Looking Back – On our Mission Evening

Tasting – Summer Festive Evening, Mission Estate w/Tammy Edwards

This was a fun, festive evening, hosted by Tammy, Mission’s Rep, who
along with Wayne, chose the wines for our evening.

We were fortunate to have two of their premier Jewelstone range, to
savour, along with a Rose’ from Stables to compare with a Jewelstone
Rose, plus Mission’s Brut Cuvee bubbles, made in the champagne way.

Tammy updated us with the news that the CEO for the last 30 years was departing for other pastures. So they now have at Mission a new CE, new-ish vintner and new web page with new motto – ‘History in the Making’! Exciting times!

This evening 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:

  • Mission Fete Brut Cuvee – Pinot Gris from Mission’s Home Block at Taradale, zesty with delicate pear and apple and fine mousse.
  • 2025 Stables Rose – made from a mix of grapes, to be used as an aperitif, cheap and cheerful
  • Jewelstone Rose [noting that 2024 has recently been released and is now called Blanc De Noir], This will cellar well for another five years if you want to. Handpicked whole bunch pressed organic Merlot grapes from Mere Rd in the Gimblett Gravels.
  • 2022 Jewelstone Chardonnay – these grapes were from their Green Meadows site in Taradale, made up of two clones, hand harvested and gently pressed, the firstly placed in French oak before spending time in neutral barrels.
  • Mission Reserve Syrah – Gimblett Gravels grapes, a nice light-ish wine, from a single vineyard. Can be kept for up to five years.
  • Mission Reserve Malbec – light, dry and on oak for 12 months, this can be cellared for five more years if you wish.
  • Mission Estate Late Harvest Riesling – this was a nice light-ish desert wine, and as well as going well with our Xmas fare provided by Wayne, it would pair nicely with lemon meringue pie.

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.

Tasting – Mission Wines, Hawkes Bay w/Tammy Edwards

A heritage like no other – Mission Estate Winery
Wednesday 12th March, 8pm
Door Price: Members $6 / Guests $10

Reaching NZ shores in 1838, pioneering French missionaries founded a legacy. From their many accomplishments now interwoven throughout history came New Zealand’s first winery, Mission , in 1851. Their inspiration, a legacy, continues.

Today their vineyards span two of NZ’s best winegrowing regions; Hawkes Bay and Marlborough. Hawkes Bay vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels and Taradale focus on Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah; but also include small clocks of other varietals such as Semillon and Cabernet Franc.

Whereas, their Marlborough properties, perfect for producing cool climate wine styles, grow Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

Mission Estate Winery established in 1851 by pioneering French Missionaries is New Zealand’s oldest winery and the birthplace of New Zealand wine.
Mission Estate Winery established in 1851 by pioneering French Missionaries is New Zealand’s oldest winery and the birthplace of New Zealand wine.

Paul Mooney, our passionate winemaker since 1979, was trained by the Marist Brothers themselves, Paul imparts the very essence of Mission’s French heritage winemaking philosophy into both our Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough wines.

We consider ourselves guardians of our heritage and our land, and for more than 20 years we have been proud to be a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand. In 1998, we were also one of the first wineries in New Zealand to be certified with the internationally recognised environmental management system ISO 14001.

We start with 2024 Mission Estate Rosé as our conversation/entry tasting followed by:

  • 2023 The Gaia Project Pinot Gris
  • 2024 Mission Estate
  • 2023 Reserve Chardonnay
  • 2019 Mission Reserve Cabernet Franc
  • 2020 Mission Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 2023 Reserve Syrah

SPECIAL NOTE: The door prize on tasting night is going to be something a little special, namely a bottle of Lanvin Brut Champagne NV. Ticket prices for this will be $2 each.