Tag: Christmas

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Looking Back – Christmas Dinner at La Cloche, Dec ’25

What a lovely evening, the weather gods played ball, and the people, location and food were all wonderful!

We had people spread over three larger tables and the whole evening worked well.

As a reminder of the menu:

We were met with the usual glass of bubbles, thanks Wayne

First course – amuse bouche – was a small mushroom voul au vent and a small smoke chicken gougere

Second course – entrée – Salmon terrine

Third course – main – we had the choice of either fish or duck, both were delicious 

Dessert – Le Chocolat et les fruits rouges

A festive evening that everyone enjoyed. A comment from one of the Club members:

Had a great time last night. The food was amazing, couldn’t fault it. (especially the dessert) The staff were so friendly and efficient.

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M&S just brought back phenomenal discontinued festive treat that was axed a decade ago

Sian Baldwin, The London Standard | 19 November 2025

This festive sip is already popular with the masses

Christmas is a time for all the yummy food and drink and one leading supermarket has not let us down – bringing back a festive favourite after a very long absence.

M&S has brought back a tipple which was last sold a decade ago, and already customers are snapping it up – meaning it may be in short supply very soon.

Their popular rosé mulled wine has been brought back for 2025, with news that rose is the drink this festive season.

According to Ocado, searches for ‘rosé’ are up by 32 percent compared to this time last year, with sales of rosé already up by 25 percent.

M&S have seen a similar trend.

Stats show that the week before Christmas 2024, rosé sales were double those seen in their biggest week over the summer, selling 144,000 bottles of rosé in the week commencing July 6, compared to a massive 286,000 bottles being sold in the week of December 16.

As a result, M&S have now announced plans to re-release their rosé mulled wine after a 10-year absence on the shelves.

For £6 a bottle the plonk will likely be popular, with shopping bosses now is the right time to re-release the Christmas themed tipple.

Gemma Wright, trading manager for Wine at M&S Food, said: “We’ve definitely seen rosé become a customer favourite all year round. Shoppers are choosing rosé in winter because it works really well with the kinds of food people serve at Christmas. It’s also a lighter, more refreshing option if you don’t fancy a red.”

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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

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Summer Festive Evening w/Tammy Edwards, Mission Estate

Wednesday 12th November, 8 pm Start

Door Price: Members $10, Guests $14

For our November we are returning to Hawkes Bay and trying some wines not previously tasted by us. We’ve described the evening as a Summer Festive Tasting as we are looking to taste some bubbles, compare two Rosés, as well as looking at two great reds that you might want to enjoy at a summer BBQ. We are finishing with a sticky that we know will appeal to many of our members.

That said, there is also plenty of quality in this tasting as it includes two wines from the Jewelstone range, Mission’s premier range, as well as two of their reserve wines. And the other good news is these wines have been heavily subsidised which is why the door price is so attractive.

Here’s what’s on our tasting list for the evening, in no particular order at this time.

  • Mission Fete Brut Cuvee
  • Stables Rosé
  • Jewelstone Rosé [noting the 2024 has recently been released and is now called Blanc De Noir]
  • Jewelstone Chardonnay
  • Mission Reserve Syrah
  • Mission Reserve Malbec
  • Mission Estate Late Harvest Riesling

And finishing our last formal tasting for the year, there will be a Christmas  morsel to go with the last wine. What a great way to finish!

This is going to be a fun evening, and we look forward to seeing you all there.

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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.

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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

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Christmas Dinner ’24 & Looking Ahead Further

Looking Back – December Christmas Dinner

Le Marche Francais from Thorndon Quay, Wellington
Le Marche Francais from Thorndon Quay, Wellington

This year’s Christmas Dinner was held at Le Marche Francais, as always
a welcoming establishment for our Christmas dinner.

The food was as excellent as it is every time we visit. The staff were on
the ball and welcoming towards us, too. The socialising and mingling at the beginning of the evening with our glasses of bubbly was most festive.

Dinner @ Le Marche Francais
Dinner @ Le Marche Francais

With thanks to the staff in French from John Dawson and a welcome to Club members from Murray, our evening was set for a great Christmas treat.

Looking Ahead Further

  • March – Mission Vineyard
  • April – New Zealand International Wine Show 2024 Trophy Wines
  • May – AGM

 

 

 

 

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Looking Back – Bubbles Evening, ‘Nov 24

EuroVintage named Champion Wine Company of the Year 2024!

This was a superb evening featuring worldwide bubbles with Keith Tibble. What a lineup we had!

The special food supplied by your committee members Tim and Terry,
was a nice touch for the evening, providing variety with the various
wines.

This has left everyone with some thoughtfully selected wines to source for Christmas celebrations.

As a reminder of what to put on your shopping list, the wines we tasted were:

  • Quaffer, Hunters Offshoot Pet-Nat from Waihopai Valley, Marlborough

Tasting – Part 1

  • Louis Perdier Brut Excellence, Languedoc, France
  • Tempus Two Prosecco, King Valley, NSW
  • Gancia Prosecco Trentino, Italy
  • Maude Methode Traditionale NV, Central Otago

Tasting Part 2:

  • Champagne Lanvin, Epernay, France
  • Veuve du Vernay Brut Rosé, France
EuroVintage named Champion Wine Company of the Year 2024!
EuroVintage named Champion Wine Company of the Year 2024!

It was an interesting and fun evening for everyone, thanks Terry for organising and Keith Tibble for presenting.

Further news: EuroVintage named Champion Wine Company of the Year 2024!

Check out Nov tasting – Bubbles Evening w/Keith Tibble, EuroVintage.

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Looking Back – December Christmas Dinner

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

This year’s Christmas Dinner was held at the Wellington Club, a special location for our Christmas dinner.

We had 38 attendees, who enjoyed the superb venue and the manner in which we were accommodated in our own dining space.

The meal, service and the wines for the occasion ensured and added to a splendid evening for Club members.

This was a special evening, especially for Club members who had not been to the Wellington Club previously, and some people expressed that it was as good as our evening at Bellamys in previous years.

Thanks to your committee members for all the organising for our final event for 2023.

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Looking Back – to our Bubbles Evening

This was a superb evening featuring worldwide bubbles.

The special food matched some of the wines and was well thought out and tasty. It is always interesting to see what change the food makes to the wine you drink.

This has left everyone with some thoughtfully selected wines to source for Christmas celebrations.

As a reminder of what to put on your shopping list, the wines we tasted were:

  • De Bortolli Family Selection Sparkling Brut NV – Australia
  • Graham Norton Prosecco D.O.C. – Italy
  • Perelada Brut Reserva Spanish Cava – Spain
  • Pongracz Sparkling Brut – South Africa
  • Hunter MiruMiru Marlborough Methode Traditionelle Brut – New Zealand
  • Aimery Grande Cuvee 1531 Cremant De Limouix Rose NV – France
  • The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz NV – Australia
  • Pegasus Bay Encore Noble Riesling 2007 AND 2017 – New Zealand

It was an interesting and fun evening for everyone, thanks to Wayne, Murray, Terry Gayl, and everyone else who helped with the food on the evening.

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Christmas Dinner, The Wellington Club, Dec ’23

Christmas Dinner is being held in the Terrace Room, The Wellington Club, 5th Floor, 88 The Terrace, Wellington, Wednesday 13th December

Please arrive at 6.30 pm for seating at 7.00 pm

The Wellington Club, 88 The Terrace, Wellington
The Wellington Club, 88 The Terrace, Wellington

For those unfamiliar with the establishment, the Wellington Club is similar to Bellamys, and members are asked to adopt a dress code that befits such a prestigious venue.

Getting there

And to repeat Wayne’s original instructions on getting there: If using public transport, get off the bus at the old Kirkcaldies/David Jones building and walk up Woodward Street.

Go through the tunnel under the Terrace and immediately on your right, you will find steps which will take you to the entrance of 88 The Terrace.

The lifts will be unlocked from 6.15 pm to allow you access to the Level 5 Terrace Room where our dinner will take place.

First time for some

Given that some members may attend the dinner for the first time, it is perhaps an opportune time to mention how our dinners operate.

  • You are asked to arrive as close to 6.30 pm as practical
  • When you arrive, you will be greeted with a complementary
    glass of bubbles
  • The meal is BYO wine, and your prepaid cost includes corkage. During the evening, it is customary to share the bottle of wine you have brought with your neighbours
  • We are expecting to finish sometime between 9.00pm and 9.30pm, but this is a guideline only, in case you are arranging transport home. Please try and stay as flexible as possible

Please contact Wayne if you wish to attend this event and have not already contacted him. Cost is $80 per person and must be paid on or before the 1st December, which is the close-off date for this event.

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Committee musings – Oct 23

Hall setup

It was great to have everyone help with the tables and chairs at previous meetings and take them down at the end. Also, take the spittoons/water jugs/cracker plates back to the kitchen.

Could we please continue this new routine?

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.

Looking ahead

  • November – Bubbles Evening, tbc
  • December – Christmas Dinner, tbc
  • January – TBC

Tasting Glasses

This is a friendly reminder that all members are expected to bring their own tasting glasses to our meetings unless otherwise advised.

This said, your club does provide glasses on the night for guests, presenters and for a member who does forget [it does happen].

The Club does have glasses for sale at $18 for 6 if you would like to buy some. Please order from Wayne Kennedy. Or, you can purchase your own from the likes of Moore Wilson’s who stock ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶2̶1̶5̶m̶l̶ ̶X̶L̶  (out of stock) tasting glasses used by most of us. But the choice of glass and glass shape etc is yours.

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