Committee Musings Dec’25

2026 Events coming up

  • Reminder: Currently, there is no function planned for this January, but your committee is currently considering a specific idea for 2027. That said, if you have an idea that we also might consider, please talk to a committee member.
  • February – Askerne Wines
  • March – Penfolds Tasting: wines from your Club Cellar, plus new wines

Acknowledgments

Your committee would like to acknowledge how the Club works for and on behalf of everyone in the wine industry. We are a sought-after Club for the wineries, especially the ones that have presented in the past, and want to present to us again. This is down to everyone who attends and orders at our monthly events. Lets continue this into 2026.

Survey update

Thank you to everyone who answered the Survey that we recently sent out. We received 41 responses in total. To give a summary of responses:

  1. On the question of which influences your decision to remain a member, there were large numbers besides ‘an opportunity to try new and different wines’; ‘to meet winemakers and hear them talk about their wine’ and also ‘socialising with other members – this seems to sum up the reason for our Club!
  2. There was an overwhelming response to the question. If you could only choose between these two … To try new and different wines won over To purchase wine at discounted price.
  3. If you decide to purchase wine, what is your main consideration – more people leaned towards the combination answer of quality and price of the wine.
  4. What price would influence your decision not to purchase wine had an interesting tally of responses. We had pretty even responses to $20, $40, $60, with slightly more ticking ‘Price is unlikely to prevent me purchasing a wine that I really like.
  5. What style of BYO restaurant dining would you prefer we organise, had slightly more people opting for ‘Cafe/Bistro Dining, over Fine Dining and Ethnic restaurants. This reply gives us a steer to focus on, thanks.
  6. What price (incl. corkage) would you consider too great at a restaurant, had a tie between $100 and ‘My decision would not be based on cost’.
  7. Is easy access to public transport a consideration in your decision to attend a restaurant event, again had an interesting response percentage: 60% said ‘no’, and 40% said ‘yes’.
  8. Do you enjoy the events presented by the Club that don’t involve purchase options had an overwhelmingly positive response!
  9. In relation to events presented by the Club, would you like to see – we had an overwhelmingly positive response under ‘About the same number’.

It is positive for your committee that members feel that things are going in the right direction. Please feel free to talk to a committee member if you have any concerns or ideas to pass on, thanks.

Committee Musings Nov’25

Continued thanks

It continues to be helpful to have everyone help with the tables and chairs at meetings and taking the same down at the end, thanks. Also, taking your table’s spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen.

Wines secured

We have secured 5 trophy wines and 2 double gold wines for our NZIWS Awards presentation timetabled for April next year.

Survey results to come

Thanks everyone for going online to respond to our survey. Unfortunately, you busted it, but not before we had gathered some great intel. We will try and report back on the survey in a future newsletter.

Looking ahead

  • December – Christmas Dinner, Le Cloche –there will be the normal welcoming glass of bubbly on arrival to start off the festivities. An order form for the meal, plus payment will be sent out separately.
  • January 2026 – Reminder: Currently there is no function planned for this January, but your committee is currently considering a specific idea for 2027. That said, if you have an idea that we also might consider, please talk to a committee member.
  • February 2026 – Askerne Wines

Committee Musings Oct ’25

Survey

Your committee is trying something new with a survey coming soon to members, your opinions matter on the running of this club and how things are done. This will be coming to your Inboxes from Wayne Kennedy, our Treasurer, for you to complete.

If two members of your household have the same email address, we will send you two copies of the same survey so that you can each provide us with your views.

Please check your Junk Mail or Spam folders for this survey in early October, to ensure you don’t miss out on your chance to comment.

Thanks

Thanks again to everyone who helps with the tables and chairs at the start of our evenings and taking the same down after the meeting. Also taking the spittoons, water jugs and cracker plates back to the kitchen.

Looking Ahead

  • November – Tbc
  • December – Christmas Dinner Wednesday 10th – La Cloche, Kaiwharawhara
  • January – nothing for 2026 as we are taking this chance to alter our license so we can hold something for 2027 – watch this space for 2027!

Committee Musings Sept ’25

Thanks

Thanks again to everyone who helps with the tables and chairs at the start of our evenings and taking the same down after the meeting. Also taking the tables contents: spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen.

Looking ahead:

  • October – Rockburn, Central Otago
  • November – Tbc
  • December – Christmas Dinner, 10th December, at La Cloche Kaiwharawhara. Note your diaries now.

Committee Musings Aug ’25

Subscriptions

A gentle reminder to those members whose yearly subscriptions are outstanding, that these need to be deposited in our bank account – details at the end of the newsletter as usual.

Appreciation

Thanks again to everyone who helps with the tables and chairs at the start of our evenings and taking the same down after the meeting. Also taking the tables contents: spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen.

Looking Ahead

  • September – Ohau Gravels, Jo Scully
  • October – tbc
  • November – tbc
  • December – Christmas Dinner Wednesday 10th – further details tbc

Wine Fair, Tuesday 24th June @ The Wellington Club

The Wellington Club (Te Pou Maruwehi)
The Wellington Club (Te Pou Maruwehi)

Some of your committee attended, by invitation, a Wine Fair at The Wellington Club on Tuesday 24th June. The evening showcased the rich diversity of NZ’s wines and their distinctive winemakers from boutique producers across the country. And introduced most of us to a number of the smaller vineyards from Central to Matakana.

If you would like to Google some of the vineyards or hear more about them, these were the vineyards at the evening:

  • Schubert, Martinborough- est. in 1998
  • Hans Herzog, Blenheim – planted in 1996
  • Te Motu, Waiheke Island – est. in 1999 – the oldest family-owned vineyard on the island
  • Puriri Hills, Auckland – set up in 1996 – they make red wines in the French style
  • Rock Ferry, Blenheim – set up in 2005 – organic new world wines [10 varieties]
  • Valli, Central Otago – est. in 1993
  • Dragon Bones, Waitaki Valley, North Otago off-grid – est. 2005
  • Organised Chaos, Clive, Hawkes Bay
  • Mon Cheval, Waipara
  • Zenkuro Sake, Central – est. 2015 – rice and yeast are imported from Japan, they want to change the public perception of how to drink this
    Corofin, Blenheim
  • Gillman, Matakana – est. 1998 – they make unapologetically only red wines
  • Julz – Collaboration Wines, Hawkes Bay – est. 2010

The evening was an interesting sampling from some great vineyards, with above average priced wines that were discounted for the evening. It was nice to be able to talk with the growers/wine makers about how they produce the product and about their differing views on terroir etc.

Committee Musings June ’25

AGM

Following the AGM, the committee received confirmation that the Club website was now up to date with all the AGM reports, as well as the new club rules.

Starting times

Having regard to the AGM general business discussion on starting times, the committee reviewed the start times of our monthly tastings and agreed it should remain at 8 pm. The AGM start of 7.45 pm was because there is no quaffer before the meeting starts.

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for the help with setting up the tables and chairs at the start of our evenings and taking the same down after the meeting.

Appreciation also for taking the tables contents: spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen.

Committee Musings May ’25

Thanks

It was great to have everyone help with the tables and chairs at the start of last months’ meeting and taking the same down after the meeting. Also taking the tables contents: spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen. Could we please continue this new routine.

Reminder

We can’t arrive to do the setting up activities any earlier than 7:30pm as we interrupt the cleaner(s) schedule, the cleaners are in the hall until 7:30pm.

Hobbies

Now we’re approaching the time for indoor hobbies, perhaps the following will give you inspiration for indoor fun:

 

Committee Musings April ’25

AGM

The committee has begun preparations for the forthcoming AGM and the formal Agenda for this meeting.

Included with the agenda are a number of Notices of Motion that relate to proposed changes to our club rules. The reasons for these changes are also set out in the attachment.

Thank you

We also continue to be delighted and thankful of everyone’s help with set-up of the hall for our gatherings, and then the pack down at the end of the evening, thank you.

Looking Ahead

  • May – AGM and Notice of Motion to Amend the Club Rules
  • June – Gibbston Valley [Provisional]
  • July – Midwinter Dinner – venue to be confirmed

Look Out for Each Other

As always, please if you are feeling unwell, do not attend the evening’s presentation. Thanks.

2025 Events Coming Up

Note

  • Please remember there is no BBQ in January 2025
  • February – TBC

Committee Musings

Your committee would like to acknowledge how the Club works for and on behalf of everyone in the wine industry.

We are a sought-after Club for the wineries, especially the ones that have presented in the past, and are wanting to present to us again.

This is down to everyone who attends and orders at our monthly events.

Lets continue this into 2025.

Committee Musings Nov’24

A big thanks

It is great to have everyone help with the tables and chairs at meetings and taking the same down at the end. Also, please remember to take your table’s spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen.

PLEASE NOTE: We can’t arrive to do the setting up activities any earlier than 7:30pm as we interrupt the cleaner(s) schedule, the cleaners are in the hall until 7:30pm.

Looking Ahead

  • December – Christmas Dinner, Le Marche –your committee has decided that this evening will have a larger than usual subsidy, plus corkage, with the usual glass of bubbles on arrival to start off the festivities. An order form for the meal, plus payment will be sent out separately.
  • January 2025 – Reminder: Currently, there is no function planned for January.
  • February 2025 – tbc

Committee Musings Oct ’24

Are you missing out on great presentations?

The committee expressed a little angst at only 22 attending for Misty Cove.

We hope that people will support the committee’s work, especially with the Central Otago vineyard Peregrine for October.

Thanks for your support

It is great to have everyone help with the tables and chairs at meetings and taking the same down at the end. Also, please remember to take your table’s spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen.

PLEASE NOTE: We can’t arrive to do the setting up activities any earlier than 7:30 pm as we interrupt the cleaner(s) schedule, the cleaners are in the hall until 7:30 pm.