Tag: Pisa

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October tasting – Rockburn, Central Otago w/Alex Crone, Cellar Door Manager, Sales & Marketing

Wednesday 8 October, 8 pm
Door Price: Members $18 / Guests $22

A pure expression of Central Otago

Alex comes from a background in hospitality and tourism back in Canada.

Moving to Aotearoa last year to pursue opportunities in the heart of Pinot Noir territory, Central Otago, she found her place at Rockburn. Alex has held positions from the cellar door to marketing but loves getting to chat about wines and finding the best fit for every individual palette-there’s a wine out there for everyone! When not at the winery, she spends her time in the
mountains skiing and hiking or diving deep into vintage jazz tracks and dances.

Gibbston Valley Back Road Vineyard reflect our unique terroir
Gibbston Valley Back Road Vineyard reflects the unique terroir.

Rockburn is a wine producer in the Central Otago region on the South Island of New Zealand. The estate makes a range of wines but is perhaps best-known for its award-winning Pinot Noirs – the flagship variety of region.

The winery was founded in 1991 by pioneering heart surgeon Dr. Richard (Dick) Bunton, who planted some of the first vines near Lake Hayes. Over the years, Rockburn expanded its vineyard holdings, with significant sites in Gibbston and Parkburn/Pisa on the shores of Lake Dunstan. In 2002, the brand name changed from Hayes Lake to Rockburn, reflecting the rugged, schist-laden terrain and the region’s distinctive character.

Today, Rockburn remains proudly independent, with the James and Halford families as key stakeholders. Longstanding winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis, who joined the team in 2005, continues to lead the winemaking, focusing on minimal intervention and precision to express site and season. A new winery opened in 2016, designed around Rees-Francis’ winemaking approach. This year marks his 20th vintage at Rockburn.

Rockburn’s signature varietals, crafted to highlight vibrant purity and cool-climate elegance of Central Otago.
Rockburn’s signature varietals are crafted to highlight the vibrant purity and cool-climate elegance of Central Otago.

Rockburn produces a diverse portfolio of wines, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and the Stolen Kiss Rosé, alongside other labels such as Crimson Peak and Devil’s Staircase. All wines are made at the Cromwell winery, with fruit sourced from premium vineyards across Gibbston and Parkburn/Pisa.

Wines for the night are:

  • 2025 Stolen Kiss Rose’
  • 2024 Pinot Gris
  • 2024 Fume’ Blanc
  • 2023 Chardonnay
  • 2023 Crimson Peak
  • 2023 Pinot Noir
  • 2022 The Art Pinot Noir

To help members have an easy payment method on the evening, there will be an EFTPOS machine to process orders.

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Looking Back – Peregrine, Oct ’24

It was great to have a Central Otago winery present to us by Justin, the North Island and Australian sales manager presenting. We had 32 people attend, with lively and enquiring discussions and somewhat very different tastings to experience.

We found out that the owners of Peregrine are heavily into bird conservation, hence the name of the vineyard, although it’s not a NZ Hawk. Their prime focus in this area is the Saddleback [Tieke], with injured birds being housed, recuperated and released back into the wild.

Nadine Cross is their wine maker and focusses on balance in the wines she produces. While the whole team help with vintage, from picking by hand usually, to processing and finally bottling, so everyone gets an all-round experience with the vineyard.

Peregrine are situated in a mountainous wine growing area, with their vineyard sites in Bendigo, Pisa and Gibbston areas. They were certified as organic from their 2017 vintage and have now been certified as Biodynamic recently. Congratulations!

A reminder of the wines we tasted during the evening:

  • 2023 Saddleback Riesling
  • 2023 Peregrine Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2023 Saddleback Rosé
  • 2023 Peregrine Pinot Gris
  • 2023 Peregrine Chardonnay
  • 2022 Saddleback Pinot Noir
  • 2022 Peregrine Pinot Noir

 

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Tasting – Peregrine with Justin Hart, Oct’24

Wine with Altitude | Peregrine Wines
Wednesday 9th October, 8 pm Start
Door Price: Members $14 / Guests $18

Taking a ‘hands on’ approach to winemaking since 1998 the McLachlan family strive to produce wines that embody the absolute best of Central Otago.

This passion for the land runs in their family and is a hallmark of Peregrine as a business.

Organic farming is fundamental to every aspect of Peregrine Vineyard Estates, with an holistic approach that integrates crop and livestock farming with vineyard management.

The talented estate farming team are as adept at nurturing wines, as they are developing new land, or working with livestock.

Cellar door & Barrel hall tasting rooms.
Cellar door & Barrel hall tasting rooms.

Peregrine’s quest for outstanding Central Otago wine begins in the three distinct sub-regions from which they draw their fruit: Bendigo, Pisa and Gibbston, where their landmark winery rises up amongst rugged rock reefs and ancient hills.

In each of these locations, their commitment to the organic farming and viticulture guarantees fruit of the highest quality, imparting the clearest expression of character to every vintage.

A natural extension of their passion for the land, Peregrine are dedicated to helping protect some of NZ’s rarest native birds. As well as taking part personally in some of this country’s most successful preservation  programmes, Peregrine is proud to have worked with the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, DoC and the Fiordland Conservation Trust.

Peregrine wines spectacular, architecturally designed Winery and Cellar Door are open Mon-Sat 11 am-4 pm for wine sales and experiences.

Our wines for the evening:

  • 2023 Saddleback Riesling
  • 2023 Peregrine Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2023 Saddleback Rosé
  • 2023 Peregrine Pinot Gris
  • 2022 Saddleback Pinot Noir
  • 2022 Peregrine Pinot Noir

We look forward to seeing you Wednesday, 9th October.

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