The Alexandra Basin Wine Growers New Release Tasting in Clyde is a must-do for many wine enthusiasts over Labour Weekend and will be upon us before we know it.
They shifted to a new location last year so it will be held at the Historic Railway Station Reserve, 13 Fraser St, Clyde, from 1pm until 4pm.
As always, it’s a great opportunity to chat with the vineyard owners while sampling new releases.
Your $35 ticket covers admission and wine tastings along with complimentary cheese and crackers and live music. Food trucks will also be on site.
Wine purchases will be available at on-the-day special prices.
Tickets are available from Eventbrite or Alexandra Liquorland.
New Zealand wine exports surge
The New Zealand Winegrowers annual report released recently shows our wine exports have leapt to a new high following a slight drop the previous year.
Exports had their biggest single year-on-year increase of $450million, fully 23% up on the previous figure to reach a total of $2.4billion. Within that figure is also a significant improvement in value over volume.
The United States is our biggest market with growth of 25% to $870m leading to optimism that this may become a billion-dollar market in its own right.
Perhaps even more surprisingly, New Zealand has become the world’s sixth-largest exporter of wine (by value).
To put that into perspective, New Zealand produces less than 2% of the world’s wine with close to 90% of sales of our wine occurring offshore. Quite amazing!
The cautionary note is with such a large percentage exported, we are sensitive to changes in global trade rules and consumer consumption patterns, while challenging weather conditions this year in many regions led to an overall 6% drop in production volumes, which could limit growth expectations.
2021 Craggy Range S.V Gimblett Gravels Syrah
Price: RRP $40.95
Rating: Outstanding
Delightfully perfumed
nose, spices,
blueberries, tar, depth as
the fruit swells, fine oak
seasoning with aeration.
Red fruits, berryfruits,
minty coolness, cracked
pepper, lead pencil, nice
concentration without
ever feeling "big", a
grainy sense to the mid-
palate, flowing to a long,
dry close, flavours
hanging in the mouth.
Complex, elegant,
delightful sapidity, yum.
2022 Te Kano Northburn Cabernet Franc
Price: RRP $55
Rating: Excellent
Perfumed lift, savoury,
red fruits, a backdrop of
wild herbs, fruit pastille
with time.
Perhaps not the fruit
explosion of the ’21 but
ripeness for sure, berry
coulis, graphite, savoury
qualities, wildness, a cool
almost minty quality.
Structure here yet flesh
on its bones, the savoury
aspects growing, with
chewy grip framing the
close.
Deceptively complex,
nicely done.
2020 Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Cabernet Franc
Price RRP $35
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Flecks of flint and struck
match, dusty, dried
herbs, the fruit neatly in
support, a minerally
note with time.
A lovely crunchiness to
the palate, bouncing
around your mouth, red
fruits, tobacco, crisp
acidity lends real
zestiness that contrasts
the sweet fruit. The
sweet fruit gives way to
richness backed by
deceptive tannins.
Refreshing, lip-
smacking, a lot going
on.
