Newsletter July ’26

Here’s a summary of the July 2026 newsletter for The Cellar Club Inc:

Club Mid-Year Dinner

  • Event: Mid-Year Dinner at The Johnsonville Club, Vista Cafe, Wellington.
  • Date/Time: Arrive at 6:30pm for dinner at 7pm.
  • Details: B.Y.O. event—members are encouraged to bring wine from their own cellars. The club is subsidizing the buffet cost (members pay $55) and providing bubbles on arrival. The venue is local due to the current fuel crisis.
  • Transport: Public transport options (train and bus) are available nearby. There are 50 parking spaces after 5pm, but carpooling or public transport is encouraged.

Recent Event Recap

  • Margrain Vineyard Tasting: Hosted by Kate Throp, featuring several Margrain wines. The event was well-attended (29 members) and included discounted wine sales.
  • Wines Tasted: Margrain La Michelle Methode Traditionelle, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Rivers Edge Pinot, and Home Block Pinot.

Upcoming Events

  • Margrain Cellar Dwellers Tastings: Special tastings of aged wines in August and September. No bookings required; $25–$30 per person.
  • August: Riverby, Marlborough tasting.
  • September: Likely a focus on wines of Argentina.
  • October: J K Wines.

Club Updates

  • Bottle Tops Collection: The club has stopped collecting bottle tops; members are encouraged to use supermarket recycling. The last collection raised $132.60 for The Kidney Kids organisation.
  • Membership Subscriptions: Now due for the year starting July 1 ($25 per person). Payment can be made via bank transfer or in cash to Wayne Kennedy.

Other Information

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Newsletter June ’26

Here’s a summary of the June 2026 newsletter from The Cellar Club Inc.

June Event: Margrain Vineyard Presentation

  • Date & Time: Wednesday, 10th June, 8pm
  • Presenter: Kate Throp, Margrain’s Cellar Door/Sales/Marketing/Admin lead
  • About Margrain: A family-owned vineyard in Martinborough, established in 1992, known for its commitment to quality and a complete vineyard experience (tastings, tours, accommodation, and dining).
  • Wines Featured: La Michelle Methode Traditionelle, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Rivers Edge Pinot, Home Block Pinot.
  • Extras: Cellar Door open daily, kitchen open Wed–Sun, vineyard tours, and accommodation available.

Club Updates

  • May AGM Recap:
    • All committee members remain for another year.
    • Subscriptions stay at $25 for 2026/27.
    • Wayne Kennedy was unanimously made a Life Member.
    • Financial and President’s reports are on the club website.
  • Screwcaps Collection:
    • The club will stop collecting screwcaps after the AGM.
    • Members can bring any remaining screwcaps to the June meeting for donation to Kidney Kids NZ.
    • For recycling locations, visit recyclemap.co.nz.

Looking Ahead

  • July: Proposed Mid-Winter Dinner at The Johnsonville Club; members’ attendance feedback requested.
  • August: Margrain, Wairarapa event.
  • September: To be confirmed.

Wine News

  • Bell Hill (Canterbury) Named NZ Winery of the Year 2026 by The Real Review.
    • Recognized for consistency and excellence.
    • Other top wineries: Felton Road (runner-up), Prophet’s Rock, Quartz Reef, Bilancia.
    • Special awards for Cloudy Bay, Neudorf, Burn Cottage, Chateau Garage, Greywacke.
    • Rising Stars: Jascha Oldham-Selak and Sanne Witteveen.
    • Full list and event details available online.
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