Key takeaways from the March 2026 newsletter.
March Event: Penfolds Tasting
March Event: Penfolds Tasting- Date: Wed 11 March, 8pm
- Cost: Members $18 / Guests $22
- Format: Panel tasting comparing aged cellar wines vs recent vintages.
- Lineup highlights: Bin 28 (2006 & 2023), Bin 128 (2007 & 2022), Bin 9 (2012), Bin 138 (2012).
- Extras: Prize draw for 2006 Bin 28 or 2007 Bin 128.
Club Notices
- Health: Stay home if unwell.
- In Memoriam: Former member Mark Haythornthwaite has passed; his 2024 Pinot Noir will be used for a tribute toast.
Recent Event Recap: Askerne (Hawke’s Bay)
- Attendance: 35 members.
- Insights: Askerne farms 32ha with 18 varieties; mostly hand‑picked; global wine consumption down to 1961 levels, but NZ exports up 1%.
- Tasted wines: Rosé 2025, Chardonnay 2024, Viognier 2023, Pinot Gris 2024, CSM 2023, Reserve Merlot/Cab/Malbec 2021, Dessert Cab 2022.
Committee musings
- Membership drive: Encourage guests; highlight easy access to train/bus.
- Volunteers: Thanks for setup/pack‑down help.
Coming Up
- April: Gold Medal/Trophy Wines (2025 NZIWS)
- May: AGM
- June: TBC
Feature: Halite Wines (Haidee Johnson)
- Philosophy: Minimal‑intervention, expressive wines; organic growers; focus on Pinot Noir’s versatility.
- Signature wine: Light Dry White — Pinot Noir made in a Chardonnay style (Abel clone).
Industry News
- Millton Winery closing after 41 vintages; final wines discounted.
- Te Awanga Estate group liquidation: $12m owed; wine club shipments stopped.
- Wine Grenade liquidation: Tech company collapse due to IT failure; $475k owed.
Vineyard Visit: Swift Wines (Hawke’s Bay)
- Experience: Casual lawn seating, platter‑basket system, rosé slushies, two sparkling wines.
- Fun detail: Dachshund mascot appears on labels and greets visitors.
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Rest easy team, I am back. I would like to follow up on Wayne‘s message re the bit of disorganisation over the newsletter. Much has been happening in the last couple of months and Pat and I have spent six weeks in Sydney and are still getting back into a groove. Overseas visitors and other activities have further impacted. Please bear with us, things will come right in time. Some really excellent events coming up over the next year so there is much to look forward to.
Many of you will have attended the Saigon Van Grill dinner last year. The servings were somewhat disappointing and there were complaints. Your committee has been in contact with the restaurant over a period of time resulting in an eventual small refund. Not enough to share around those attending so we used it to purchase the Prosecco for this year’s July dinner. Went down well we thought.