On Thursday 20th February 2014 The Family of Twelve will host the inaugural Grand Chardonnay Renaissance at Ostro Restaurant, 52 Tyler Street, in Auckland’s Britomart precinct.
The Family feel very privileged to announce that James Halliday AM will emcee the event which promises to be an absorbing exploration of the Family’s Chardonnays, the only white variety produced by all Family wineries.
Regarded as Australia’s leading wine critic and judge, James will present a blind tasting of the Family’s Chardonnays against a line-up of top-flight white Burgundies. This will showcase New Zealand wines not only among the very best but, with a dozen regions represented, just how well the variety performs throughout the country’s diverse terroirs.
Three Masters of Wine from within our Family – Michael Brajkovich MW, Alastair Maling MW and Steve Smith MW – will comprise the tasting panel. A structured tasting of the Family’s current release Chardonnays will be complimented by two older vintages from each, matched with canapés by Josh Emmett and the team at Ostro, to provide a stimulating background to the tasting.
As an important variety for the Family we’ve watched with enthusiasm the definite resurgence of Chardonnay. For 2014 one of our goals is to focus on the evolution of this variety and how, as a group, we can collaborate to make the Family’s Chardonnays even better and showcase these to the media, wine trade and consumers alike.
The symposium will be a memorable event, heralding our commitment and passion for Chardonnay. The event will follow a successful ‘viti vini’ day, a technical and information sharing work-shop, held by the Family late last year at the Neudorf Winery. The day included Michael Brajkovich MW discussing sulphides in Chardonnay, with Neudorf Vineyards and Felton Road presenting information on new clones.
The Family of Twelve is a fraternity of twelve of New Zealand’s most prestigious and enduring artisanal wineries. Founded in 2005, the Family’s vision is to nurture long term relationships with an emphasis on education in their key export markets. The promotion of New Zealand wine at its best is paramount.
For further Information please contact William Hoare, Chairman – The Family of Twelve
Tel: 03 572 9355 Email: William@frommwinery.co.nz
or visit www.familyoftwelve.co.nz
The Family of Twelve are:
Kumeu River – Villa Maria – The Millton Vineyard – Craggy Range – Ata Rangi – Palliser Estate – Neudorf Vineyards – Nautilus Estate – Fromm Winery – Lawson’s Dry Hills – Pegasus Bay – Felton Road.
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