Marlborough wines partnered to each course.

Cable Bay’s head chef Will Thorpe, whose background includes working at world-renowned UK chef Gordon Ramsay’s Amaryllis restaurant in Glasgow and Auckland’s Skycity, says he wanted to challenge people to explore the flavours of the season, at their peak, and to try simple ingredients cooked in inspiring ways.

“Seasonality, freshness and flavour are hugely important to our menu, not only in the ingredients that we source but also in the methods we employ in the kitchen. You definitely won’t see asparagus or green beans being served outside of season, for instance.

“The winter degustation menu is very much about warm, earthy methods and flavours -soups, slowly cooked meat and fish and fresh seasonal flavours such as Jerusalem artichokes, tamarillo and butternut squash. They are all simple, clean yet intense flavours - timely but luxurious.”

Highlights include Jerusalem artichoke soup, roasted butternut tortellini, fresh market Hapuka slow-cooked and accompanied by tart diced tamarillo vinaigrette with thyme, salt and olive oil, and Gorgonzola custard and a jelly made from Cable Bay riesling juice, from the vineyard.

The Cable Bay kitchen sources local ingredients when possible, being inspired for the past few months by an abundance of Waiheke Island feijoas from Will’s garden. Unfortunately, the feijoa supply has long been exhausted, but Waiheke Island apples have made their way onto the degustation menu in a delicious chutney to accompany the Gorgonzola custard.

The wines are expertly matched to each dish by managing director and winemaker Neill Culley. It includes a selection of the finest Cable Bay vintages. This is reflection of the overall wine list at Cable Bay, which is not limited to their own wines, but complemented by the best wines New Zealand, and the world, has to offer.

The process of wine making at Cable Bay focuses on small lot winemaking to ensure fruit from each vineyard achieves its full potential. As a result, all Cable Bay wines have their own, distinct personalities.

Guests to Cable Bay Vineyard’s stunning Waiheke Island winery complex can anticipate a complete sensory feast. Opened in early 2007, it aims to deliver an uplifting and enduring experience combining New Zealand’s stunning landscape with its top-quality wines, exquisite food and contemporary art.

With a restaurant, bar, tasting room and private rooms specifically built for meetings, retreats and special functions, it offers an indulgent and private setting for any time schedule.

As well as feasting their taste buds on superb food and wine, visitors can feast their eyes on the stunning views of the Waitemata Harbour looking back towards the Auckland city skyline. The venue is also rich with an extensive art collection featuring expressive sculptures and paintings by New Zealand artists chosen by Cable Bay shareholder John Gow, including works by Judy Millar, Max Gimblett, Allen Maddox and more.

In keeping with the ethos of the company, the winery has benefited from the active involvement and expertise of all its shareholders, a dedicated group of wine and food lovers who are passionate about what New Zealand has to offer.

Lovers of quality food, wine and art can immerse themselves in another world. The new must-stop destination for wine and food lovers, Cable Bay winery offers a culinary and sensory experience second to none.

The stylish and modern accommodation in the Winemakers Loft also provides the perfect setting for a weekend getaway.

ENDS

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