Well, that de-escalated quickly
Three, no four years of working at the coalface and neglecting the winery will do that of course. Back into it from next week though so expect to see a bit more activity - I'm looking to develop some export markets into Korea and the Netherlands and hoping to sell a little bit of wine under this label but also to represent a couple of friends too - offering some choice to the good people of the world, while recognising that many people identify New Zealand wine exclusively with Sauvignon Blanc and maybe Pinot Noir - I think there needs to be a raising of awareness so there will be a post on that later.
February 2011
Here we are again - it's been a good few weeks - the WSET course I mentioned at the end of last year - passed with Distinction. OK, you would hope so, for a winemaker, but I'm still pleased. More events - Joe Cocker/George Thoroughgood at Church Road
 |
| I get by... |
and then Sting at the Mission.
 |
| Whoops - is that my chilly bin rolling down the hill? Sorry... |
And whatever else I thought about those (and it was all good) the sight of the Southern Cross rising slowly over a stage on a perfect night in Napier, palm trees and wine and 25,000 happy people, made me glad to be here. It was a good Summer.
Art Deco weekend has just been and gone (and if there is anything to say to the people of Christchurch, it might be this - that when all the pain passes, perhaps the city will be rebuilt as Napier was, and will celebrate its renewal in a similar way)
I took the boys to the Cricket - NZ vs Pakistan, McLean Park. A great night, Andrew got carried away getting autographs off players, and at one point asked a cameraman for his autograph. Happy times.
Then it was off to the WeetBix Tryathlon - now that was more fun than I expected. What an organisational triumph - well done to those involved.
And finally - we made a friend. Hello Hedgie.Have some snails off our garden. Crunchy munchy.
So - Wine News: I dug out some of my old 1999 Syrah - the one I won a silver medal for on release - and have been selling it at the markets alongside the 2006 version. It has been going down very well, with sales favouring the '99 roughly 2:1
If you are a fan, or just want a taste, come to one of the next three weeks or so as there are fewer than 4 dozen left. Price - it's the same as the 2006. If I charged what it actually owes me, you'd never try it...
The sparkling NV Brut that has proven popular this summer is running out too - just a few cases left. I still have some 1995 Vintage blanc de blanc which has been maturing nicely so sparkling fans will be able to indulge themselves with this drier, yeastier, more lemony version for a while longer.
We intend to produce more gewurztraminer this year - the crestfallen fans of the 2006 who have discovered that I had finally run out can perk up in a few weeks - harvest is close now so all you have to do is buy some other wines from me, so I can afford the bottles :)
January 2011
As mentioned elsewhere on this blog, we have begun to sell at the Napier Farmers' Market - Saturdays 8am-1pm
\
Where is Clive Square in Napier? Clickity map
Entertainment is provided, provided that you like swinging on parking meters and that sort of thing
This is where it all started for us, selling at this market in about 2002. From here it went indoors, and once the kids started to have Saturday morning sport, it was too hard. So be warned, this is Summer only for a year or two (though the rest of them will suffer year round, ha ha !) Then of course my kids will be old enough to be embarrassed if I come to soccer, and will ask me to stay in the car. From there it's a short wait to drivers licences and complete independence. Sigh.
Anyway, 15% discount to anyone who reminds me about this and sympathizes at the market...
November 2010
I've been away in Auckland completing the WSET level 3 Advanced tasting course, doing a lot of work at EIT to try to get on top of the end of year marking and course development for the wine courses I teach, and every weekend has been the Farmers Market or just keeping things running at home. Familiar story to everyone I guess.
Last week I took a few days and went on the short version of the Targa rally, something I like to do when I can, as co-driver in my friend Stu's car. I get to sit on the left going 'turn left, no, other left' and 'what time is lunch?' while he drives us from one petrol station to another. Official pictures are coming soon on www.targa.co.nz and I have been playing with a fancy datalogging app and some in-car video plus Google Earth, so if I clear the backlog of EIT work I'll learn how to edit the various streams together. You might get to see what it looks like to drive over the Paekakariki Hill road in under 8 minutes...
Am also going to see Robin Williams and then U2 this month, along with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Fun times. Must sell more wine to pay for it all...
Retail price in New Zealand $20 per bottle, $120 per six bottle wooden case, branded. Export to overseas customers is possible - contact us.
Email the winery for information - ken(at)sandersonwines.co.nz or call +64 (0) 21 335 909
www.twitter.com/sandersonwines
www.facebook.com/sandersonwines
The syrah grows just to the left of the sign above, opposite the end of Mere Road, on Highway 50. The link below takes you to a map - but don't come and visit, sales are from the Farmers' Market or through email only :)
No comments:
Post a Comment