Drinksbiz December 2022 January 2023

100% craft brewed fermented non-alcoholic beer (not alcohol removed). Tropical and citrus characters from the Citra, Mosaic and Nectaron hops for an unmistakably beer finish.

CHAMPION NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER

Victoria Wells Editor – Drinksbiz victoria@drinksbiz.co.nz

Future forecasting

TREND FORECASTING is a fascinating thing – it can seem like a bit of a dark art when future behaviours are predicted and, often, come to pass.

Of course, it’s a very human thing to want to know what’s coming next. For thousands of years, humans have sought ways to see into the future – from reading rabbit entrails to casting rune stones and searching for meaning in the stars.

Our modern-day practice of trend forecasting is a more structured business that involves (thankfully) fewer rabbit innards and more complex data gathering and analysis. In essence, trend forecasts capture our reaction to what’s going on around us. They give businesses an insight into what consumers want from them and what's influencing their decision-making.

As a lifestyle writer in the early 2000s, I recall the term “cocooning” becoming popular after the 9/11 World Trade Centre

attacks. It referred to people’s desire to socialise less and spend more time at home, feeling safe and protected. It extended across fashion, with designers using more comfortable natural fabrics, to more tactile homewares and furnishings, and even trends for comfort food that conjured happy childhood memories.

So what is coming next? In this issue’s feature (‘Future Focus’ pg 20), we highlight research from global market intelligence agency Mintel for consumer trends for 2023 and beyond.

It would seem that the current uncertainty has revived that familiar thread of getting back to our roots again: looking after ourselves, others, and the planet.

While Mintel gives a wide-lens view, you can see how these trends will filter down to the drinks industry when it comes to NPD, brand ethos, retail and general consumer spending. Certainly food for thought as we head into 2023.

We’ve probably all had quite enough of being at home thanks to COVID, but other global financial, geo-political and environmental factors are certainly combining to shape how consumers are feeling at the moment and the choices they make in daily life.

Thank you for all your support this year and best wishes from all of us at Drinksbiz for a safe, happy and successful festive season.

Enjoy the issue, Victoria

My picks

Pā Road 2022 Sparkling Rosé

Because it's bubbles season! This new release from Marlborough winery Pā Road is light, fresh and the perfect pour for summer festivities. (Pg 30)

Behemoth Smashable Low Carb Pale Ale

Definitely one for the chilly bin. Auckland brewery Behemoth has created a beer that's light but packed full of flavour. (Pg 49)

Gracias a Dios Espadín Piña

Mezcal is known for its smoky notes, but this expression has a summery lift thanks to the addition of pineapple. Lusciously tropical with a smoky edge. (Pg 69)

Of course, it’s a very human thing to want to know what’s coming next.

PUBLISHER Karen Boult karen@boult.co.nz +64 21 320 663

EDITOR

Victoria Wells victoria@drinksbiz.co.nz +64 27 575 9021

DESIGNER

Lewis Hurst lewis@hurstmedia.nz +64 21 146 6404 hurstmedia.nz

ADVERTISING

Roger Pierce advertising@drinksbiz.co.nz +64 274 335 354 drinksbiz.co.nz

Associate Member (NZ)

Drinksbiz is published every second month by Trade Media Limited. The contents of Drinksbiz are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. Please address all editorial, subscription and advertising enquiries to Trade Media Limited, P O Box 37745, Parnell, Auckland.

Time to look on the brighter side

reflects

WHEN I look back on my year-end columns over the many years I have been writing these, I sometimes think I’ve erred a little on some of life’s negatives. And that’s easy to understand. As I sit here writing this, it is with the news that a worker in the corner dairy directly across the road from my son’s house in Auckland was stabbed to death in a robbery. A completely unnecessary act that cost an innocent man his life, all for a small amount of money. I feel dreadfully sorry for his family. So, being a little negative when this sort of thing happens is pretty normal.

But let’s look at the positives. I love Christmas – every year our family gets together and celebrates in a traditional manner. Each Christmas, over sherrysoaked trifle and those wonderful but completely useless cracker toys, we reflect on the year: the good parts, the lesser parts, and our hopes for the coming year.

At the end of last year, we dared to dream that 2022 would be a good year. And in many ways it has been. With the vaccine rollout, we’ve opened up and are welcoming tourists back into our bars and restaurants. International travel has again become a possibility (I rather like the phrase “Revenge Tourism” – getting back what we missed out on). Life has largely returned to pre-COVID times. And, according to my daughter, the greatest album of all time was released this year! (Taylor Swift’s Midnight).

This year, my family and I were fortunate enough to take our first overseas trip since the pandemic started. We flew into America, piled into a car and pretty much drove around California and into Nevada. If you haven’t been to Yosemite National Park, put it on your list. It is jaw-dropping. Despite all the world’s grumblings about the US, it is a wonderful place to visit – just don’t think about the cost when our little old Kiwi dollar buys only 50 cents US!

We do need to spare a thought for those still suffering from COVID. My best wishes to all who remain in the grips of this dreadful pandemic. Whilst many of us have ‘moved on’ from

COVID, it still ravages many countries, and some hospitals remain overrun and understaffed.

Yes, we still have a predicted recession ahead of us, but we hope that the signs that Russia is facing defeat in Ukraine prove to be true, and hey, let’s not forget that 2023 is an election year and business usually does pretty well at that time.

To all of you in business, take a bow. You have faced many challenges and come through them remarkably well. Those in tourism centres in particular. You still have the major challenge of not enough staff, but while tough, it’s better than no customers.

At the end of 2022, I am sure that we will find ourselves – once again – sitting around the dinner table, enjoying a glass of bubbles and re-telling favourite stories. This time, I’ll fight the desire to wish for “a better year” next year. Instead, I’ll express my gratitude for every part of this year; the good and the not so good.

After all, how can we appreciate the gift of the good without knowing the challenges, difficulties and heartbreak of the bad?

May all of our readers have a safe and enjoyable holiday season with your friends and whanau. I hope that your 2023 will be marked by warmth, joy, fun and good. And I hope that when the inevitable struggles and hiccups come along, you will have the fortitude to overcome them (a glass of wine helps with that too!).

Drinksbiz publisher Karen Boult

on the year gone by…

To all of you in business, take a bow. You have faced many challenges and come through them remarkably well.

Diary Dates

DECEMBER

Saturday 10th December

Gindulgence – Nelson

New Zealand craft distillers showcase their gins at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson. gindulgence.co.nz

Sunday 11th

December

Northland Food & Wine Festival

A selection of Northland vineyards come together at Carrington Estate on the Karikari Peninsula. jacman.co.nz

JANUARY

Saturday 14 January

Taste Tasman – Nelson

A beer, cider and food festival celebrating the best of Tasman and New Zealand’s local producers. Vendor inquiries available through the website. tastetasman.co.nz

Thursday

26 – Sunday 29 January

Roam Central – Central Otago

A new four-day event in and around the Southern Lakes and Central Otago regions, including a flagship wine and food festival in Gibbston (January 28) and vineyard brunch (January 29). The event programme also includes wine master classes, cellar door tastings, dinners and cooking demonstrations. roamcentral.co.nz

Saturday

28 – Sunday 29 January

Gindulgence – Wellington

A line-up of some of New Zealand’s leading gin distillers at Frank Kitts Park, alongside gin, cocktail and tonic masterclasses. gindulgence.co.nz

Saturday 28 January

Saturday 28 January

Roam the Valley Wine & Food Festival – Gibbston

A new wine and food festival to be held at Cargo Cellar Door in Gibbston. Part of the new four-day Roam Central regional showcase. roamcentral.co.nz

FEBRUARY

Saturday 11 February

Marlborough Wine & Food Festival

New Zealand’s longest-running wine and food festival returns for 2023 at Renwick Domain. marlboroughwinefestival.com

Friday 17 – Saturday 18 February

MARCH

Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 March

Indulge Festival – Auckland

A new four-day festival showcasing New Zealand food, wine, design and music. To be held around Auckland’s Silo Park, Wynyard Point and Jellicoe Harbour. Exhibitor inquiries available through the website. indulgeauckland.co.nz

Saturday 11 March

Wildfoods Festival – Hokitika

The iconic Wildfoods Festival returns to Hokitika for 2023 with wild food, a live music line-up including Sir Dave Dobbyn and a partnership with Garage Project.

Great

Kiwi Beer Festival –Christchurch

An array of New Zealand breweries at Hagley Park, with a Home Brew comp, live music and food trucks. Applications for trade spaces are available via the website. greatkiwibeerfestival.co.nz

Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival –Carterton

A celebration of Wairarapa wines with top wineries from around the region. To be held at ‘The Cliffs’ on the banks of the Ruamahunga River. wairarapaharvestfestival.co.nz

Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 March

Gindulgence – Christchurch

A selection of some of New Zealand’s leading gin distillers at Ilam Homestead, alongside gin, cocktail and tonic masterclasses. gindulgence.co.nz

Note: While event details were correct at time of print, we recommend checking individual event websites for the latest updates.

A NO/LO summer with Giesen Group

WITH MORE consumers choosing to drink alcohol more mindfully or even not at all, Giesen Group is focusing on a growing portfolio of no-alcohol and mid-strength alcohol wines that are perfectly positioned to meet these needs.

The family-owned New Zealand company already makes the #1 premium no-alcohol still wine brand in the New Zealand, Australian and US markets1 with Giesen 0%, and is expanding this range and others in its stable to keep pace with growing consumer demand.

Respected winemakers

Giesen’s Group’s innovative approach is founded in a legacy of industry-leading winemaking that was begun by brothers Theo, Alex, and Marcel Giesen in 1981.

Based in Marlborough, the Giesen family produces wines for every occasion and across a wide price point range, from their highly awarded organic Clayvin Single Vineyard wines to the widely successful Giesen Estate wines and new Giesen 0% range.

Their uncompromising drive for quality and a strong culture of innovation has been at the heart of the success of their NO/LO wine ranges.

Innovative releases

Giesen Group was a pioneer in the non-alcohol wine category, introducing the world’s first alcohol-removed New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc – Giesen 0% – in early 2020. The Giesen 0% range, which is made using spinning cone technology, has since grown to include

a Pinot Gris, Riesling, Ros é and Merlot, and a Sparkling Brut is due for release in 2023.

Giesen 0% is a benchmark for quality in the rising non-alcoholic beverage sector and was named a ‘2022 Impact Hot Prospect Brand’ in recognition of notable sales growth in the U.S. The strong sales performance highlights the emergence of the ‘sober curious’ movement driven by consumers seeking quality alcoholremoved wines to match healthy lifestyle preferences.

In fact, research2 shows that 66% of Millennials are actively working to lower their alcohol intake and 56% of them consider themselves as ‘mindful drinkers’. 58% of NO/LO consumers still drink alcohol, but in moderation.

Giesen Group has big plans for its NO/LO portfolio as demand grows for wines with lower strength or zero alcohol…

Giesen Group’s current NO/LO wine portfolio also consists of Ara Zero Sauvignon Blanc and recently released Ara Zero Rosé, and Giesen Pure Light 6% alc/vol in Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. The success of these products has been such that Giesen Group’s Marketing Manager, Angela Flynn, says the company is focused on expanding its NO/LO offerings. “We see great opportunities in the NO/LO category. We’re constantly monitoring global consumer trends and as a result we are currently trialling new varietals and innovative blends and products to further expand our NOLO portfolio.”

Cutting-edge technology

Giesen Group’s winemaking teams use spinning cone technology to gently distil

wine into three layers: aroma, alcohol and body. Leaving the alcohol aside, the distinctive aroma is combined with the body of the wine to create a 0% alcohol wine with as many recognisable varietal characteristics as possible.

Giesen Group Chief Winemaker Winemaker Duncan Shouler says they are committed to changing consumer perceptions and educating wine drinkers about the quality potential across their 0% range. “This is an opportunity to show consumers that craft and premium alcohol-removed wine are available in many styles,” he says. “Wine lovers should not have to compromise on taste, so we’re using our 40 years of winemaking experience to make a great quality wine first, then gently removing alcohol using innovative spinning cone technology.”

In 2021, the company invested more than NZ$1m into spinning cone technology, making it the first New Zealand winery to own a spinning cone unit. This allowed for winemaking innovation, varietal trials and ultimate quality control.

Angela Flynn says that demand for the Giesen 0% range has been such that the company has now invested further. “We have a new and bigger spinning cone machine that will be installed before the 2023 harvest. This will allow us to produce ten times more 0% and mid-strength wine than we are currently and the quality of our wines with the new machine will improve even further. Needless to say our winemakers are excited for our new machine to arrive!”

1 NZ Nielsen IQ - Total Supermarkets & Defined Liquor, MAT to 13/11/22, in both Value and Volume (NZ), EDG Quantium data October 2022 (AUS), Nielsen, 4 weeks ending 6/30/22 (US).

2 Nielsen IQ Panel, October 2022.

Giesen Group’s NO/LO Wine Portfolio

Giesen 0%

A range of premium alcoholremoved wines.

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Pinot Gris

• Riesling

• Rosé

• Merlot

• Sparkling Brut – for release 2023 From RRP $17.99

Ara 0%

Zero alcohol wines.

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Rosé From RRP $18.99

Giesen Pure Light 6%

Mid-strength wines at 6% ABV –50% less alcohol and 45% less calories.

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Pinot Gris From RRP $15.99

Giesen Group

NZ’s first permanent alcohol-free bottle shop opens

ALCOHOL-FREE DRINKS brand AF has opened a permanent non-alcoholic bottle store in Ponsonby following the success of its pop-up venture earlier this year.

The Curious AF Bottle Shop opened in mid-November and stocks the full AF range of pre-mixed cocktails as well as leading alcohol-free offerings from around the world.

It is the only bricks and mortar retail space in New Zealand dedicated solely to selling alcohol-free drinks.

AF Founder, Lisa King, says the success of the pop-up shop in July showed the strong consumer demand for non-alcholic options.

“Across just a few short weeks, some 2,000 people walked through our beautiful art gallery-inspired installation to discover what the Curious AF movement had to offer. In the first few weeks, we sold out of many product lines and received an overwhelming number of requests to make the pop-up permanent. Four months later, here we are.”

Popular global brands in the store include Vandestreek beers, Kin Europhics, (a brand co-founded by model Bella Hadid) and

The

The Curious AF Bottle Store is at 5 Crummer Road,

Thirsty Camel adds major Campari brands

Unique opportunity for mid-size brewing or distilling business in Paeroa, strategically placed between Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Rotorua. One hour to each of these cities.

A fabulous site, with a historical tie to New Zealand. The old Innes Tartan factory, home to the worldfamous Lemon & Paeroa soft drink. Only 50m from SH2, highly visible with a private water supply.

Potential for manufacturing, storage, distribution, show room and even accommodation on site.

Start up, downsize, scale up, diversify. All options possible to a far-sighted business.

950 sqm of space, at half the cost of a city location.

THIRSTY CAMEL has announced that it will take over the distribution of Coruba, Appleton Estate, Wild Turkey and Riccadonna Sparkling Wine in New Zealand – four major brands owned by Campari Group.

The move comes as Campari New Zealand aggregates the distribution of all its brands with Thirsty Camel, effective from 1 January 2023.

The four brands are currently distributed in New Zealand by Lion.

The change means that from 2023, Thirsty Camel will distribute all Campari-owned brands in New Zealand, as it already distributes some of Campari’s key brands, such as Aperol, Campari, Skyy, The Glen Grant, Cinzano and Frangelico.

“It increases our capacity and stake in the market significantly,” says Thirsty Camel owner and CEO Titch Hay.

“Thirsty Camel has had a rapid rise and this expansion makes us a key player in the sector. We have proven our industry capability over time, and the partnership with Campari recognises our like-minded approach to business and commitment to growing the local industry.”

Campari Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Simon Durrant, says they have big ambitions in the New Zealand market. “While we are very thankful to Lion for the many years of successful and collaborative partnership, migrating our portfolio to Thirsty Camel is integral to Campari’s next phase of growth both to simplify our operations and benefit from the rich portfolio synergies with Thirsty Camel.”

Ghia, an alcohol-free aperitif from the US that has featured in Vogue and Forbes and is new to the New Zealand market.

retail space has been designed by Wonder Group and King says they will offer tastings and unique AF events.

Ponsonby.

AF founder Lisa King outside The Curious AF Bottle Shop

New owner and winemaker for Dry River

MARTINBOROUGH VINEYARD Dry River

Wines has appointed Young Winemaker of the Year 2021, Ben McNab, to a winemaker role, to help build upon the 40-year legacy of grape growing and winemaking started in the late 1970s by founder Neil McCullum.

The announcement followed the purchase of Dry River by Wellington businessman Charlie Zheng, who built the Luna Estate brand after buying Blue Rock and Eclipse Vineyards.

McNab, formerly from Palliser Estate, says it’s an exciting opportunity. “I’m conscious of the responsibility that comes with taking over one of the country’s heritage brands in one of our premier

wine regions. You don’t make these sort of quality wines from behind a desk – it’s a high touch approach based on a very close relationship with the wine.”

Dry River and Luna Estate head winemaker, Joel Watson, says protecting the iconic Martinborough winery is a driving motivation for the new owner.

“Dry River has been returned to New Zealand ownership and Charlie is committed to Martinborough, having spent the previous decade establishing Luna Estate and more recently adding an accommodation option, Parehua Resort. Our aim is to honour the Dry River heritage and its pioneering tradition.”

Dry River team from left: Ben McNab (Winemaker), Toby Everitt (Vineyard Machinery Operator), Jillian Jesseph(Sales and Marketing Manager), and Joel Watson (Head Winemaker Dry River and Luna Estate).

Alun Kilby crowned 2022 Young Winemaker

ALUN KILBY from Marisco in Marlborough has been named the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, following the National Finals in Blenheim.

Kilby, 28, is Production Winemaker at Marisco.  He has worked in the New Zealand wine industry for 13 years, from Auckland to Central Otago, before settling in Marlborough. He says he is thrilled to take out the prestigious title and committed to continuously improving the way New Zealand makes wine and distributes it to the world.

Four young winemakers from around the country competed on Thursday 3 November at Kim Crawford winery in Blenheim.

Second place went to Georgia Mehlhopt from Greystone, who was the first person from North Canterbury to compete in a National Final. The other two contestants were Douw Grobler from Trinity Hill in Hawke’s Bay and Eliana Leal from Amisfield in Central Otago.

The judges said they were very impressed with the high calibre of the finalists, all of whom demonstrated a huge passion for winemaking and a great understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the New Zealand wine industry as a whole.

The finalists were tested on their wine market knowledge and laboratory skills on Finals day. They had to prepare a plan for producing a premium single vineyard Pinot Noir, present their views on the best

new innovations in the wine industry, undergo an interview, weigh up options for purchasing a new humidifier for a cellar and then expertly judge wines in a wine show setting.

Finally, they delivered their Fruitfed Supplies speech at the Awards Dinner at Wither Hills, aiming to convince the audience that their wine region was the first place our returning international visitors should visit when they arrive.

Alun Kilby won best Fruitfed Supplies speech and Georgia Mehlhopt won the Villa Maria-Indevin Wine Judging section.

Along with the title of 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, Kilby also won $1,000 cash, a visit to

the Tonnellerie de Mercurey cooperage in Burgundy, will be an associate judge in the New World Wine Awards and will review some of his favourite wines in an issue of Drinksbiz magazine in 2023.

Each finalist took home a very special bottle of Church Road’s TOM and will meet up again early next year on an educational trip hosted by Fruitfed Supplies.

The competition is made possible by all the generous sponsors: Tonnellerie de Mercurey, Fruitfed Supplies, Villa Maria-Indevin, Laffort, Programmed Property Services, Tira Crown, Visy, New World, Winejobsonline, NZSVO and Pernod Ricard.

Major organic vineyard planned for Central Otago

PROMINENT FRENCH wine producer

Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Wines plans to create a major new organic vineyard in Central Otago.

The Bordeaux-based company has been granted consent to acquire a 52 hectareestate with 34.5ha of vines in Central Otago’s Bannockburn, along with the Akarua Estate vineyard, which was founded in 1996 by former Dunedin mayor Sir Clifford Skeggs.

When fully converted and organically certified over the coming decade, the Central Otago vineyard is expected to produce over 60,000 bottles of organic wines annually for the international and domestic markets.

Edmond de Rothschild Heritage is a family-owned lifestyle brand with luxury hotels and restaurants, and nine vineyards

across France, Spain, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand. Its wineries produce 3.5 million bottles of wine every year, however it says the Central Otago vineyard will mark the group’s first entry into the organic market.

With Edmond de Rothschild Heritage’s premium estates wine offering distributed

across 80 countries, it says it is set to increase access for New Zealand’s organic wine exports into new international market segments.

The company aims to extend its range with a super-premium Pinot Noir produced from Central Otago’s famed terroir.

It says the wines will continue to be produced under the Akarua brand, with new labelling for their 2023 vintage in the domestic market integrating distinctive elements of the Edmond de Rothschild family crest into its design.

The Skeggs Group says it will continue to produce its Rua brand from its 90 hectares of established vineyards in the Bannockburn and Pisa sub-regions. The restaurant and cellar door in Arrowtown will also continue but will be rebranded in the coming months.

NZ wine export value hits new high

THE VALUE of New Zealand wine in international markets has reached a new high, with exports for 12 months to September at $2.03 billion, up 6% from the previous year, says New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW).

The industry body says that the USA ($727 million) and Canada ($157 million) are at new record levels. The total value increase of 6% is due to a rise in value per litre, with volume for the 12 months to September decreasing 4% from a year ago.

The month of September 2022 has set a new export record of $287 million, this being the first time the export value has exceeded $1⁄4 billion in any month.

“Record export value in September proves that our customers continue to appreciate the exceptional flavours, commitment to quality and sustainability of New Zealand wines, particularly in key international markets such as North

America,” said Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers.

NZW says that the record export value emphasises the adaptability and resilience of the industry as increasing production costs and inconsistent shipping reliability have continued to impact growers and wineries. It notes that the ongoing labour shortage and scarcity of skilled workers remains a serious concern, along with operating in a high inflation environment.

Hopes are high for the return of international wine tourists, following the reopening of New Zealand’s borders and easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

“Cellar doors have been hit hard by the collapse in international tourist numbers over the past two years,” said Gregan. “Alongside domestic holidaymakers, international tourists will give wine businesses the boost they need to see them through the busy summer period, and beyond."

The Rees wins big at HM Awards

THE REES Hotel Queenstown had a hugely successful night at the prestigious 2022 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, with wins for ‘NZ General Manager of the Year’ and ‘Hotel Chef NZ’ among its accolades.

Regarded as Australasia’s leading industry awards, the event was held in Sydney in November with 49 awards contested by a large cohort of Australasian properties.

The Rees, in conjunction with partner The Helicopter Line, was the winner of the inaugural category ‘Innovative Collaboration’ for their Ultimate Heli-Crayfish Dining Experience.

The hotel was also highly commended in the ‘NZ Hotel of the Year’ category (and won this award four times previously in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020).

In the ‘People Awards’ The Rees Hotel team was recognised in three categories. New team member, Ruby Trafford, was highly commended in the ‘Rising Star’ category, while Executive chef Corey Hume won ‘Hotel Chef (NZ)’ for a third consecutive year and Mark Rose won the ‘New Zealand General Manager of the Year’ category (an award he also won in 2015 and was highly commended for in 2019, 2020 and 2021).

therees.co.nz

IT’S TIME FOR SUNDOWN

World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 revealed

PARADISO IN Barcelona was announced as No.1 on the list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 – the first time the top spot has been awarded to a bar outside New York or London.

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 were unveiled at an awards ceremony in Barcelona in October and feature bars from 26 cities around the world. It is the 14th year of the awards, which recognise the bartenders, bar owners and brands at the forefront of the international cocktail scene.

Situated in Barcelona’s trendy El Born district, the entrance to Paradiso is hidden behind an antique refrigerator in the back of a pastrami shop. In announcing its win, organisers of the World’s 50 Best Bars said that Paradiso: “…offers a masterful take on the speakeasy, combining technique, precision and creativity with an unwavering sense of fun.”

Paradiso signatures, such as the Supercool Martini, uses ‘supercooled’ gin to build an iceberg in the glass before tailoring the final product tableside for a uniquely personal guest experience. From creating coasters and bar tools from single-use waste, to hosting the first Paradiso Sustainability Summit, owners Giacomo Giannotti and Margarita Sader and their team were recognised for

showcasing their unwavering commitment to ongoing sustainability, both within Paradiso and the wider industry.

The Best Bar in Australasia was named as Maybe Sammy at No.29, with fellow Sydney bar Cantina OK! at No.41.

The winner of Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu was Juliana of Guayaquil, which took the accolade for its outstanding Diverso cocktail list.

Italian-born, London-based Agostino Perrone was named Roku Industry Icon. For this award, all 650 members of the voting Academy were asked to name the person who has done more for the progress of the bar industry than any other individual. Director of Mixology at London’s iconic Connaught Bar, Perrone’s masterful leadership has led to his bar appearing on every list since 2010, including twice topping the ranking in 2020 and 2021. His exceptional hospitality

World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 – Top 10

Paradiso, Barcelona

Tayēr + Elementary, London

is world-renowned, as is his creativity, mentorship and innovation behind the bar.

Paris’ acclaimed Little Red Door won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award.

Other special award winners, announced in the run-up to the ceremony include Hanky Panky, Mexico City, named the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, and Jean Trinh, winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.

The inaugural 50 Best The Blend Scholar was announced as Drew Fleming of Kiki Lounge, Isle of Man. Created to recognise emerging futuregazing talent and professionalise the craft of bartending, the scholar will now complete two bar stages (internships) at London’s Connaught Bar and New York’s Katana Kitten.

See the full results at worlds50bestbars.com

The perfect match with SAVERGLASS

THE SEARCH by winemakers the world over for the perfect bottle, the ‘matchless match’, to best showcase their prized wines brings to mind the words of the wonderful song in the musical Fiddler on the Roof:

“Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, Find me a find, catch me a catch. Matchmaker, matchmaker, look through your book, And make me a perfect match.”

This is the raison d’être of Saverglass. To find the perfect bottle match for each customer’s products.

And the refrain “Tradition, tradition! Tradition!” encapsulates the Alienor, which harks back to the traditions of old with its characteristic Saint-Emilion shoulder and trunk-like base. The very deep punt with a small ‘push-out’ inside is designed to aid sommeliers to serve from it. The Alienor range boasts all the distinctive marks of great vintage bottles.

For 30 years, Saverglass has created and grown a unique range of wine

bottles. Each owes its distinctive style to the originality and quality of its finely detailed designs: unusual punts and bases, curves of the shoulders, original finishes, height and taper of the bottle. The meticulous use of design codes is enhanced by the brightness, radiance and transparency of the bottles, owing to the quality of the glass.

Whether winemakers seek traditional or cutting-edge modern designs, there is something in the Saverglass range for everyone seeking superb quality.

With more than 110 product ranges, the collection of wine models is available in various sizes, with products ranging from 187ml to six litres, making it the most comprehensive offer on the market today.

More product ranges are added every year, with new shapes and concepts developed by the Saverglass marketing team.

Find out more about the ranges from SAVERGLASS 09 522 2990 saverglass.com

ALIENOR

HERITAGE COLLECTION

REVIVING THE MASTER CRAFTSMANSHIP AND AESTHETICS OF THE GREAT CLASSICS

Designed to celebrate the true essence of the Grands Crus, the Heritage Collection presents top-of-the-range glassware whose silhouettes hail back to the values of authenticity seen in the historical archives.

ALIÉNOR range stands out as a worthy heir to Bordeaux culture, with its characteristic “Saint-Émilion” shoulder, trunk-like base and a very deep punt with a small “push-out inside the punt”.

Saverglass (NZ) Limited | www.saverglass.com Haute Couture Glass | Phone: +64 9 522 2990

Future focus

GLOBAL MARKET intelligence agency

Mintel has revealed five trends that it says will impact what consumers want, as we head into 2023 and beyond.

While these trends address the wider consumer market, there are clear connections with the evolution of the drinks industry, especially around supporting local, value perceptions, the sustainability ethos of brands, and the growth of more mindful drinking.

The Mintel Global Consumer Trends 2023 report highlights the following:

• Me Mentality: Consumers will be eager to re-focus on themselves and brands can help them take centre stage.

• Power to the People: Brands have to make room for a new ‘c’ in their c-suite as consumers are investing, co-creating and voting for change alongside brands.

• Hyper Fatigue: Consumers will try to cut through the noise and connect with what matters to them.

• International Localism: Buying local will be a way consumers can protect themselves financially, environmentally and psychologically, and feel that they are giving back.

• Intentional Spending: Factors like flexibility, durability and sustainability will play increasingly important roles in consumers’ value equation.

Simon Moriarty, Director of Mintel Trends, EMEA, comments on how the trends will impact markets, brands, and consumers in 2023 and beyond:

Me Mentality

“In recent years, consumers have had a community mindset, putting their own needs on the back burner to prioritise public health and safety. People are now emerging from the pandemic eager to re-focus on themselves.

for mental health and wellness-focused products will grow as consumers look to understand their blind spots. Looking further down the road, consumers will use the metaverse to develop unique identities that match their digital surroundings. This will result in fragmented identities online. With this, there will be a stronger movement toward data privacy and consumer protection as consumers’ digital footprint becomes more robust and layered.”

Power to the People

“Brands have to make room for a new ‘c’ in their c-suite: consumers. Consumers are shaping brands with their dollars and their voices. Beyond conceding that ‘the customer is always right’, this will be an evolution where consumers are investing, co-creating and voting for change alongside brands. Responding to this demand requires brands to listen and react while keeping market innovation a priority.

“As consumers look to build up new parts of their identity, brands can help fill in the gaps with offerings that help them grow their skills and gain mastery in new areas. Brands should know that demand

“NFTs and Web3 communities are opening up new channels for consumers to invest, giving them a way to own a piece of a brand and directly connect with a brand’s overall success and growth. In the future, brands will increasingly

As we head into 2023, we look at some recent research into the trends set to impact global consumer markets next year and beyond…

“In the future, brands will increasingly cater to the niche identities of loyal consumer investors.”

cater to the niche identities of loyal consumer investors, fragmenting large, legacy brands into smaller, more targeted business units.”

Hyper Fatigue

“Moving from crisis to crisis, consumers are being stretched in many directions while being bombarded with media stories and digital content. The pandemic, rising cost of living, energy crisis, geopolitical unrest, and climate crisis are taking their toll, leaving consumers feeling overwhelmed.

“Consumers will find meaning and solace in reconnecting with their surroundings, their communities and themselves. Charitable and community initiatives born out of inspiring brand collaborations will play an intrinsic part in countering fatigue levels, empowering people to take control, and helping them build a positive outlook amid financial adversity. In the next five years, expect brands to establish boundaries to bring order to the influx of information and initiatives to enable consumers to form healthy connections with resources in the technology, wellness and leisure spaces.”

International Localism

“With so much global uncertainty there will be a greater movement to protect local resources and boost local business. This is a hangover from the pandemic, but also a reflection of consumers’ changing attitudes towards what’s important to them – a reconnection with ‘local’ is also a way for consumers to protect themselves financially, environmentally and psychologically, and feel that they are giving back in some way.

“Consumers will respond instinctively to home-grown innovators and brands

that stamp their authenticity on the items they produce and sell. ‘Localism’ will come to mean supporting communities where the product is manufactured rather than where the consumer is located. Over the next few years, consumers will demand

the traceability of raw materials and more transparency around how brands are conserving local resources.”

Intentional Spending

“Consumers are refocusing on what value means to them and spending more intentionally as a result. In a tough economic environment, consumers want to make smart financial choices without sacrificing their quality of life.

“Expect a stronger focus on durability, flexibility and timelessness as consumers seek to buy less and own products that last longer and serve multiple purposes. As the market becomes further saturated with added-value claims, consumers will grow more sceptical and discerning. In the next five years, expect to see purposedriven brands emerge with innovations that address long-term challenges faced by the industries, nations, and communities in which they are a part.”

Read more about Mintel’s 2023 Global Consumer Trends in the full report, available at mintel.com/ global-consumer-trends.

“With global uncertainty there will be a greater movement to protect local resources and boost local business.”

No Ordinary Ice Tea arrives

PLANT BEVERAGE company Plant

Projects has launched No Ordinary Ice Tea, a range of canned ice tea in three flavours. Available in Peach, Raspberry, and Passionfruit, the three teas are made using local fruit like Hawke’s Bay peaches

and raspberries from the Bay of Plenty. They are low in sugar and have only 31 calories per can.

The No Ordinary range also includes Oat Milk, which launched in January.

Premium Liquor Co.

The Real McCoy and Just Juice ready to sparkle

FRUCOR SUNTORY has launched a new sub-category of canned sparkling juice hybrids with The Real McCoy Sparkling and Just Juice Bubbles.

Brad Erceg, Sales Director New Zealand, Frucor Suntory Oceania says that the launch aims to evolve the juice category as consumers’ behaviours and tastes transform. “Globally, we have seen growth come from sparkling cans and noticed a shift in consumer behaviour where juice is increasingly being used more dynamically and mixed with other non-alcoholic drinks and with alcohol. This insight sparked our innovation

New Good Sh*t Tropical

journey, which is driving value back into the category and expanding juice into new occasions.”

The Real McCoy Sparkling range is available in Dark Grape, Orange & Ruby Red Grapefruit; and Apple & Cranberry.

Just Juice Bubbles is in a new canned format as a 50:50 mix of fruit juice and lemonade in three flavours: Tropical, Orange & Mango, and Tropical 50% less.

Frucor Suntory is executing a full promotional and tasting campaign to support the new launch.

Frucor Suntory

Anew to challenge single-use plastic

A NEW Zealand company has launched a recyclable and reusable water bottle made 100% from plant-based material into convenience stores and petrol stations around the country.

Creator Jayden Klinac says his goal is to shift the packaging industry away from single-use options that use finite resources such as oil and sand.

Through his sustainable product and packaging company, For The Better Good, Klinac had previously launched New Zealand’s first compostable water bottle with purpose-built collection points and composting stations throughout the country.

Now, under the consumer-facing brand Anew, he has launched what he says is the first reusable and recyclable bottle in the world to be sold into the convenience sector with its own circular system.

The Anew bottles are designed for re-use, but can be disposed of in curb-side recycling or the designated Anew system for “recircling”. The plant-based plastic is also durable and dishwasher safe, making it appropriate for continual use.

The Anew water bottles launched into service stations, cafés and other stores around New Zealand in mid-October. Klinac says the company doesn’t plan to introduce new beverages, but instead is focusing on being a bolt–on circular economy solution for businesses looking for end-to-end packaging options.

“This circular solution is a result of my work for the last 10 years in the space,” he says. “We know we need to get out of the linear mindset and stop using fossil resources – we make it easy for companies to make this transition.”

Anew bottles are RRP $6.99

Anew

THE TEAM at Good Sh*t have added a new flavour to their pre- + probiotic soft drink family. Good Sh*t Tropical is full of mango and passionfruit flavour, low in sugar and high in fibre. The Good Sh*t range also includes Cola, Citrus, Berry, and Ginger variants.

Zeffer launches first RTD

HAWKE’S BAY cidery Zeffer has released its first RTD, a Hazy Alcoholic Lemonade made with Hawke’s Bay lemons and a special blend of fruitbased spirits.

“We’ve crafted a unique blend of spirits made from Hawke’s Bay apples and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, resulting in a deliciously tropical, light spirit that shines through the freshly squeezed, unfiltered lemon base,” says Jody Scott, Zeffer head cidermaker and chief product developer.

The spirits used in the blend are produced through the making of 0% cider and 0% wine. Zeffer says it has successfully found a way to repurpose this by-product of the 0% process that would otherwise go to waste.

Zeffer also identified an opportunity to improve sustainability with the lemonade’s packaging, choosing to relabel brand new surplus cans it had on hand, rather than recycle them. “Though we’ll eventually print cans, the initial release will see a variety of other Zeffer cans covered up with the Hazy Alcoholic Lemonade label,” says Zeffer CEO Josh Townsend. “We know our fans will notice the re-labelled cans, but we hope they’ll see the positive side of repurposing the cans like we do.”

Zeffer Hazy Alcoholic Lemonade –5% ABV 330ml 6-pack RRP$ 19.99 and also in keg. Lion

Introducing Loony’s Hard Ice Tea

NEW FROM Kiwi company

Premium Liquor Co comes Loony’s Hard Ice Tea. A hard non-carbonated Ice

Tea, Loony’s is available in Peach and Raspberry. Both contain New Zealand vodka and tea extract.

Loony’s Hard Ice Tea

6% ABV, 330ml 10-pack RRP $28.99

Premium Liquor Co.

Sundown Gin adds new RTD flavour

FRESH FROM the success of their Black Doris Plum Gin, the team at Kiwi gin brand Sundown have added a new flavour to their premixed line up with Black Doris Plum Gin & Tonic (7% ABV).

As with the rest of the Sundown RTD range, the new release is low in sugar and contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Sundown Gin RTD is also available in Gin & Tonic with Lemon; Blood Orange Gin & Tonic; Pink Gin & Soda with Raspberry, Rose and Rhubarb; Gin & Cucumber with Soda; and Gin, Grapefruit and Elderflower with Soda.

Sundown Black Doris Plum Gin & Tonic 7% ABV, 250ml 4-pack RRP $15.99

Premium Liquor Co.

New Pals release for summer

KIWI RTD brand Pals has released a new Vodka, Red Peach, Yuzu and Soda flavour – the latest addition to its core range. Dubbed ‘the red one’, the new Pal is packaged in a pastel red can and combines red peach, the zesty Japanese citrus fruit yuzu, triple-distilled vodka, and soda.

Like the rest of the Pals range, Pals Vodka, Red Peach with Yuzu and Soda is made with premium ingredients and all-natural flavours. It is also vegan, gluten-free, has no artificial colours, sweeteners or preservatives and only 32 calories per 100ml.

Pals has enjoyed huge success since its launch, most recently at The Hard Seltzers Masters 2022, where it won the top prize of ‘Master’ for its Peach and Passionfruit flavour, along with five additional gold awards for other flavours in the Pals line-up.

Pals Vodka, Red Peach, Yuzu and Soda – 5% ABV, 330ml 10-pack RRP $29.99

Federal Merchants

Long White Ultra arrives

NEW TO shelves this summer is Long White Ultra, made purely with juice and natural flavours, New Zealand sparkling water and a vodka base. Long White Ultra delivers 1.1 gram (or less) of sugar per 100ml and is available in two flavours: Mandarin and Lime; and Strawberry and Blackcurrant.

Long White Ultra – 5% ABV 320ml 10-pack RRP $28.99. Asahi NZ

New Scapegrace Gin, Soda & Yuzu

NEW ZEALAND gin brand Scapegrace has expanded its RTD offering with the new Scapegrace Gin, Soda & Yuzu.

The new release uses Scapegrace’s premium, hand-crafted distilled gin with locally grown yuzu from Levin growers Neville and Junko Chun.

Marketing Director of Scapegrace, Mark Neal says, “We’ve been working away on this delicious new offering for a while now, and we are so thrilled that we’ve finally perfected the flavour combinations to bring our Scapegrace lovers the most delicious drink for the summer. After the success of the Ruby Red Grapefruit and Hibiscus gin RTD, we are excited to see everyone’s reaction for this yummy new flavour.”

Scapegrace Gin, Soda & Yuzu 5% ABV, 330ml can 10-pack RRP $27.99

Hancocks

New Lyre’s RTD cocktails

LYRE’S HAS released three of its non-alcoholic pre-mixed cocktails in ready-to-drink 200ml formats. The Negroni, Old Fashioned and Margarita are now available in individual 200ml glass bottles or as a gift pack trio and are made using Lyre’s highly awarded non-alcoholic spirits.

Lyre’s says that its new ready-to-drink range also gives consumers the opportunity to try the award-winning brand without committing to the 700ml multi-bottle recipes that may have proved a barrier to purchase in the past.

Lyre’s range of ready-to-drink cocktails are RRP $20 each (containing just over two serves), or alternatively as a mixed set in limited-edition gift box for RRP $49.99

Lyre’s

Spice it up with Lucky AF

ALCOHOL-FREE DRINKS brand AF has teamed up with Sarah and Otis Frizzell and their food truck The Lucky Taco to launch a limitededition Lucky AF Grapefruit Margarita.

The cans feature Mexicana-inspired artwork commissioned by Otis Frizzell and are sold with The Lucky Taco’s renowned signature Chilli Salt so customers can create their own Lucky AF Perfect Pour at home.

Lucky AF also contains Afterglow™ – a 100% natural botanical that mimics the warmth of drinking alcohol.

Lucky AF is available in a 12-pack (RRP $45) or 24-pack (RRP $89) for a limited time.

AF Drinks

Liquor rules in the spotlight

The Government has pledged to “fix” alcohol legislation – alcohol licensing lawyer Pervinder Kaur looks at what that will mean in practice…

AT THE end of October this year, Justice Minister Kiri Allan announced that the Government is “fixing” alcohol legislation that it says has been used by the alcohol industry and retailers to stop local communities from putting in place rules around the sale of liquor in their area.

As I mentioned in my last article ( Drinksbiz Oct-Nov 2022), the proposed amendments to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 will remove the ability to appeal local alcohol policies (LAPs). The Government’s view is that the current appeal process is costing councils and ratepayers millions of dollars in legal fees as alcohol companies and supermarkets have thwarted efforts by local councils to limit the sale of alcohol in their communities.

Under the current legislation, local authorities can develop and adopt a local alcohol policy (LAP) that regulates how the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol would be undertaken within a district. It places restrictions in terms of the number of new alcohol outlets, the location of such outlets, trading hours, and advertising of alcohol.

Following a draft LAP, public consultation is undertaken by Council to understand community views and preferences on the proposed LAP. Following this, Council then notifies a provisional LAP, which is subject to appeals from anyone who made submissions on the draft LAP. The appeal process is distinct to LAPs and has been a way for the alcohol industry to provide its input against the LAP provisions.

The changes in the legislation (if enacted) would remove the alcohol

industry’s ability to provide any input against the provisions, which (in essence) would control how a licensed premises could operate within the given district.

There is no doubt that the current laws need reform, given the process to draft and adopt a LAP is longwinded and can take a lot of effort and resources. But the question arises as to whether it is justified to remove the appeal process in its entirety to improve this process.

This is particularly relevant when all local government processes take time and go through various checks and balances before they are finalised. For example, a district plan review can

In her October announcement, Minister Allan said: “The law isn’t working as intended. Local communities should be able to set their own rules to reduce alcohol harm, but are being blocked at every step by the booze industry.”

However, this could equally apply to the alcohol industry given it is their livelihood that would be impacted by such legislative change and that they are the ones being removed from the process and an opportunity to have a say is being denied.

It should not be some arbitrary decision-making. The requirement that decision-makers act within the law is fundamental to the rule of law. Therefore,

take several years because of various submitters appealing the council’s proposed plan and then hearings before the Environment Court and so on. The district plan review process also costs councils and ratepayers millions in legal fees, but there is no abolition of appeal rights in respect of that process.

Where a public body makes a decision affecting a person’s rights or interests, that person should generally be able to have the decision reviewed in some way. The ability to review or appeal a decision helps to ensure that those decisions are in accordance with the law. Also, the prospect of scrutiny encourages firstinstance decision makers to produce decisions of the highest possible quality.1

an appeal should be available unless there are factors that would make an appeal inappropriate. And concerns about cost and delay could be dealt with by limiting the right of appeal, rather than denying it altogether1

Note: The Government says that a Bill proposing procedural changes to the alcohol licensing process will be introduced this year (2022), with the aim of passing it into law by mid-2023. Appeals that are in process when the amendments come into force will continue to be heard until those proceedings are complete.

1 (see Legislation Design and Advisory Committee Guidelines – Appeal and Review – Chapter 28 – Creating a system of appeal, review and complaint).

Pervinder Kaur Associate at Corcoran French Lawyers specialising in alcohol licensing. pervinder@cflaw.co.nz cflaw.co.nz

The question arises as to whether it is justified to remove the appeal process in its entirety to improve this process.

Awards of Excellence Winners 2022

Champion Wine of the Show ISABEL ESTATE MARLBOROUGH CHARDONNAY 2020

Rapid Labels Trophy for Champion Sparkling

LINDAUER VINTAGE SERIES BRUT CUVEE 2017

NZ Couriers Trophy for Champion Gewürztraminer

ASKERNE RESERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2021

Antipodes Trophy for Champion Riesling

MUD HOUSE SINGLE VINEYARD THE MOUND RIESLING 2021

Dish Magazine Trophy for Champion Pinot Gris

DUCK HUNTER MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS 2022

Guala Closures NZ Trophy for Champion Sauvignon Blanc YEALANDS ESTATE SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022

New World Trophy for Champion Chardonnay ISABEL ESTATE MARLBOROUGH CHARDONNAY 2020

Trophy for Champion Other White Varieties ASKERNE VIOGNIER 2021

winejobsonline com Trophy for Champion Sweet Wine

VILLA MARIA RESERVE NOBLE RIESLING 2021

Wineworks Trophy for Champion Rosé

SQUAWKING MAGPIE FIRST FLIGHT STARTLED PINK 2022

Rural News Group Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir PROVIDORE PINOT NOIR 2019

Fruitfed Trophy for Champion Cabernet & Cabernet-dominant Blend

VILLA MARIA RESERVE GIMBLETT GRAVELS HAWKES BAY CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 2020

Trophy for Champion Merlot MUD HOUSE HAWKE'S BAY MERLOT 2021

Trophy for Champion Syrah GIESEN SINGLE VINEYARD CLAYVIN SYRAH 2021

Trophy for Champion Other Red Varieties LEFTFIELD HAWKE'S BAY MALBEC 2020

Guala Closures NZ Award for Best Presented Screwcap Bottle TE KANO ESTATE CENTRAL OTAGO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021

Mainfreight Trophy for Champion Export Wine BLIND RIVER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022

Auckland A&P Association Heritage Rosebowl MOUNT MAUDE RESERVE EAST BLOCK RIESLING 2012, 2016, 2021

Auckland A&P Association Winemaker of the Show JEREMY MCKENZIE - ISABEL ESTATE

Bubbling over

Joelle Thomson highlights new release bubbles and some classic favourites for shelves and wine lists this festive season…

RRP $18 – $29.99

Matahiwi Blanc de Blanc

RRP $18.99-$19.99

Grey Beard Trading

A fabulously smooth and creamy blanc de blancs made at Wairarapa winery, Matahiwi Estate. This lovely, full-bodied bubbly is made in a similar style to a great champagne, only it’s fermented in a sealed stainless steel tank rather than having its second fermentation in the bottle (which is the definition of the champagne production method). It’s a deliciously yeasty, fresh sparkling wine with flavours that linger. 17.5/20

Matahiwi Rosé Brut

RRP $19.99-$21.99

Grey Beard Trading

This pink Matahiwi bubbly is made from Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Wairarapa (a great region for Pinot Noir) and it overdelivers – big time – in taste, body and vibrant freshness. 17.5/20

Villa Maria Sparkling Cuvée Brut

RRP $20

Villa Maria

This sparkling newcomer from Villa Maria is made using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which give it zingy, bold citrus flavours combined with light creamy notes and a yeasty hint of complexity on the finish. It’s fresh off the bottling line in time for Christmas and New Year. 16.5/20

Cava La Rosca Brut

RRP $20.99-$21.99

Grey Beard Trading

A fresh Spanish cava; medium-bodied and lightly yeasty in taste. ‘Cava’ is the Spanish name for sparkling wine made using the same techniques as champagne. The Spanish adopted the name to make wines in the same style, only with significantly less ageing time in the bottle so that they taste lighter. 16.5/20

Dibon NV Brut Seleccion

RRP $22.99

Vintners NZ

A lovely light-bodied Spanish cava with fresh yeasty aromas and a citrus flavour note, giving this wine its lingering finish. Great value for money and a classic look, thanks to its lovely yellow label. 17.5/20

Villa Sandi Prosecco

RRP $22.99

Vintners NZ

A dry Prosecco with deeply concentrated lemon and creamy, nutty flavours. Villa Sandi is a large producer that makes a wide range of Prosecco styles and this is one of their flagship wines. 18.5/20

Brilla Prosecco

RRP $24.99

Procure

Prosecco comes in all shapes and sizes, and this pretty bubbly has floral aromatics, a touch of honeyed sweetness, a light body and refreshing dry finish. Special mention for the gorgeous bottle, which is as appealing as the flavours of this lovely Italian bubbly. 17.5/20

Villa Maria Sparkling Cuvée Brut is a fresh new release made using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for zingy, bold citrus flavours combined with light creamy notes.

Divici Prosecco

RRP $24.99

Procure

This certified organic Prosecco has fresh, citrusy flavours, a light body, and clean lingering intensity of flavour on the dry finish – think white pears, a touch of peach and a crisp texture. 17.5/20

Pā Road 2022 Sparkling Rosé

RRP $24.99

Beverage Brothers

This Marlborough bubbly is made with Pinot Noir grapes; the most planted red in this large wine region. Made in a dry style, it’s light-bodied with fresh summer berry flavours and a lingering crisp finish. Great value for money. 17.5/20

2020 Sartori Prosecco Rosé DOC

RRP $25

Dhall & Nash

Sartori pink Prosecco has a dry taste of red berries and crisp red apples, white peach and pear. The pale pink colour comes from Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), which makes up about 10% of this refreshing, light sparkling wine. 17.5/20

La Gioiosa Prosecco DOC Bio

Organic NV

RRP $26.99 Vintners NZ

Dry, medium-bodied and fresh with ripe apple flavours and a succulent, lingering finish. This Prosecco is certified organic. 17.5/20

Hunter’s MiruMiru NV

RRP $29.90 EuroVintage

This full-bodied bubbly from Marlborough is made the same way as champagne, using the same trio of grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The wine spends 12 to 18 months on yeast lees and tastes of citrus and peach with a hint of toastiness on the finish. Full-bodied and bold. Super value for money. 18.5/20

RRP $30 – $49.99

Quartz Reef Brut NV

RRP $35.99 Vintners NZ

This is Central Otago’s best bubbly and is typically a blend of approximately 70/30 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Toasty, citrusy and creamy, it is complex and flavoursome with a full body, long finish and great depth in every sip. Rudi Bauer pioneered this wine in Otago’s early days as a wine region. 18.5/20

Hunter’s MiruMiru Rosé NV

RRP $36.90 EuroVintage

A beautiful light pink wine with gorgeous depth of flavour. A savoury, yeasty core is supported by summer berry fruit aromas and a long, smooth finish. This is one of the best sparkling wines from Hunter’s Wines in Marlborough, where Jane Hunter is a devotee of great pink bubbles. 17.5/20

Sartori Prosecco Rosé has a dry taste of red berries and crisp red apples, white peach and pear.

2018 Huia Blanc de Blancs

RRP $37.99

Mineral

A creamy, full-bodied bubbly made entirely from Chardonnay by winemakers Claire and Mike Allen at one of Marlborough’s oldest wineries, Huia. This is a smooth, soft, sparkling wine that is also certified organic. 17.5/20

Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige

RRP $40

Pernod Ricard

A super tasty, toasty and smooth new sparkling wine from Marlborough. The alluringly named Mumm Marlborough is a blend of 46% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay and 9% Pinot Meunier, the three classic champagne grapes. It’s made in association with the Champagne house, Maison Mumm by Marlborough winemaker Jamie Marfell, who has been producing sparkling wines for nearly two decades. The grapes are sourced from the Wairau Valley and Southern Valleys sub regions, which provide balance to this full-bodied bubbly. 18.5/20

Nautilus Marlborough Cuvée Brut NV

RRP $43.99

Negociants

Winemaker Clive Jones models the gorgeous Nautilus Méthode Cuvée on Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée, giving Pinot Noir pride of place with about 70 per cent of the blend each year, the balance being Chardonnay and with typical lees ageing of three years. This formula provides huge depth of flavour, savoury freshly baked sourdough aromas, a full body and a long deep finish. Delicious, fresh and beautiful. 18.5/20

2019 Clos Henri Chapel Block Méthode Traditionelle

RRP $45 Maison Vauron

Every sip of this savoury sparkling wine with its toasty aromas delivers weight and complexity, thanks to being made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes and given long lees ageing. Fresh summer berry flavours add a light touch to this wine’s delicious depth. 18.5/20

2019 Huia Brut Rosé

RRP $45.99 Mineral

A pretty pink bubbly made entirely from Pinot Noir and given long lees ageing to provide freshly baked bread aromas and add body to the lively red summer berry flavours and long finish. 17.5/20

No.1 Rosé NV

RRP $49.99

No.1 Family Estate

No.1 Rosé is the best pink bubbly in New Zealand in terms of sheer delicious savoury depth of flavour, complexity and quality. It’s made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes, which provide its pronounced toasty aromas, flavours of dried raspberries, full body and beautifully lingering taste in every delicious sip. 19/20

RRP $50 and above

Champagne Castelnau Brut NV

RRP $54.99 Kahurangi

A fab new champagne made mostly from Chardonnay grapes and given a longer ageing time than is usual with two years on lees, which gives it a depth and richness of flavour. 17.5/20

André Clouet Grande Reserve NV

RRP $62.99

Dhall & Nash

A big, toasty champagne made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes, all grown on grand cru vineyards and aged on lees for four years in bottle before disgorgement (the removal of the yeast lees). This ageing is significantly longer than for most champagnes and gives the wine enormous savoury depth. 18.5/20

Franck

Bonville Blanc de Blancs

Champagne

RRP $74.99

CoLab Wine Merchants

A gorgeously smooth, soft, crisp and creamy champagne made from Chardonnay grapes (hence ‘blanc de blancs’ meaning ‘white of whites’). This is a complex wine with depth to burn and a surprisingly accessible price tag given its high quality. 19/20

Champagne Castelnau Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2006

RRP $84.99

Kahurangi

A beautiful blanc de blancs with a full body, smooth creamy flavours and complex layers of taste. Great wine and stunning flavours. 19/20

2017 Quartz Reef Blanc de Blancs

RRP $85

Vintners NZ

One of the newest additions to the Quartz Reef sparkling wine range and made entirely from Chardonnay grapes, all certified organic and from Bendigo, a hot, dry region in Central Otago. This is a complex, crisp sparkling wine made by one of the best bubbly producers in the country. 19/20

Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur NV

RRP $95

Negociants

The elegant flavours of Chardonnay in this wine are supported by Pinots Noir and Meunier, both of which add hints of complex savoury notes and a fresh, crisp, succulent lingering taste. 18.5/20

No.1 Reserve NV

RRP $96

No.1 Family Estate

Eight years lees ageing and 100% Chardonnay grapes make this one of New Zealand’s most impressive, full-bodied and complex sparkling wines. It’s made in the style of a great vintage champagne and delivers outstanding flavours, length and exceptional quality. 19/20

Champagne Gosset Grande

Réserve Brut NV

RRP $97.99 Blanc

Excellence and depth in every incredibly succulent sip of this great champagne, made from equal portions of 45% Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as 10% Pinot Meunier in the blend. Its relatively long lees ageing of four years adds significant and noticeable complex depth to the flavours of this outstanding sparkling wine. A must-try and a treat for the festive season. 19/20

Bollinger Special Cuvée NV

RRP $120

Negociants

Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée is one of the great wines of the world, made from 85% Grand and Premier cru (top quality) vineyard sites. It’s a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Meunier, consistently made in a dry style and aged for twice as long as the majority of champagnes with three years on lees. This adds to its complex savoury flavours of toast and mushrooms, as well as its full body and long finish. 19/20

For distributor details see the Distributor Index on page 81.

No.1 Reserve NV is made in the style of a great vintage champagne and delivers outstanding flavours, length and exceptional quality.

Sparkle this festive season with EuroVintage’s extensive selection of Champagne and sparkling wines to cover every price point. Whatever the occasion, we have your bubbles covered this summer.

Top Picks

A firm summer favourite with Kiwis, Joelle Thomson rounds up the latest and greatest in Rosés.

2022 Giesen Blush Riesling

RRP $15.99

Giesen Group

An innovative and deliciously fresh tasting Rosé. It has lime and ripe lemon flavours from Riesling, which is blended here with Merlot to add a touch of colour and mellow soft appeal to the crispness.  17.5/20

2022 Pā Road Rosé

RRP $17.99

Beverage Brothers

Dry, light and deliciously floral with flavours of strawberries, dried red candied plums and crisp red apple. This affordable Rosé is part of the new wave of drier, paler-coloured pink wines made in Marlborough from Pinot Noir grapes; lightly pressed to extract minimal colour. 17.5/20

2022 Main Divide Rosé

RRP $18.99

EuroVintage

Deliciously dry, fruity North Canterbury Rosé with a pale salmon-pink colour and flavours of cranberries, red berries and a hint of savoury depth on its lingering finish. This is part of the exceptional Pegasus Bay wine stable. 17.5/20

2021 The Ned Rosé

RRP $19

Marisco

Flavours of fresh, fleshy strawberries, a touch of raspberry and red apple all vie for attention in this lively pale pink Rosé from Marlborough. The 2021 vintage had smaller overall yields and very good quality grapes. This wine is beautifully concentrated in taste as a result. 16.5/20

2022 te Pā Rosé

RRP $19.99

Beverage Brothers

Fresh watermelon, red berries and floral aromas all combine in this pale-coloured, dry Rosé made with grapes grown in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. It’s a tasty, fresh pink wine to serve lightly chilled on its own, or pair with rock melon and soft cheese as its makers suggest. 17.5/20

2022

The

Pā Road Rosé is dry, light and deliciously floral with flavours of strawberries, dried red candied plums and crisp red apple.

2021 Clearview Black Reef Blush Rosé

RRP $21.99

Clearview Estate

A deeply-coloured Rosé with intense flavours of red plums and blackberries. A medium-bodied wine made in a dry style, with fruity flavours in each refreshing sip. This wine is a blend of Bordeaux varietals and Chambourcin, a quirky old French grape variety grown in small volumes in Hawke’s Bay. 17.5/20

2021 Johner Estate Rosé

RRP $24.99

Johner Estate

Hand-picked grapes from Karl Johner’s estate vineyard in Wairarapa’s Gladstone make this medium-bodied Rosé super appealing, with its juicy flavours of summer berries and watermelon. It’s beautifully balanced by fresh acidity, which provides a long finish to this wine. 17.5/20

2022 Jules Taylor ‘The Jules Rosé’ RRP $25

Hancocks

Merlot grapes from the Patutahi Valley in Gisborne go into this pale pinkie with its flavours of watermelon, fresh raspberries and red fruit, all underpinned with a lingering finish of zesty acidity that adds a lovely cut-through to this wine. 18.5/20

2022 Whitehaven Rosé

RRP $23.99

Whitehaven

A great example of dry Rosé from this country’s biggest wine region, Marlborough, where Whitehaven has evolved its pink wine into one of the best. Dry from start to finish, with a pale colour and lively, deep flavours of red berries, ripe cherries and red apples, which all taste as if they have just been freshly picked and captured at their best, then bottled. Divine. 18.5/20

Hand-picked grapes were gently pressed to extract a hint of pink and fresh red fruit flavours of dried strawberries, cranberries and ripe peach in the refreshing dry

2021 Te Kano Rosé.

2021 Te Kano Rosé

RRP $26.99

Te Kano

Hand-picked grapes were gently pressed to extract a hint of pink and fresh red fruit flavours of dried strawberries, cranberries and ripe peach in this refreshing dry wine from Te Kano in Central Otago. Bright flavours and fresh acidity drive the length in every sip of this lovely southern wine. 17.5/20

2022 Two Rivers Isle of Beauty

Rosé

RRP $25

Procure

This evocatively named Rosé from Two Rivers is one of Marlborough’s best, with its complex layers of flavour. Strawberries, raspberries and watermelon are underpinned by succulent acidity and a long, juicy finish. (The two rivers in the name refer to the Wairau and Awatere). 17.5/20

2021 Ata Rangi Martinborough Rosé

RRP $25.99

EuroVintage

A dry, fresh and medium-bodied Rosé with flavours of blackcurrant, mint, watermelon and even a hint of peppery spice. This complex pinkie comes from Ata Rangi, one of the famous first four vineyards and wineries in Martinborough. Its layers of flavour stem from the diverse range of grapes in the blend (64% from Martinborough and the remainder from Hawke’s Bay), including 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 16% Pinot Noir, 16% Syrah and 4% Cabernet Franc. 17.5/20

Winemaker Simon Waghorn uses hand-picked grapes to create Astrolabe’s sensationally fruity, dry, complex Rosé from the Comelybank Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley.

2021 Astrolabe Comelybank Pinot Rosé

RRP $29.99

Astrolabe Wines

Winemaker Simon Waghorn uses handpicked grapes to create this sensationally fruity, dry, complex Rosé from the Comelybank Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley. Flavours of raspberry, pear and strawberry combine in the wine, which is a blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Gris and tastes refreshingly dry. 18.5/20

2022 Coal Pit Pinot Noir Rosé

RRP $34.99

Coal Pit Wines

Tangy, dry and modelled on southern French Rosés, this wine is made from hand-picked Pinot Noir grapes grown on the elevated slopes of Coal Pit vineyard in Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley. Its refreshing acidity adds depth and balance to the bold flavours of summer berries. 18.5/20

2022 Palliser Estate Rosé

RRP $30.99

Negociants

A fruity, refreshing and popular Rosé with flavours of strawberries, raspberries and a dry finish. Like most New Zealand Rosés, this one is made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes, which have pronounced red berry flavours and a soft, smooth mouthfeel. 17.5/20

2022 Wairau River Reserve Marlborough Rosé

RRP $35

Federal Merchants

Ripe stonefruit flavours combine with summer berries in this dry Marlborough Rosé. It’s a medium-bodied, refreshing wine with a lovely balance of freshness from its ripe citrus flavours. 17.5/20

2022 Novum Organic Rosé

RRP $30

Mineral

A dry, characterful pink wine made from Pinot Noir grown in Marlborough. This is a very fresh and vibrant Rosé with appealing flavours of peach, spice, raspberries and watermelon. Its long finish adds liveliness to each sip. 17.5/20

2018 Dosterras Sta Rosa Rosé Montsant

RRP $49.99

Great Little Vineyards

An outstanding Spanish Rosé made from Garnacha grapes, which provide a deep salmon colour and create an incredibly flavoursome wine with fleshy, full-bodied, ripe red summer berry notes. It comes from the Montsant wine appellation in Tarragona, north-east Spain, a place where innovation and experimental wine styles are alive and well. Available in small volumes. One of the best Rosés I have ever tried. 19/20

2021 Poppies Martinborough Rosé

RRP $55

Dhall & Nash

Poppy and Shayne Hammond initially made this deliciously fruity Rosé entirely for their restaurant in Martinborough, but its incredibly flavoursome style has made it so popular that production has grown and small volumes are now available. It is without doubt one of New Zealand’s top Rosés. Flavours of redcurrant, cranberry and dried cherry combine with a medium body and a long, dry, flavoursome finish. 18.5/20

For distributor details see the Distributor Index on page 81.

Joelle Thomson Journalist, wine writer and author joellethomson.com

Cabernet comeback

Some exceptional local releases are shining a new light on Cabernet Sauvignon’s commanding flavours, says Joelle Thomson…

IF THE words “Cabernet Sauvignon” have ever struck fear into your heart, you may be of a certain generation and may remember New Zealand reds made in the 1990s.

The early vintages of that decade were cold, grey and wet and there was a lot to dislike about Kiwi Cabernet back then. But times are changing.

A string of warm, dry vintages in Hawke’s Bay (despite the horrendous rain this year) has led to a bunch of outstanding New Zealand Cabernet Sauvignons, which are trickling onto the market now. I say “trickling” because ironically, there is less Cabernet Sauvignon growing in this country than ever before. It is only the fourth mostplanted red grape in New Zealand today, with just 207 hectares nationwide, trailing behind Pinot Noir with 5,807, Merlot with 1,077 and Syrah with 444 hectares.

A bunch of outstanding New Zealand Cabernet Sauvignons are trickling onto the market now.

It’s quite a fall from grace. In 1989, Cabernet Sauvignon was the most planted red grape nationwide with 351 hectares, compared with Pinot Noir’s 138 hectares at the time. That was the first year that hectares of individual grape varieties were measured by the Wine Institute of New Zealand.

The recent 2020 Annual Vintage Selection from Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association highlights great Cabernet Sauvignon from Hawke’s Bay.

Top Cabernet Sauvignons to try

2020 Esk Valley Malbec

Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot RRP $24.99

Villa Maria

The best value of this year’s Gimblett Gravels Annual Vintage Selection. A stunning complex blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

2020 Hancock & Sons Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon RRP $35.99

Hancock & Sons

Fantastic ripe, dark fruit blend of the two great Cabernets with purple colour and density. So impressive.

2020 Trinity Hills The Gimblett RRP $40 Hancocks

Structure and youth with smooth plummy aromas and flavours leading into a tightly structured, dark fruited wine with firm backbone and classic Cabernet Sauvignon aromas. Merlot adds the flesh while Malbec brings depth of colour and spicy flavour.

2020 Mission Jewelstone Antoine

RRP $50

Mission Estate

An impressive full-bodied blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot.

2020 Elephant Hill Stone Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc

RRP $59

Elephant Hill

A youthfully powerful red blend. To be released in 2023.

2020 Church Road 1 Cabernet Sauvignon RRP $120 Pernod Ricard

Dark fruit flavours, staunch black grippy tannins and a long powerful finish. Impressive and youthful.

2020 Elephant Hill Hieronymus RRP $120

Elephant Hill

Big, bold and dark – and yet to be released in 2023. A keeper.

2020 Trinity Hill Prison Block Cabernet Sauvignon

RRP $120 Hancocks

A bold and powerful wine with superb structure; one of the best New Zealand Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve ever tasted. A keeper for at least 10 years but impressive now too.

These wines appear in the Gimblett Gravels 2020 Annual Vintage Selection. See the full list at gimblettgravels.com

Luc Belaire arrives in New Zealand

PREMIUM FRENCH wine brand Luc Belaire is launching its range in Australia and New Zealand with Pernod Ricard.

The wines, which are sold in more than 80 countries, are made exclusively

from French grapes in Burgundy by sixth generation winemakers at their Maison in Montagny-les Beaune.

Luc Belaire’s full range includes:

• Belaire Rosé

• Belaire Luxe

• Belaire Luxe Rosé

• Belaire Gold

• Belaire Bleu

Belaire’s influencer network across the globe includes recording artists and content creators such as Rick Ross, Steve Aoki, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Post Malone, and Wiz Khalifa.

Speaking on the launch, Brett Berish, CEO of Sovereign Brands, said: “We are thrilled to bring Belaire to Australia and New Zealand with Pernod Ricard. Belaire’s superior taste, versatility and quality is what makes it the most exciting sparkling wine in the world. This launch will continue that trajectory. Belaire is more than a drinks brand: it’s a lifestyle! I’m looking forward to working with our friends in Australia and New Zealand to grow our unrivalled ambassador network and develop bold creative collaborations.”

Luc Belaire – RRP $36.99

Pernod Ricard

SHOWCASE

Award-winning lower alcohol Rosé from The Doctors’

MINDFUL DRINKING shouldn’t mean settling for something less enjoyable – and the award-winning 2021 The Doctors’ Rosé is the perfect choice when it comes to a flavoursome wine that is lower in alcohol.

As consumers seek more opportunities for lower alcohol options, Forrest winery in Marlborough continues to create exceptional wines that range from 9-9.5% ABV under its label The Doctors’.

Forrest is one of New Zealand’s leading familyowned wine producers, renowned for its premium small-batch wines. It was founded by doctors John and Brigid Forrest in the 1980s.

The 2021 The Doctors’ Rosé is a fantastic addition to wine lists and shelves and has proved itself on the world stage too, having won the Trophy for Best New Zealand Wine at the 2022 China Wines and Spirits awards.

Using their own innovative processes, the team at Forrest has mastered the art of naturally produced, full-flavoured, lower-alcohol lifestyle wines.

The range includes the award-winning The Doctors’ Rosé, a Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir.

2021 The Doctors’ Rosé

The 2021 The Doctors’ Rosé is a light and lively summer drink. Fresh strawberries, ripe red cherry and aromatic herbs create an explosion of flavour, while the crisp, dry finish caps off an exhilarating tasting experience. Naturally produced using sustainable methods, it’s the perfect modern drink for staying sharp while socialising with friends.

To order contact Forrest on 03 572 9084 or sales@forrest.co.nz forrest.co.nz

Invivo and Graham Norton host major London wine event

KEY WINE industry names joined New Zealand winery Invivo and collaborator Graham Norton for ‘The Great British Pub Quiz’ in London in early November.

The event was in aid of industry charity The Drinks Trust, which supports hospo workers, and brought together renowned wine critics like Jancis Robinson OBE MW (who was a guest host) and wine buyers.

The quiz was hosted at The White Horse pub in London’s Parson’s Green and Invivo says that guests included buyers that collectively purchase over NZD$9.46 billion of wine for the UK’s major supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Ocado, Majestic and Waitrose. Oz Clarke OBE and New Zealand Acting High Commissioner Shannon Austin were also in attendance.

New Zealand exported NZD$434 million of wine to the UK in 2021, and with the free trade agreement signed earlier this year and a larger 2022 harvest, this figure is expected to grow significantly.

Invivo has partnered with Graham Norton for nine years to create an award-winning

wine brand, with 10 wines and spirits distributed in 10 countries globally.

“It’s humbling to see the warm reception my wines have received, since we launched our first vintage nine years ago,” said Norton. “I don’t just put my name to the wines, I’m involved, and I love being part of the process with New Zealand winery

Invivo. Hosting a UK-based event for the Graham Norton wine and spirits range for the first time has been one of the highlights of my year. It’s been an absolute pleasure hosting alongside Jancis Robinson and meeting the UK’s wine trade, all the while supporting The Drinks Trust and their fantastic cause.”

Rob Cameron, Graham Norton, and Tim Lightbourne at The Great British Pub Quiz in London.

Vibrant new look for Brown Brothers range

BROWN BROTHERS has released an update to its 1889 wine range, with a new name and a fresh new design.

While the award-winning wines within the bottle remain the same, the range is now known as Brown Brothers Origins Series and each wine celebrates the origins of the different varietals.

Brown Brothers says that the vibrant and colourful labels were designed to stand out while evoking a sense of playfulness. Caroline Brown, Corporate Communications Manager for Brown Family Wine Group said: “We are excited

Top wine picks from NZ Young Winemaker 2021

BEN MCNAB was named the 2021 Tonnellerie de Mercurey New Zealand Young Winemaker of the Year in June this year, after COVID delays meant the final was postponed several times last year. Just months after his win, he has been named as a new winemaker for iconic Wairarapa vineyard Dry River. Here, Ben McNab shares a couple of his favourite wines.

to share this bold new look with New Zealand consumers and we hope that the bright and modern new labels will entice them to try something new and create ‘wine wanderlust’ by sharing a glimpse into the fascinating origins which inspired them.”

In the New Zealand market, the Brown Brothers Origins Series includes a Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Prosecco.

Brown Brothers Origins Series RRP $18.99

Taylor Brown

2019 Ridge Estate Chardonnay

RRP $89.99

Whisky & More

Made with grapes grown on the Monte Bello vineyard, this wine has intriguing aromatics of lime zest, hot sand, and white flowers. A lush, silky palate with saline energy that floats citrus and cream through to a clean, graceful finish. Bold texture but light on its feet. 18.5/20

2014 Rippon Tinker’s Field Mature Vine

Pinot Noir

RRP $114.99

Negociants

Connected to earth, savoury notes, wet schist, roasting herbs, dimpled berry. A precise and powerful palate carrying spice and blue fruit through to a layered journey of complexity. Lots to love. 17.5/20

Rosé Nights, Rosy Mornings!

Using our own innovative processes, we’ve mastered the art of producing delicious, full-flavoured, lower-alcohol wines. At just 9.5% alcohol, our awardwinning Rosé is a light and lively summer drink. Fresh strawberries, ripe red cherry and aromatic herbs create an explosion of flavour, while the crisp, dry finish caps off an exhilarating tasting experience.

All the fun, and better for you.

Why list your Jobs with New Zealand’s No 1. Wine Industry Job Site?

We are very happy with the response for both this ad and the Company Viticulturist we placed. Wine Jobs Online had the strongest response over all the platforms we advertised on so thank you.

Marisco Vineyards

We had a huge response (surprisingly!) from Seek, but the quality we were looking for has come from our winejobsonline applicants.

Te

We are in the final round of interviews with a few really good candidates - so thank you, job done!

Man O’ War Vineyards

We had a great response and the successful applicant found the ad through your website service. Thanks again for your help with this, and we look forward to using you again for future appointments.

Giesen Group

Awanga

We have had a great response and have a very high calibre of candidates

NZ Winegrowers

Thank you for the support and service from winejobsonline. We have attracted a couple of people that are worth interviewing.

Babich Wines

New World Wine Awards Top 50 for 2022

THE 2022 New World Wine Awards Top 50 wines under $25 were announced in October, with an independent panel of 17 experts assessing more than 1,200 wine entries.

More than 150 wineries and wine distributors from around New Zealand and the world entered the 20th annual competition, which is focused on finding great wines under RRP $25.

The 50 top-ranked Gold-medal winners were stocked at New World stores nationwide.

New World Champion Wines for 2022

Champion Chardonnay & Champion White Wine of the Show: Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021

Champion Pinot Noir & Champion Red Wine of the Show: SOHO Bobby Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021

Champion Aromatic: Mount Riley Marlborough Albariño 2022

Champion Bubbles: Lindauer Vintage Series Brut Cuvée 2017

Champion Pinot Gris: Russian Jack Marlborough Pinot Gris 2022

Champion Red Blend: Grant Burge Fifth Generation Cabernet Merlot 2021

Champion Rosé: Selaks Taste Collection Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022

Champion Sauvignon Blanc: Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Champion Shiraz & Syrah: Pepperjack Barossa Shiraz 2020

Champion Single Variety Red: Yalumba Y Series Tempranillo 2021

The full Top 50 list is online at newworld.co.nz/wineawards

New World Wine Awards Co-Chairs Sam Kim and Jen Parr

Babich back for ASB Classic 2023

BABICH WINES has been named as the official wine sponsor for the ASB Classic tennis tournament, which returns to Auckland’s Stanley Street next January 2-14, 2023 after a two-year hiatus.

The Babich Bar will serve wine from a variety of Babich’s sustainably-produced ranges, including its high-end Patriarch and Irongate wines.

“Our goal is not only to showcase some outstanding tennis, but also deliver a fantastic experience around the tournament that offers something for everyone,” says Tournament Director Nicolas Lamperin. “Babich Wines is a family-owned winery based right here in Auckland with

SHOWCASE

an amazing history and a wonderful set of values. But most importantly for the spectators, all of their wines just taste great, delivering the quality people have come to expect at an event like this.”

Mikkel Nielsen, Babich Wines’ Global Marketing Manager, says they are thrilled to be back in place as the Official Wine Sponsor of the ASB Classic. “The exposure created for Babich Wines both in the lead-up to the event and at the tournament itself is unrivalled. It really sets the stage for the brand, and the full suite of marketing activity we have in place for the allimportant summer season.”

Brown Brothers leads Prosecco innovation

AUSTRALIA’S PROSECCO market is booming, with the total value of Australian Prosecco production estimated at around AUD $205 million to December 2021, growing from a small base of just over $60 million in 20171.

Brown Brothers has been pioneering Prosecco since 2007, handcrafting Australia’s favourite sparkling wine at its home in Victoria’s King Valley. As the leading2 Prosecco producer in Australia, Brown Brothers is committed to driving innovation and investment into the category both in Australia and New Zealand.

Brown Brothers Prosecco Zero arrives

Following the consumer trend towards moderation, Brown Brothers introduces the newest addition to their growing Prosecco portfolio: Prosecco Zero. At just 0.5% alc/vol Brown Brothers Prosecco Zero is a gamechanger for those dreaming of an ultra-low sparkling wine without compromising on taste.

Emma Brown, Brown Brothers Group Marketing Manager and 4th generation family member says, “with consumer preferences changing we cannot ignore alcohol moderation, but rather, we embrace it with new and innovative wines that meet consumer trends.”

Using spinning-cone technology to remove the alcohol, leaving just 0.5% in every bottle, Brown Brothers Prosecco Zero delivers the same vibrant and flavoursome taste of Prosecco, with less than one standard drink per bottle.

Ideal for celebrations

Brown Brothers Prosecco Zero is an ideal picnic provision for day drinkers – or those simply curious to explore low alcohol occasions. Whether you’re enjoying a glass solo, sharing it with friends, or popping open a bottle to mark a special occasion, Brown Brothers Prosecco Zero is a vibrant and delicious expression of Australia and New Zealand’s favourite sparkling wine, Brown Brothers Prosecco NV2.

Brown Brothers has since expanded the Zero range to include Brown Brothers Prosecco Rosé Zero and Brown Brothers Moscato Zero.

Whilst many view low and no alcohol as a new category, Brown Brothers has worked with lower alcohol wines for many years through its ‘Fruity’ range, including Moscato and Cienna, crafting wines 20-50% lower in alcohol than average wine ABVs.

Taylor Brown

06/11/22 Brown Brothers Prosecco NV $22M and Brown Brothers Prosecco portfolio $38M

CROWD PLEASERS

Epic SuperZero

0.0% ABV, 330ml 6-pack RRP $19.99

Epic Brewing

Epic’s entry into the zero-alcohol category is a pale, slightly bitter number that you could drink for days. The can is a typically bold Epic design and the IPA within is a golden, easy-drinker that is best enjoyed super-cold. Bound to be a winner this summer.

Bach Brewing All Day Pilsner

<0.5% ABV, 330ml 6-pack RRP $19.99

Bach Brewing

This zero-alcohol pilsner from Bach Brewing is the latest addition to the Auckland brewery‘s award-winning ‘All Day’ zero alcohol range. It has a pleasing citrus edge on its super-pale, crisp pilsner base. It’s not just the alcohol content that allows it to be called an all-day beer either – at just 22 calories per serve, it’s not going to hurt the waistline either. The perfect partner for summer fish and chips.

Garage Project Treehugger

4% ABV, 330ml 6-pack RRP $22.99

Garage Project

Garage Project’s Treehugger is a beer experiment in sustainability. From new valves to keep the carbon dioxide in the tanks, to a new warehouse cold room that uses 25% less electricity, Treehugger is packed with sustainable features throughout the brew process. It’s made with local, sustainably-grown ingredients and uses planet-friendly packaging, with $1 from every six pack sold going to Trees for Canterbury. The beer itself is a clean, crisp 4% ABV pilsner with a refreshing tropical fruit and lime aroma.

Behemoth Smashable Low Carb Pale Ale

4.2% ABV, 330ml 6-pack RRP $21.99

Behemoth Brewing

With summer on the way, punters are getting ready for party season. Behemoth’s new Smashable Low Carb Pale Ale is a great solution for what to take to the summer barbecue. Arriving in an attractive blue and white can, it’s a light, flavoursome pale ale that finishes super dry, but with 40% less carbs than a standard pale ale. Refreshing and health-conscious.

Bach Brewing All Day Pilsner is the latest addition to the Auckland brewery’s award-winning ‘All Day’ zero alcohol range.

Garage Project Duck Island

Lemon Poppyseed Sour

4.2% ABV, 440ml RRP $9

Garage Project

Created in collaboration with Duck Island Ice Cream, this delicious sweet/tart ice cream sour is full of creamy lactose, oats, wheat, poppy seeds and lemon juice. In fact, it’s so creamy and delicious, you might just need a spoon.

Garage

Project Duck Island

Toasted Marshmallow Stout

4.2% ABV, 440ml RRP $9

Garage Project

Another collaboration with Duck Island Ice Cream that could easily be served instead of dessert. Creamy lactose, honey-coated toasted oats, chocolate malts, crystal rye, midnight wheat, vanilla and toasted marshmallows all go into making this extra smooth ice cream stout.

Garage Project I Heart Blackberry & Nectarine

Fruited Foeder Sour

4.4% ABV, 440ml RRP $9

Garage Project

This is a fun fusion of blackberry and nectarine blended with a zesty foeder sour to create a beer that’s exploding with colour and juicy fruit flavours. A sure-fire hit over summer.

Note: Beers and ciders are listed in order of % ABV.

Hop Federation Server Not Found XPA

4.7% ABV, 440ml RRP $8.99 – also in keg

Kono Beverages

Hailing from the centre of hop country – Riwaka – Hop Federation’s Server Not Found XPA is a big 440ml can of crisp, super-clean hop goodness. Pouring pale and golden as Tasman sunshine, it’s packed with bold hop flavours of Riwaka, Moutere and Waimea hops, all sitting atop a light malt base. Not being able to find the server is a feature of this ale – not a bug. It means it pairs best with sitting back and chilling out.

Kaiserdom Dark Lager

4.7% ABV, 1L RRP $9.99

Q Liquid

Kaiserdom is a brewery in Bamberg, Germany, that was founded in 1718. Their Dark Lager pours a rich, deep black, flecked with hints of red. The nose is full of roasted malts reminiscent of dark bread and coffee. The taste is soft and malty with a balanced sweetness.

Kaiserdom Kellerbier

4.7% ABV, 1L RRP $9.99

Q Liquid

Translating as “cellar beer”, Kellerbier is a naturally cloudy lager that has been brewed in Germany since the Middle Ages. Kaiserdom’s version is a bright orange drop with a malty nose of freshly baked white bread. The soft flavours feature a light sweetness balanced with a hoppy bitterness.

Kaiserdom Hefe-Weissbier

4.8% ABV, 1L RRP $9.99

Q Liquid

Kaiserdom’s Hefe-Weissbier is a wheat beer that pours golden orange with a firm, creamy foam. The nose is full of  classic wheat beer banana aromas, while the flavour profile is fruity with a hoppy aftertaste.

Kaiserdom Pilsener

4.8% ABV, 1L RRP $9.99

Q Liquid

Kaiserdom’s Pilsener pours a pale straw yellow in the glass with a snow-white foam. The fresh hop flavours are tinged with a hint of barley. Fresh and sparkling, it has a malt body and full hop aroma finishing with lasting bitterness and a slight fruity sweetness.

Sprig + Fern Front Left and Hazy

4.8% ABV, 440ml RRP $7.99, 888ml RRP $12.99 –also in keg Sprig + Fern

This new hazy Pale Ale from Sprig + Fern uses Sabro hops to add complexity of fruity and citrus flavours – think tangerine, coconut, tropical fruit, and stone fruit aromas. Combine this with the lush, fresh crushed lime citrus of Motueka hops, and Mosaic’s blueberries, mango, guava and papaya, and you've got a summer lip smacker!

Emporium Good Vibrations

5% ABV, 330ml RRP $5 – also in keg

Emporium Brewing

Kaikōura brewers Emporium continue their foray into off-beat and interesting beers with this new addition to the Anomalous Range. Good Vibrations is a beautiful new drop that will doubtless be a firm favourite this summer. It’s a Catharina Sour – a Brazilian-style kettle fruited sour beer that pours pale and slightly golden in the glass. It appears here as a slightly stronger Berliner Weisse but with delicious notes of pineapple and peach. Juicy and moreish. Recommended.

Sprig + Fern Hum Zinger Premium Lager with Root Ginger

5% ABV, 440ml RRP $7.99, 888ml RRP $12.99 – also in keg

Sprig + Fern

The team at Nelson brewery Sprig + Fern have added the zing of root ginger to Premium Lager to create this delicious new release that is refreshing while packing a little heat.

Sprig

+ Fern Spéciale Belge

5.2% ABV, 440ml RRP $7.99, 888ml RRP $12.99 –also in keg

Sprig + Fern

Steeped in Belgian brewing tradition, this is a smooth drinking beer with a rich golden colour from the natural caramelisation of the toasted malts used. A subtle hop bitterness balances the spicy clove, honey and biscuit notes.

Bach Brewing F**king Helles

Cold IPA

6.7% ABV, 440ml RRP $9.99

Bach Brewing

Bach Brewing Slo Pour Pilsner

5.3% ABV, 330ml 6-pack RRP $24.99

Bach Brewing

This ‘Slo Pour’ pilsner is so-called because the Bach Brewing folk recommend pouring it over five to seven minutes, allowing it to foam and then adding slowly until the foam reaches the edge of the glass. The team says it “softens the beer’s carbonation and opens up its delicate flavours”. A crisp, tasty drop. Ideal for slow summer afternoons.

McLeod’s Sea Spray Dry Hopped Pilsner

5.3% ABV, 440ml RRP $8.99

McLeod’s Brewery

This beer is brewed like a proper pilsner but macrodosed (in whirlpool and dryhopping) with Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin. This makes for a lean, crisp, lager base with big, green, dank oily notes backed with delicate passionfruit for a clean, dry smashable beer with enough bitterness to keep you coming back for more.

Emporium Half Mast

5.4% ABV, 330ml RRP $5 – also in keg

Emporium Brewing

Another release under the Anomalous Range is Half Mast, a Burton Ale. It’s a dark brown, sweeter ale with a toasty, almost smoky nose, and caramelised fruit flavours on the palate. It really comes to life when allowed to warm slightly out of the fridge.

McLeod’s

Feelin’ Good Unfiltered IPA

6% ABV, 440ml RRP $9.99

McLeod’s Brewery

Centennial and Simcoe join forces in an OG West Coast IPA full of punchy pine, juicy fruit, moreish bitterness and a refreshing, lip-smacking finish. It’s precisely the right beer for “now” and whenever you crave something bright, clear and massively drinkable.

McLeod’s The Peaceful Sea

American Pale Ale

6% ABV, 440ml RRP $8.99

McLeod’s Brewery

Generously hopped with Loral and Cascade for big, dank, citrus-driven aromas backed by soft, bready malt on the palate. The finish is bitter yet balanced and easy drinking.

Epic Hop Party

6.4% ABV, 440ml RRP $9.99

Epic Brewing

Epic’s Hop Party is clearly a party that takes place on a tropical island. The aromas of fresh tropical fruit dominate and you can almost hear the waves lapping at golden shores when you hold the can up to your ear. Driven by Mosaic, Talus and Amarillo hops grown in the US, there are notes of passionfruit throughout and a delicate sweet hint of malt sweetness.

Helles is a pale, bright, traditional German lager, usually found in the country’s south. The team at Bach Brewing have been f***ing with the Helles style to create this Cold IPA expression, hence the risqué name. They’ve used Citra, Mosaic, and Idaho-7 hops to create a beautiful summer drop that’s bursting with citrus and fruit flavours. (You can read more about Cold IPAs on page 52.)

McLeod’s Simple Pleasures

7.2% ABV, 440ml RRP $9.99

McLeod’s Brewery

Packed with Simcoe and Galaxy hops, this beer rolls over the palate with lemon and orange notes, juicy tropical fruit and a pine-forward finish. Sublimely balanced with a pillow of malt.

Emporium Boppeldock

8.5% ABV, 330ml RRP $5 – also in keg

Emporium Brewing

Yes, you read that correctly and Emporium have turned up all the dials on this one, then flipped it and reversed it. They’ve fused two classic German beers: dopplebock (the big, strong “double” beer) with Helles (the light, bright and pale style). The result is a super sweet, Lucozade-coloured drop with toasted bread and fruit flavours vying for attention. At 8.5%, it’s a great one-off curio for the adventurous beer drinker.

For distributor details see the Distributor Index on page 81.

McLeod’s Feelin’ Good Unfiltered IPA sees Centennial and Simcoe join forces in an OG West Coast IPA full of punchy pine, juicy fruit and moreish bitterness.

Cold IPA 101

THE WORDS “cold” and “beer” go together perfectly. So it’s little wonder that “Cold IPA” is a term you will be seeing more often this summer. It’s a great marketing term, because who isn’t drawn to the idea of a nice cold IPA?

But in this case, it also means something else – a convergence of lager and India Pale Ale, and a beer style that takes all the old ideas of “ale” and “lager” and turns them upside down.

“Cold IPA” was a marketing term created by Wayfinder brewery in Oregon, when they made the first official “Cold IPA” four years ago. The name was new, even though the practice wasn’t entirely unique, but as far as marketing terms go, it was a good one.

Cold IPA is a hybrid beer. It’s brewed like a lager – using a lager yeast and light malt to create a crisp, refreshing body – but there’s a big, juicy hop flavour to boot, so it feels like a lager but tastes like an IPA. There are also a few other technical aspects such as fermentation temperature and the use of adjuncts like rice, corn or dextrose to lighten the body.

The concept of an “ale” brewed like a “lager” might cause consternation among beer geeks who historically separated the two in a black-and-white fashion, but it’s really nothing new. There are plenty of beers in New Zealand with the word “ale” in the name that are made with lager yeasts, and plenty of pilsners made with ale yeasts.

I was once adamant there was a huge difference between the two, and on a visit to DB Breweries in Otahuhu I quizzed their legendary brewer, the late Doug Banks, about how they could make Tui with a lager

yeast and call it East India Pale Ale. Doug had a long explanation, but what I took from it was a line that went something like: “The yeast doesn’t know what it’s called.”

A quick, broad-spectrum recap: Ale yeasts typically refer to those that ferment best at warmer temperatures (18-21°C), and if you go higher you can get offflavours and fusel alcohols. Lager yeasts like it colder (10-12°C) but can go warmer. In the olden days, ale yeasts were known as top-fermenting because the yeast rose to the top of a wide, open fermenter once it was done. Lager yeasts are bottomfermenting, because they fall to the bottom of the fermenter.

Ale yeasts tend to create more fruity esters, but not always, as there are now many “clean” strains. Lager yeasts often create a sulphur profile, but that can disappear at higher fermentation temperatures.

The twist is this: modern brewing is done nearly exclusively on kits designed for lager brewing, notably tall conical fermenters that force the yeast to the bottom of the tank. Put an ale yeast in there and it goes to the bottom, not the top. So, in effect, brewers can use any yeast they like in these fermenters and by adjusting the temperature they can play around at the edges of flavour.

That’s what Cold IPA is at its heart: the result of a brewer’s creative playtime. But it also fits perfectly with the evolution of IPA over the past decade – away from the malty, almost chewy versions with lots of residual sugar to counter the high bitterness, and towards a leaner, lighter and brighter style. Cold IPA speaks to what the majority of people really love about beer: the light refreshment of lager, but married with what craft beer geeks like: hops!

Michael Donaldson Beer Writer of the Year, journalist and author beernation.co.nz

Michael Donaldson breaks down what’s behind the Cold IPAs that we’ll be seeing a lot more of over summer…

Cold IPA is a beer style that takes all the old ideas of “ale” and “lager” and turns them upside down.

Garage Project’s Treehugger sparks sustainable change

A NEW beer has helped Wellington brewery Garage Project to explore how it can become more sustainable.

Treehugger Pilsner (4% ABV) is made only from ingredients that are local, sustainably grown, and transported in the greenest way possible, with the help of New Zealand suppliers using regenerative practices, including 100% low footprint hops.

Garage Project Head Brewer and Co-Founder Pete Gillespie says it was a “unifying experience” for the brewery team and their suppliers. “Every part of our business came together around the table to make the most sustainable

product we possibly could. Our key suppliers Gladfield Malt, Freestyle Hops, OJI Fibre Solutions and Blue Star were all on board.”

Treehugger comes in a cardboard wrap outer (rather than a box) made with 84% recycled cardboard and redesigned to use less ink and avoid the need for stickers usually used in the dispatch process.

Garage Project is also donating $1 to Trees for Canterbury for every 6-pack sold.

Brewed at a higher ABV to reduce energy, the team at the brewery changed processes to reduce CO2 use, such as locking in natural CO2 for carbonation, and purging cans with nitrogen rather than CO2.

Buzz Club opens at Riverside Market

CHRISTCHURCH MEAD brand Buzz Club has opened a taproom in the city’s Riverside Market boutique shopping and dining precinct and added two new meads to its range.

The opening comes after Buzz Club’s move into a state-of-the-art, solar-powered brewery and taproom at Two Thumb on Christchurch’s Colombo Street.

Founders Edward Eaton and Wilbur Morrison launched Buzz Club a year ago and are now supplying five different meads to supermarkets and bars across the country. The two new releases are Hopped Buzz (with native honey and Kiwi-grown hops) and Simply Mead (an unfruited mead).

Buzz Club’s taproom serves its range of seasonal and core sparkling session meads, as well as local craft beers and wines and a selection of Buzz Club-based cocktails, made in collaboration with local cocktail craftsman, Luke Dawkins, of Gin Gin.

“We can’t believe how much people also back the mission behind our mead,” says Eaton. “Together, we’re supporting our bees and our native forests through pollination. Demand for mead has doubled, our brew volumes have tripled and we can barely make mead fast enough.”

Buzz Club also has plans to launch into Australia in 2023.

Buzz Club

Garage Project says that it intends to apply learnings from Treehugger to its processes, and has invested in new technology across the business. This includes valves to keep carbon dioxide in the tanks, a carbon dioxide recovery unit and a new warehouse cold room that uses 25% less electricity day-to-day, and reduces the climate change impact of any refrigeration leakage into the atmosphere by 1,200 times, compared with the industry standard.

Garage Project Treehugger is out now at RRP $22.99 per 330ml 6-pack.

Garage Project

Garage Project Co-Founder and Head Brewer Pete Gillespie

Ohakune Brewers launches Big Mountain Mead

OHAKUNE BREWERS has launched Big Mountain Mead, its new range of craft session meads. It follows the joining last year of craft beer brewery Ruapehu Brewing Co. with Big Mountain Mead Ltd to create Ohakune Brewers Ltd.

Ohakune Brewers says that the new meads use Ruapehu mountain water and are fermented with mānuka multi-floral bush honey in three blends. They’re 6% ABV and low-carb with no added sugar, colours, additives or preservatives.

Wild Manuka Session Mead is the flagship, with Native Botanicals Session Mead using locally and sustainably foraged kawakawa and horopito in the mix. Ginger & Ginseng Session Mead is an Asianinspired flavour that combines ginseng with multi-floral mānuka bush honey and a touch of ginger.

The distinctive Big Mountain Mead labels are designed by renowned Kiwi street artist Component.

Ohakune Brewers

2022 Fruit Wine and Cider Awards results

THE 2022 New Zealand Fruit Wine & Cider Awards took place in Nelson with 138 entries, equalling last year’s record. Following the sudden passing of industry pioneer Alex Peckham earlier this year, organisers announced they would rename the traditional cider trophy, with which he was most associated, to the Alex Peckham Memorial Trophy. Chairman Jody Scott said: “The Peckham’s family story and truly remarkable performance at these awards over the years have led to world acclaim and inspired many craft cidermakers. We wanted Alex and his achievements to always be remembered.”

Fruit Wine and Cider Awards Trophies 2022

Champion Cider: Zeffer Cider Co – Slack ma Girdle

Best Modern NZ Cider: Morningcider – Cider

Best traditional Cider, Alex Peckham Memorial Trophy: Zeffer Cider Co – Slack Ma Girdle

Best Perry/Pear Cider: Scoundrels & Rogues – Morally Bankrupt Pear Cider 2021

Best Cider with Berries: Redwood Cider Co – Old Mout Boysencider

Best Cider with Fruit: Aotearoa Breweries NZ – Mata Feijoa Cider

Best Cider with Hops, Spices, Botanicals, or Honey: Morning Cider – Hot X Buns

Best Specialty Cider, Low Alc: Old Mill – Old Mill 0.5% Cider with Boysenberry

Best Specialty Cider, Ice Cider: The Cider Factorie –Sparkling Ice Cider

Champion Fruit Wine: Lothlorien Winery –Lothlorien Medium Sparkling Apple & Feijoa Fruit Wine

Best Fortified Fruit Wine/Fruit Liqueur: Lothlorien Winery –Lothlorien Liqueur Feijoa & Manuka Honey

Best Mead: Beehave Craft Meadery – Fever Dream

Best Alcoholic Ginger Beer/Lemonade: Zeffer Cider Co. –Ginger Beer

Best Alcoholic Kombucha/Hard Tea: Alice Hard Brewed Tea, Herbal Tea – Hibiscus, Rosehip & Apple

Find the full results at cider.org.nz

Tiger Beer and Drax Project back local music

TIGER BEER has partnered with multiaward-winning Kiwi band Drax Project to help discover and mentor a talented underground local electronic duo.

As part of the project, dubbed Tiger Uncover, Drax Project has collaborated with and mentored Auckland-based electronic duo, imugi, an act made up of Carl Ruwhiu and Yery Cho, with the aim of helping them break through nationally.

Drax Project collaborated with imugi on a track called ‘solace’ which was released in November. The Drax Project crew say it was a great chance to give back. “Mentoring sessions with other artists always make us think of our first session with SIX60. We were just starting out and they were SIX60, but they made us feel really comfortable and treated us like equals. They made us believe that

we can all achieve our dreams, and we try and pass on that positive energy to anyone we work with.”

Fraser Shrimpton, marketing director at DB Breweries, said they were thrilled to support imugi with Tiger and Drax Project.

“Tiger Beer as a brand is bold, brave and courageous in the face of challenges, and despite the huge challenges the music industry has faced over the last few years we wanted to show that nothing is impossible, boldness always finds a way.”

The Tiger Uncover project will also support the release of imugi’s new track with long form video content storytelling,

filming a music video and hosting a launch party, $450,000 worth of advertising to drive awareness of the collaboration and promote the new track, and facilitating interviews with imugi and Drax Project across several mainstream radio stations.

GrEAT SOUNDING BEEr.

MALTY

HOPPY LIGHT DArK sweet bitter

salud!

Mexico’s finest continues to grow in popularity with a wide range of tequila and mezcal now available in New Zealand…

Tequila – RRP $30-$69.99

Sauza Gold

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $39.99

Beam Suntory

With aromas of sweet caramel and fruit, Sauza Gold has flavours of fresh agave with a hint of caramel and vanilla. Medium-bodied with a sweet finish.

Hijo de Villa Tequila

40% ABV, 500ml RRP $44.99

Tickety-Boo

Fresh aromas of blue agave followed by a herbaceous and fruity sweetness on the palate. The Maguey worms bring a pleasant level of smoke to the tequila and a smooth and long finish.

El Jimador Blanco

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $49.99

Hancocks

A versatile tequila with aromas of agave, apple and spice and mild agave flavour. The finish is smooth, clean and warming.

El Jimador Reposado

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $49.99

Hancocks

Two months in oak gives this tequila its light gold hue, along with flavours of spicy cinnamon and apple.

Don Ramón Punta Diamante Reposado is an aged expression rested in white oak with bright floral and herbal aromas, and subtle vanilla and chocolate.

Olmeca Reposado Tequila

Supremo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $49.99

Pernod Ricard

A tequila with notes of cooked agave, light vanilla, smooth chocolate, honey and light smoke.

El Jimador Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $54.99

Hancocks

A rich tequila with aromas of vanilla, hazelnut and a hint of cinnamon. Aged for 12 months, its agave flavours have mellowed and sit alongside earthy notes with light cinnamon and other spices. A smooth finish with hints of oak and cherry.

Olmeca Altos Plata

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $59.99

Pernod Ricard

Aromas of sweet cooked agave with herbal notes and a subtle citrus quality.

On the palate it is smooth and soft, with lime and lemon characters and a lingering sweetness on the finish.

Olmeca Altos Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $59.99

Pernod Ricard

Ageing for 6-8 months in white oak gives the reposado expression of Olmeca Altos its woody aromas with a hint of sweet orange and vanilla. It is rounded and full on the palate with more sweet orange, cooked agave and subtle wood character.

Don Ramón Punta Diamante Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $67.99

EuroVintage

This aged expression of Don Ramón is rested in white oak and has bright floral and herbal aromas with subtle vanilla and chocolate. On the palate there are flavours of citrus, cooked agave and herbs.

Don Ramón Punta Diamante Silver

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $67.99

EuroVintage

Aromas of bright florals with notes of herbs and raw agave all persist on the palate. A pronounced herbaceous flavour with a hint of sweetness that evolves into a warming minerality.

Arette Blanco

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $69.99

Tickety-Boo

Sweet aromas of cooked agave are followed by fresh flavours of citrus and black pepper, followed by an earthy spice.

Cazcabel Coconut

34% ABV, 700ml RRP $69.99

Federal Merchants

This tequila has aromas of sweet coconut with underlying notes of earthy agave. The palate is rich and sweet with warm hits of coconut. The finish is smooth with sweet vegetal notes.

Cazcabel Coffee

34% ABV, 700ml RRP $69.99

Federal Merchants

Aromas of chocolate and coffee with a hint of earthy agave lead to a palate rich with freshly roasted coffee, notes of chocolate, vanilla and agave. A smooth, dry, rich coffee finish.

Cazcabel Honey

34% ABV, 700ml RRP $69.99

Federal Merchants

Earthy, honey aromas and rich, sweet flavours of warm natural honey with a finish of caramel and smoky notes.

Don Ramón Punta Diamante Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $69.99

EuroVintage

This aged expression from Don Ramón spends 12 months in American oak barrels, creating aromas of citrus, wood, and vanilla. Buttery on the palate with notes of citrus, peach, plum, clove and pepper, developing into deeper notes of wood and vanilla.

Tequila – RRP $70-$99.99

1800 Coconut

35% ABV, 700ml RRP $73.99

Lion

Natural coconut flavour is infused into 1800 Silver to create this expression with its slightly-sweet and medium-bodied tropical taste. Ideal for serving on the rocks or in tropical-inspired cocktails – it pairs particularly well with pineapple juice.

1800 Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $73.99

Lion

This tequila is matured in American and French oak barrels for a minimum of six months. It has notes of buttery caramel, mild spices and a touch of smoke from the barrel finishing.

1800 Silver

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $73.99

Lion

A blend of specially selected white tequilas. 1800 Silver is a versatile tequila with a clean, balanced taste and hints of sweet fruit and pepper.

Named after their legendary track from the 1990s, ‘Thunderstruck’ is the tequila from rock band AC/DC.

AC/DC Thunderstruck Tequila

Blanco

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $75 Whisky and More

Named after their legendary track from the 1990s, ‘Thunderstruck’ is the tequila from rock band AC/DC. Silky and delicate, with sweet notes of cooked agave.

Batanga Blanco

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $76

Mineral

A crisp tequila with flavours of pineapple, guava, hints of cinnamon, clove and warming spices.

Arquitecto Blanco

42.5% ABV, 700ml RRP $76.99

Proof & Company

A clean and crisp tequila made from agave grown at high altitudes. Notes of black pepper emerge alongside distinctive cooked agave.

Arette Reposado

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $76.99

Tickety-Boo

Aged for six months in American white oak, this tequila has aromas of citrus, caramel and cooked agave with citrus and vanilla favours, an earthy note and cinnamon sweetness. The finish is rich and spicy.

Batanga Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $78

Mineral

Ageing in American oak barrels creates complex flavours of coffee, vanilla, toffee and warming spices.

Cazcabel Blanco

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $79.99

Federal Merchants

A fresh, crisp tequila with a spicy aroma, a slight hint of citrus and plenty of earthy agave. Smooth and well-balanced with notes of earthy agave and citrus. A crisp finish with touches of black pepper and a light smokiness on the exit.

1800 Añejo

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $83.99

Lion

A minimum of 14 months ageing in French oak barrels gives this tequila flavours of toasted oak, vanilla and butterscotch, with a spicy, well-rounded finish.

Cazcabel Reposado

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $84.99

Federal Merchants

This rested expression of Cazcabel matures in American oak barrels for a minimum of nine months. It has aromas of agave with a touch of eucalyptus and hints of white pepper, caramel and toasted oak. The palate balances dry, earthy agave with vanilla and toasted oak. The finish is long and complex with a jalapeño tingle.

Sesión Mocha

35% ABV, 750ml RRP $84.99

Tickety-Boo

Aromas of chocolate fondant, biscuits, bread dough and dark roasted coffee with a roasted agave note. On the palate there’s dark chocolate, cold brew coffee and a creamy mouthfeel with a sweet finish.

Calle 23 Blanco

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $85

Mineral

Aromas of cooked agave with hints of citrus and herbs lead to a soft palate full of agave flavour, with notes of Granny Smith apples and pears in the lingering finish.

Sesión Mocha has aromas of chocolate fondant and roasted agave with a palate of dark chocolate, cold brew coffee and a creamy mouthfeel with a sweet finish.

Espolòn Blanco

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $86.99

Thirsty Camel

A smooth and balanced tequila with delicate aromas of sweet agave, tropical fruit, lemon zest and a hint of pepper that continue on the palate along with vanilla bean, grilled pineapple and spice.

Avión Silver

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $89.99

Pernod Ricard

An intense agave aroma with subtle mint and rosemary, delicate floral and black pepper characters and hints of grapefruit and pineapple. Crisp and clean, well balanced and smooth.

Don Ramón Platinum Reposado Cristalino

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $89.99

EuroVintage

A soft aroma with clear and delicate notes of wood, vanilla, nuts, cinnamon and spice. These characters continue on the palate, which is soft and silky.

Don Ramón Platinum

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $89.99

EuroVintage

Silver

Fresh notes of citrus and agave on the nose lead to lengthy flavours of agave on the palate.

Sesión Blanco

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $89.99

Tickety-Boo

A fresh bright aroma of green peppers, cut grass, and a hint of green pineapple leads to a crisp, mineral palate that evolves into a lingering and lightly spiced finish.

The Mucha Liga bottles are inspired by “Lucha Libre”, Mexico’s free-style wrestling culture. Mucha Liga Blanco is smooth and full of blue agave flavour.

Teremana Blanco

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $89.99

Whisky and More

This tequila brand is co-owned by actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. It’s vibrant, with notes of bright citrus and a smooth, fresh finish.

Espolòn Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $91.99

Thirsty Camel

Six months in American oak barrels gives this tequila a rich golden hue and a spicy nose with a hint of caramel fudge. The taste is bold and full-bodied with rich roasted agave, sweet tropical fruit, vanilla and a long spicy finish.

Mucha Liga Blanco

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $91.99

Premium Liquor Co.

The Mucha Liga bottles are inspired by “Lucha Libre”, Mexico's free-style wrestling cuture, and the striking presentation stands out on the shelf. The tequila itself is smooth and full of blue agave flavour – fresh and light on the palate.

Calle 23 Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $93

Mineral

This tequila is double distilled in traditional pot stills and spends eight months in ex-bourbon oak casks. Delicate aromas of wood with cooked agave, it is a wellbalanced tequila that is light and smooth in the mouth. Notes of roasted peppers and fresh figs, light wood, a big agave presence and well-balanced spiciness.

Arette Añejo

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $94.99

Tickety-Boo

Aged in American white oak barrels for 14-18 months, this tequila has aromas of vanilla and caramel, a smoky oak character on the palate and a long finish.

Arette Artesanal Suave Blanco

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $94.99

Tickety-Boo

The Artesanal range from Arette is a more premium expression of their tequilas. The Blanco is crystal clear with a zesty, lemony aroma that persists on the palate along with dried herbs, juicy florals and cooked agave. A smooth mouthfeel and fresh finish.

Cenote Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $94.99

Tickety-Boo

This golden-hued tequila is aged for three months in American oak, creating aromas of vanilla and wood and leading to a rounded palate of vanilla, wood spice and green vegetable characters.

Don Ramón Platinum Añejo

Cristalino

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $94.99

EuroVintage

Aromas of nuts, vanilla and cinnamon continue on the palate, along with a delicate wood character. Lingering finish.

Sesión Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $94.99

Tickety-Boo

Aromas of green banana, fresh ginger and freshly baked cake lead to a palate with vanilla flavours lifted by a fresh, nutty spice and baked nectarines, then a warming finish.

TEQUILA AND MEZCAL

Tequila

Takes its name from the city of Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Legally, tequila can only be produced in this state and in four other regions of Mexico and is recognised as a protected designation of origin product. To be a true tequila, it must be made from the blue agave plant (also known as Weber Blue Agave, after the German botanist who first classified it) and produced in one of those recognised areas.

Production: Agave plants are succulents that grow well in Mexico’s hot, arid conditions and produce thick, spiky leaves. Careful tending by the jimadores (agave harvesters) allows the plants to ripen fully – often taking up to 12 years. When ready to harvest, the jimadores cut away the spiky leaves to reach the core, known as the piña, which resembles a giant pineapple without its top. The piñas are baked over hours or days (depending on the producer) and then mashed under a large stone wheel. The extracted agave juice (wort) is then fermented and distilled twice to produce clear tequila.

Ageing: This initial clear tequila can be bottled as ‘silver’ tequila (also known as ‘plata’ or ‘blanco’), or further aged in barrel to create reposado (for minimum two to eight months), añejo (minimum 12 months) or extra añejo (minimum three years).

Mezcal

Mezcal is an agave-based liquor that can be made from any of up to 30 different varieties of the agave plant. It is made in nine different regions in Mexico. While the harvest of piñas is the same as for tequila, the more artisanal mezcal producers use underground earthen pits in which to slow bake their piñas, which imparts the distinctive smoky flavour of mezcal.

An oven full of agave ready for steaming

Herradura Plata

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $95.99

Hancocks

This ‘Plata’ expression from Herradura is aged for 45 days and has aromas of green and cooked agave, with herbal and slightly woody notes. Flavours of agave, wood and citrus give way to a smooth, clean and warming finish.

Teremana Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $95.99

Whisky and More

Ageing in American whiskey barrels adds notes of oak and vanilla to this tequila and creates a smooth, rich finish.

Mucha Liga Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $96.99

Premium Liquor Co.

Rested in white oak barrels, this reposado expression from Mucha Liga balances notes of caramel with the gentle flavours of blue agave.

Arette Artesanal Suave Reposado

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $99.99

Tickety-Boo

Aged for six months in American white oak, this tequila has aromas of citrus, caramel and cooked agave, with citrus and vanilla flavours, an earthy note and cinnamon sweetness. The finish is rich and spicy, with an oily texture.

Código 1530 Blanco

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $99.99

Premium Liquor Co.

An earthy, mineral character balances the citrusy sweetness of this tequila beautifully.

Herradura Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $99.99

Hancocks

Eleven months in American white oak intensifies the aromas of cooked agave in this tequila, along with hints of anise, fruit and spice. It is rich with flavours of sweet cooked agave, vanilla, butter and dried fruit. The finish is smooth and sweet with a hint of brown spice.

Patrón Silver

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $99.99

Lion

This silver tequila is handmade in small batches. It is soft, smooth and sweet on the palate with fresh agave, hints of citrus and a finish of light pepper.

Tequila – RRP $100-$199

Calle 23 Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $100

Mineral

A full-bodied tequila that is double distilled in traditional pot stills and matured for 16 months in ex-bourbon oak casks. Oak aromas marry with a rich touch of vanilla and coffee and notes of herbs and spices. On the palate there is cracked coffee and tobacco balanced with agave and vanilla.

Gran Centenario Plata

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $102.99

Thirsty Camel

Blending in oak adds a subtle wood note and a smooth palate full of fruit-forward notes such as pear, lime and citrus, with a touch of black pepper.

Calle 23 Añejo is a full-bodied tequila that is double distilled in traditional pot stills and matured for 16 months in ex-bourbon oak casks.

Mucha Liga Añejo

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $106.99

Premium Liquor Co.

A barrel-rested tequila that is robust and smooth and presented in the distinctive bottle inspired by Mexico’s lucha libre professional wrestling.

Cenote Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $109.99

Tickety-Boo

Ageing for a year in American oak gives this tequila its rich amber colour and lush, complex character. The nose is smoked and woody, with vanilla, spice and chocolate on the palate. The bottle is especially striking with its sculpted piña adornment on the cap.

Herradura Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $109.99

Hancocks

Ageing for just over two years gives this tequila a rich, dark copper hue. It has intense aromas of cooked agave and spices, which continue in the complex palate, along with dried fruit notes and toasted oak. The finish is smooth, sweet and slightly spicy.

Tequila Ocho Plata

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $110

Mineral

Ocho is the first tequila to designate both the year it was produced and the precise field from which the agave was harvested. Each estate, or “rancho” produces a limited amount of agave, adding to the rarity and collectability of each vintage of Ocho. The Plata is an unaged tequila –intense and lively with clean flavours.

Gran Centenario Reposado

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $111.99

Thirsty Camel

Rested in new oak casks, this tequila has a touch of fruit on the nose, with sweet tones of cooked agave and light hints of oak, toasted almonds, vanilla, and clove.

Maestro Dobel Silver

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $114.99

Thirsty Camel

Aromas of buttery caramel, cooked agave, olive, dried fruit and floral notes lead to a palate of caramel, honey, nuts and notes of vanilla.

Teremana Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $115

Whisky and More

A tequila with notes of rich warm oak, vanilla and roasted agave with a lightly sweet and complex finish.

Gran Centenario Añejo

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $115.99

Thirsty Camel

Aged in new American oak barrels, this Añejo expression offers aromas of toasted oak, chocolate, caramel and nuts. Soft and complex with a slightly sweet taste and a balanced profile.

Tequila Ocho Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $116

Mineral

In keeping with the ‘ocho’ in its name, this tequila is rested for eight weeks and eight days in ex-American oak whiskey barrels. It has aromas of rich fruits with vanilla and butterscotch, leading to a palate of sweet, cooked agave notes balanced with sweet spice, cinnamon, and delicate vanilla. A long and creamy finish.

Código 1530 Blanco Rosa

35% ABV, 700ml RRP $119.99

Premium Liquor Co.

Código 1530 Blanco is rested for a month in uncharred Napa Valley Cabernet French white oak wine barrels to create this Rosa expression. A refined tequila that leads with bright agave character and finishes with the soft red wine notes of Cabernet.

Ocho was the first tequila to designate both the year it was produced and the precise field from which the agave was harvested, adding to the rarity and collectability of each one.

818 Blanco

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $120

Whisky and More

A new tequila brand launched by model Kendall Jenner in late 2021. A smooth tequila with aromas of lemongrass, a hint of floral, chamomile and light minerality. Sweet agave and vanilla on the palate, with undertones of tropical and citrus fruit. A smooth, bright finish with notes of almond, key lime pie and toasted coconut.

Arette Artesanal Fuerte

50.5% ABV, 750ml RRP $126.99

Tickety-Boo

A higher strength white tequila with intense agave flavour. The ‘Fuerte’ expression from Arette comes directly from the “alambique de olla” without dilution.

Código 1530 Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $129.99

Premium Liquor Co.

Bright, sweet agave notes with the added complexity of vanilla, toasted caramel and subtle cocoa powder.

Arette Artesanal Fuerte is a higher strength white tequila (50.5% ABV) with intense agave flavour.

Maestro Dobel Añejo

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $133.99

Thirsty Camel

Ageing in select white oak barrels creates aromas of buttery caramel, almond and cinnamon, as well as fruity pineapple and apple with a slight smokiness from the toasted wood. Wood is dominant on the palate with sweet nutty and vanilla flavours and hints of agave and fruitiness. A long, smooth finish.

Maestro Dobel Diamante Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $133.99

Thirsty Camel

Made from a blend of extra-añejo, añejo and reposado tequilas, this tequila goes through a proprietary filtration process to selectively remove the colour, while preserving its complex mix of sweet flavours – caramel, honey, maple, nuts and vanilla.

Arette Artesanal Suave Añejo

38% ABV, 700ml RRP $134.99

Tickety-Boo

An elegant and complex aged tequila that spends at least 18 months in American white oak barrels. Aromas of citrus, dried fruit and a vanilla sweetness continue on the palate. The lingering finish has a hint of black pepper.

Casamigos Blanco

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $139.99

Federal Merchants

Rested for two months in American oak, the Blanco expression from Casamigos is crisp and clean with hints of citrus, vanilla and sweet agave, and a long smooth finish.

Fortaleza Blanco

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $139.99

Tickety-Boo

This tequila has rich aromas of citrus and cooked agave with hints of olive, earth and black pepper. On the palate there is more citrus and cooked agave with vanilla, basil, olive and lime.

818 Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $140

Whisky and More

Aged in French and American oak barrels for a minimum of two months, this is a richly flavoured premium tequila. It has notes of ripe roasted agave, caramel and vanilla, leading to a smooth caramel finish.

Lobos 1707 Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $140

Whisky and More

This tequila brand is co-owned by basketballer LeBron James. It’s aged six months in American white oak barrels, then blended with a touch of Lobos Extra Añejo and finished in PX wine barrels using the solera method. Bold and robust with notes of wine, wood and medium roast cocoa.

Maestro Dobel Humito

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $143.99

Thirsty Camel

A smoked tequila created using mesquite wood to replicate flavours from tequilas from the 1600s. A notably smoky and complex aroma with forward notes of mesquite wood, fruity florals, buttery caramel, cooked agave, and olive. Sweet caramel flavours with maple and honey top notes, layered with the essence of fresh cut mesquite wood. The finish is long, with hints of roasted nuts and vanilla.

Casamigos Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $149.99

Federal Merchants

This is the original Casamigos, aged for seven months. A golden colour, it is soft and slightly oaky with hints of caramel and cocoa. It has a silky texture with a medium to long smooth finish.

Fortaleza Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $159.99

Tickety-Boo

Aromas of citrus, caramel, butter, cooked agave, and sage lead to a palate of cooked agave, citrus, vanilla, apple, earth, and cinnamon. The finish is long, rich and delicately spicy, with an oily texture.

Casamigos

Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $184.99

Federal Merchants

Aged for 14 months, this tequila has a complex aroma, with soft caramel and vanilla notes. There is balanced sweetness from the agave, subtle hints of spice and barrel oak, and a lingering smooth finish.

Cincoro Silver

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $199

Whisky and More

A tequila brand co-founded by basketball legend Michael Jordan and four fellow NBA owners. The Silver expression is smooth, with notes of fresh and cooked agave, citrus (lime, grapefruit) and light vanilla.

Tequila – RRP $200 and above

Código 1530 Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $209.99

Premium Liquor Co.

Refined, elegant and expressive – this tequila has hints of fruit, mingled with oak, touches of vanilla and a bit of spice.

Fortaleza Añejo

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $209.99

Tickety-Boo

This golden-hued tequila is aged for 18 months in American oak, creating bold aromas of caramel, vanilla, butterscotch and cooked agave. It is rich and complex with flavours of butterscotch, caramel, toffee, citrus and hazelnut.

Fortaleza Winter Blend Reposado

2021

46.3% ABV, 700ml RRP $216.99

Tickety-Boo

A barrel-aged blend of Fortaleza’s Reposado aged in American oak and French oak ex-Marsala wine barrels. Rich dried fruit notes round out savoury oak , roasted agave, spice and vanilla flavours.

Cincoro Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $229

Whisky and More

Aged 8-10 months, this tequila has aromas of cooked agave, with hints of vanilla, spices and dried fruits. These continue on the palate, complemented by balanced toasted oak.

Código 1530 Barrel Strength

Aged Añejo

43.1% ABV, 700ml RRP $249.99

Premium Liquor Co.

Subtle caramelised vanilla and dark chocolate notes, swirling with toasted oak aroma. Soft on the palate.

Clase Azul Blanco

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $320

Whisky and More

This range of ultra-premium tequilas is presented in distinctive hand-crafted decanters that have become synonymous with Mexico’s artisan-inspired Clase Azul. A bright, crisp and fresh tequila. Fresh aromas of orange, lemongrass, and mint with hints of vanilla, green apple, and green tea. The palate is smooth, with flavours of vanilla, lemon, fresh mint, and a hint of green guava.

Cincoro Añejo

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $330

Whisky and More

This aged expression spends 24-28 months in Cincoro’s underground cellar, creating a tequila with an intense amber colour and wood and dried fruits on the nose. There’s orange, fig and date with hints of caramel and butterscotch on the palate. A smooth, luxurious finish.

Don Julio 1942 Extra Añejo

38% ABV, 750ml RRP $430

Whisky and More

This tequila is aged for a minimum of two and a half years, and has aromas of rich caramel and chocolate, flavours of warm oak, vanilla and roasted agave, and a lingering finish of oak and rich vanilla. The ‘1942’ in the name refers to the year in which founder Don Julio González began his tequila-making journey.

Tears

of Llorona Extra Añejo is a richly complex small-batch artisanal tequila.

Clase Azul Reposado

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $399

Whisky and More

This rested expression from Clase Azul has aromas of agave syrup, vanilla, candied orange peel, and American oak, and ageing for eight months in American whiskey casks has created hazelnut and vanilla flavours and an exceptionally smooth finish.

Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo

43% ABV, 1L RRP $483.99

Thirsty Camel

A richly complex small-batch artisanal tequila. Its aromas of caramel custard, dried fruit and dark chocolate lead to a palate full of agave with a heady spiciness and complexity.

Código

1530 Origen

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $499.99

Premium Liquor Co.

Aromas of spice, vanilla, caramel and sweet oak lead to a robust palate full of flavours of dried fig and cinnamon.

THE BRANDS

1800 1800 Tequila takes its name from the year in which the first tequila was distilled and aged and its bottles are a distinctive triangular shape that references the ancient Mayan stone pyramids found throughout Mexico. 1800 Tequilas are all made from Weber Blue Agave grown for 8-12 years in Jalisco.

818

The tequila brand launched by model Kendall Jenner in late 2021. ‘818’ refers to the area code for northern Los Angeles, where Jenner lives.

400 Conejos

This mezcal takes its name from a native Mesoamerican religious tradition in which priests communicated with gods by ritual drinking of beverages made from agave. The gods of the drinks were collectively called ‘centzon-totchtin’ (400 rabbits) in Nahuatl.

AC/DC

The tequila brand launched by rock band AC/DC in 2016.

Alipús

Alipús was created to provide a market for family artisan mezcal distilleries in Mexico so they could stay in business and continue their traditions. Alipús offers a range of premium artisanal mezcals hand-distilled in small, rural, family distilleries in the state of Oaxaca in southwest Mexico. Each mezcal reflects the individuality of the family’s craftsmanship.

Arette

Arette tequila is made at the El Llano distillery in the town of Tequila. One of the oldest distilleries in the region still in production, it is operated by the Orendain brothers, who are descendants of one of the most recognised families in the tequila industry.

Arquitecto

A tequila brand producing low-waste, low-carbon, environmentally sustainable and responsibly produced tequila. It uses high altitude agave grown on the lands of Master Tequilero, Arq. Enrique Fonseca, near Atotonilco in Mexico’s highlands and is made at his ABV Tequileña distillery in the town of Tequila. No immature agave, no non-agave fermentation sugars, no diffuser, and no additives are used in its production.

Avión

Based in Jalisco, tequila producer Avión uses blue agave grown in the highlands of Los Altos on a single estate at 7000 feet above sea level, which creates a richer and naturally sweeter tequila. It describes its distillation processes as “the art of inefficiency”, referring to the fact its Master Distiller removes significant ‘heads’ and ‘tails’ during distillation, meaning it takes up to 30% more agave to make one bottle of Avión, versus other ultra-premium tequila. Each bottle is hand-filled and the batch and bottle codes are handwritten on the labels.

Batanga

Batanga Tequila is made by the Casa Orendain Family Estate, which was founded in 1926 in Jalisco, Mexico. The Orendains are known as one of the four founding families of the tequila industry. Batanga takes its name from a drink created in the 1950s in a cantina in Tequila: tequila, cola and fresh lime juice. The secret to its success is said to be the large knife used to cut the lime and stir the cocktail.

Calle 23 Frenchwoman Sophie Decobecq is the founder, owner and master distiller of Calle 23 Tequila. After spending time in Mexico she developed a passion for the people and its tequila culture and learnt the art of distilling and started Calle 23 in Guadalajara.

Casamigos

This tequila brand was created in 2013 by actor George Clooney with longtime friends Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman. The name Casamigos translates from Spanish as “house of friends”. It was bought by Diageo in 2017 for US$1bn. At the time, Diageo described it as “the fastest growing superpremium tequila brand in the US.” Casamigos is a small-batch, ultra-premium tequila and its traditional production includes slow roasting of the piñas in brick ovens, use of pot stills, a proprietary yeast blend and extra slow 80-hour ferment.

Cazcabel

The Cazcabel brand was inspired by the Mexican medicine man Don Cazcabel –also known as the “Snakeman” of the Jalisco Mountains. The premium tequilas are created in an independent micro distillery in the highlands of the Jalisco Mountains.

Cenote

This tequila brand takes its name from the underground water systems of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, known as cenotes (pronounced ‘SAY-no-tay’). These natural swimming holes were formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock, and contain fresh water filtered by the earth. The ancient Mayans revered cenotes because they were a water source during dry times. Cenote is owned by Stoli Group.

Cincoro

A tequila brand founded by five NBA owners: Michael Jordan, Emilia Fazzalari, Wyc Grousbeck, Jeannie Buss, and Wes Edens. The bottle’s five facet form is designed to reflect the brand’s five owners.

Clase Azul

Launched in the mid-90s, the Clase Azul brand is known for its unique decanters, which are made by Mexican artisans.

Código 1530

This brand has its origins with a private recipe tequila (‘El Tequila Privado’). For several generations, a local Amatitán artisan and distilling family produced this spirit in accordance with centuries-old codes and customs. Código 1530’s name honours “Los Códigos,” those codes and customs that shaped and still live on in Amatitán and the Los Bajos region.

Creyente

This brand blends two mezcals from the Oaxaca, Mexico regions of Sierra Sur and Valles Centrales.

Del Maguey

Del Maguey (pronounced ‘ma-’GAY’) is an artisanal mezcal company founded by American artist Ron Cooper in 1995. He works closely with family producers in the Mexican region of Oaxaca, who create the Del Maguey Single Village Mezcals. Each mezcal is named for the village in which it is made, with the varying microclimates and soils contributing to the flavour profiles.

Derrumbes

Mezcal Derrumbes is a project from two established agave veterans, Esteban Morales, owner of La Venenosa raicilla, and Sergio Mendoza, owner of Tequila Don Fulano.

Don Julio 1942

A tequila brand named for Don Julio Gonzalez, who began making tequila in 1942.

Don Ramón

The premium tequila brand of Mexican company Dialce, which owns blue agave fields in Jalisco and is a leading producer of 100% agave tequila and mixto tequila. Dialce exports tequila to over 40 countries and also owns the Buen Amigo brand.

El Jimador

Launched in 1994, this tequila brand takes its name from those who harvest the agave plants used in tequila production, the ‘jimador’.

Espolòn

A premium tequila-maker based at the San Nicolas distillery in Jalisco. With its distinctive illustrated labels and reputation for playing rock music in the distillery to ‘inspire’ the agave, Espolòn is regarded as something of a cult favourite.

Fortaleza

Tequila Fortaleza traces its family roots back to 1873 and the establishment of a tequila distillery in Jalisco, by local man Don Cenobio. A second family distillery in the region, La Fortaleza, was subsequently revived by his great-greatgrandson in the late 1990s and the brand launched in 2005.

Gracias a Dios

Gracias a Dios, which translates from Spanish as ‘Thank God’ is an artisan mezcal producer in Mexico’s state of Oaxaca. This mezcal is made from 100 per cent Espadin Agave, grown for eight years. The agave’s piñas are cooked for four days in a dirt oven before crushing, fermentation and distillation. This slow underground cook gives the mezcal aromas of smoke and spice, followed by fruit and a slight astringency.

Gran Centenario

Gran Centenario was established in 1857 by a tavern owner and tequila producer named Lázaro Gallardo who was regarded as the very first Tequila Master Distiller.

Herradura

Tequila Herradura traces its origins in Jalisco from 1870, remaining family-owned for 125 years. The name ‘Herradura’ means ‘horseshoe’ in Spanish, and is said to relate to the discovery on the hacienda property of a horseshoe that was thought to be lucky. Horseshoes are still displayed in the historic hacienda in Jalisco (now a museum) and, as with those on the bottle, they point downward “so that good fortune may pour out for those who enjoy Herradura”.

Hijo de Villa

A tequila brand owned by Mexican liquor company Licores Veracruz.

Ilegal

Ilegal Mezcal had its beginnings around 2004, when its eventual founder, John Rexer, began bringing unbranded mezcal down from a variety of villages in Oaxaca to Antigua to supply his bar, Café No Sé. The mezcal became popular very quickly and in 2006, John created the brand Ilegal, originally just to supply his bar in Guatemala but it has since grown to export globally.

Le Tribute

A Spanish spirits brand launched in 2017 and created by familyowned business MG Destilerias.

Lobos 1707

This independently-owned tequila brand launched in 2020. It combines Mexican and Spanish heritage and is co-owned by basketballer LeBron James.

The Lost Explorer

The Lost Explorer Mezcal was co-founded in 2020 by David de Rothschild and Thor Björgólfsson, in partnership with mezcalero Don Fortino Ramos and his family. It is crafted by hand from 100% agave, cultivated in Valles Centrales in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Maestro Dobel

Maestro Dobel was the world’s first crystal-clear aged tequila – created to combine the complexity of aged cognacs with the crispness of luxury vodkas. It is sourced from agave grown on a single estate.

Mezcal Divino

A mezcal brand owned by Mexican liquor company Licores Veracruz.

Monte Alban

From the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Monte Alban Mezcal is produced with no added neutral spirits and no artificial additives. It is 100% agave Mezcal with a Mezcal worm in each bottle.

Mucha Liga

A tequila brand inspired by Mexico’s “Lucha Libre” (freestyle wrestling) culture. It is owned by Matatena Spirits, a privately owned, premium spirits producer specialising in tequila and mezcal, based in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Olmeca Altos

Olmeca Altos tequilas are produced in Jalisco, using agave from the Los Altos region, which is known for growing sugar-rich plants. The agave is harvested and processed using traditional methods, with brick ovens and a 2-ton tahona stone doing the final work before double distillation in small-batch copper stills. The brand is owned by Pernod Ricard and distributed in more than 80 countries.

Patrón

This ultra-premium tequila brand launched in 1989 and takes its name from the Spanish term for “the good boss”. Its entire tequila-making process is based at Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco, where hand-harvested piñas are baked in small brick ovens then crushed by a two-ton volcanic stone (tahona) wheel and a roller mill. The distinctive Patrón bottles are handmade by Mexican glass artisans. Bacardi bought Patrón in early 2018.

Sauza

Sauza Tequila Import Company is a producer of tequila located in Tequila, Mexico. It was founded in 1873 when Don Cenobio Sauza started La Perseverancia distillery. Sauza Tequila Import Company is owned by Beam Suntory.

Sesión

A premium tequila range co-founded by Australian model and business entrepreneur Jennifer Hawkins, Jake Hall and Tim Freeburn in partnership with one of Mexico’s longestestablished distilleries.

Tears of Llorona

This tequila was first created by Germán González Gorrochotegui, the son of a prominent tequilero, for his own enjoyment, but after sharing it with friends in 2012 he was encouraged to bring it to market. He named it for La Llorona (‘The One Who Cries’) – a legend told to him in his childhood of a woman driven to madness by her husband’s unfaithfulness and who wandered Mexico crying tears of regret. Gorrochotegui is today considered one of the leading master tequileros in Mexico.

Tequila Ocho

Tequila Ocho is a joint partnership between restaurateur Tomas Estes and third generation tequilero Carlos Camarena. Estes is respected throughout the global bar and spirits community for his work promoting tequila, agave spirits and Mexican culture in Europe. Carlos Camarena is one of Mexico’s most respected tequila producers and is the Master Distiller of Tequila Ocho made at La Alteña distillery in Jalisco. “Ocho” means “eight” and refers to the fact that Tequila Ocho is made from the eighth sample created by the Camarenas for Tomas Estes.

Teremana

Teremana is a premium tequila handmade in small batches in Jalisco, Mexico. It is co-owned by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and launched in 2020. It combines two words: ‘tere’ derived from the Latin ‘terra’ meaning earth and ‘mana’, the Polynesian word meaning spirit.

Mezcal

Mezcal Divino Reposado

36% ABV, 500ml RRP $49.99

Tickety-Boo

A fresh and delicate balance of traditional aromas characteristic of mezcal and maguey worm. Gently herbal with smoky and mineral notes that evoke the land on which the agave was grown.

Mezcal Monte Alban

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $74.99

Federal Merchants

Monte Alban Mezcal is produced with no added neutral spirits and no artificial additives. It’s a solid 100% agave mezcal, with a mezcal worm in each bottle. A brilliant golden amber colour with hints of smoky agave and pineapple, it’s ideal for agave-based cocktails.

Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio VIDA

Mezcal

42% ABV, 750ml RRP $84.99

Pernod Ricard

An artisanal organic mezcal, hand crafted and twice distilled, slowly in small woodfired, riverside copper stills. It has aromas of fruit, honey, vanilla and roasted agave, with a palate of ginger, cinnamon, burnt sandalwood, banana and tangerine.

Gracias a Dios Espadín Piña is a special edition mezcal made with a different fruit each year by Gracias a Dios’ mezcal maestro, Oscar Hernandez.

Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio Crema de Mezcal

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $84.99

Pernod Ricard

A unique combination of roasted agave syrup and mezcal. It has a nose of roast agave, vanilla and pear, and notes of creamy almond, apple, coffee and pineapple on the palate with a long, sweet, smoky orange finish.

Gracias a Dios Espadín Joven

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $89.99

Tickety-Boo

This mezcal is made from 100 per cent Espadín Agave, grown for eight years. Flavours of spice and smoke give way to sweet fruits and a hint of citrus. Dry and spicy on the finish.

Gracias a Dios Espadín Mango

43% ABV, 700ml RRP $89.99

Tickety-Boo

A clean, bright, dry mezcal made with mangoes grown on the Oaxacan coast. It is full of mango character – from the initial aroma through to a palate of tropical sweetness with notes of creamy custard.

Gracias a Dios Espadín Piña

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $89.99

Tickety-Boo

This special edition mezcal is made with a different fruit each year by Gracias a Dios’ mezcal maestro, Oscar Hernandez, who always gives a bottle to his local priest. The latest release uses pineapple, which adds a tropical sweetness to the traditional smoky character of mezcal.

Gracias a Dios Espadín Reposado

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $94.99

Tickety-Boo

This 100 per cent Espadín agave mezcal is aged for four months in American oak. It has aromas of spicy oak, wild herbs and citrus pith, while the palate adds spice, smoke and minty, fruity elements. Balanced and fragrant, with earthy notes.

Derrumbes Durango

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $96

Mineral

Floral and earthy on the nose with a palate that turns to sweet and fruity with mango, strawberry, wildflower honey, cooked agave, and a hint of minerality.

400 Conejos Joven Mezcal

38% ABV, 750ml RRP $101.99

Thirsty

Camel

A well-balanced and smooth mezcal with soft hints of wood, sweet notes of cooked agave, and a pleasant smoky finish.

Ilegal Joven

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $103

Mineral

An un-aged tequila with full-bodied agave flavour. Eucalyptus and mineral aromas complement hints of green apple, fresh citrus, and red chiltepe peppers. Light smoke and lingering heat.

Alipús

San Andres

47.7% ABV, 750ml RRP $109.99

Proof & Company

This artisan mezcal is fermented in cypress vats and distilled by Don Valente Angel using agave Espadín grown at about 5,000 feet. It has an intense agave aroma and integrated smoke on the palate. A powerful tasting mezcal with strong fruit character.

Alipús San Baltazar

47-49% ABV, 750ml RRP $109.99

Proof & Company

This mezcal is produced by Don Cosme Hernandez and hs son Cirilo. They use Maguey Espadín agave, which is roasted in a stone oven pit, then crushed using mule-driven Chilean tahona and fermented in pinewood tubs. It has gentle smoke aromas with flavours of roasted agave, a hint of sweetness, an earthy note and smoky finish.

Alipús San Juan

47.5% ABV, 750ml RRP $109.99

Proof & Company

This mezcal is made in San Juan, where there are a number of destilerías along the river. The Alipús destilería belongs to the Cruz family and the distiller is Rodolfo Juan Juarez.

Alipús

San Luis

48% ABV, 750ml RRP $109.99

Proof & Company

Alipus San Luis is made by Mezcalero Don Baltazar, who uses agave Espadin grown in sandy soil at about 4100 feet above sea level. He ferments the cooked agave in pine vats and distils in copper. His mezcals are rich, full-bodied, and often fruity.

Creyente Joven Mezcal

40% ABV, 750ml RRP $109.99

Thirsty Camel

Lingering smoke on the nose blending with fresh oak, mesquite, and light herbal notes. Sweet cooked agave on the palate, with more smoke and hints of fruit, yielding a smooth mezcal with layers of complexity. A rich finish with smoky mesquite wood flavour.

Alipús San Andres artisan mezcal is fermented in cypress vats and distilled by Don Valente Angel using agave Espadín grown at about 5,000 feet.

Derrumbes San Luis Potosi

48% ABV, 700ml RRP $110

Mineral

Aromas of fresh pico de gallo, lime, sauerkraut, green chilli and sharp gorgonzola – savoury and funky. A tequila with medium-full body. The palate is, at first, sweeter than the nose, with apple and lychee, but the fruits are quickly joined by salsa verde and blue cheese.

Derrumbes Zacatecas

46% ABV, 700ml RRP $112

Mineral

This mezcal has complex aromas of mixed berry jam, pine wood, celery, brine, prosciutto and light smoke. It’s sweet and lightly floral in the mouth with raspberry, papaya, rosewater, sugarcane syrup, and a touch of chalk.

Derrumbes Oaxaca

47% ABV, 700ml RRP $113

Mineral

Made with Espadín and Tobalá agave, this mezcal is made by third generation agave farmer and Maestro Javier Mateo and his family in the town of Santiago Matatlán. A round, full-bodied mezcal with a light smokiness that gives way to minerality and delicate fruitiness.

Le Tribute Mezcal is distilled with Cenizo agave and has hints of tropical fruit, citrus, tamarind and a little smokiness with pine notes.

Le Tribute Mezcal (Cenizo Agave)

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $114.99

Tickety-Boo

Distilled with Cenizo agave from Durango, Mexico. This mezcal is fruity with hints of tropical fruit, citrus, tamarind and a little smokiness with pine notes.

Ilegal Reposado

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $117

Mineral

Aged four months in American oak, Illegal Reposado has slightly woody, caramel-like aromas with baked agave, cassia bark and chilli. On the palate there is butterscotch and caramel, soft wood smoke, cedar, pipe tobacco, agave and dried herbs. The finish is oaky with cocoa powder and orange rinds.

Del Maguey Chichicapa Single

Village Mezcal

46% ABV, 700ml RRP $129.99

Pernod Ricard

Complex flavours with abundant citrus and a long smooth finish with overtones of mint.

Derrumbes

Destilado de Agave Tamaulipas

47% ABV, 750ml RRP $130

Mineral

A blend of three different agaves: Funkiana and Univittata (endemic to the Tamaulipas area), together with Americana. The result is a high-energy spirit that feels sweet, dry and rich with multiple layers of flavour and aroma.

Derrumbes Michoacán

45% ABV, 750ml RRP $133

Mineral

A combination of Michoacán’s iconic Chino and Alto agaves. Chino (Cupreata) brings mature fruit notes while Alto (Ineaquidens) adds a delicate herbaceous character. This mezcal is fermented under the red clay floor of the taberna in pinewood-lined pits to protect it from low temperatures before distillation.

Gracias a Dios Coyote

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $139.99

Tickety-Boo

This mezcal is herbal and spiced. It has aromas of herbs and grapefruit peel. Cooked agave adds a caramel quality to the palate, and the finish is smooth, long and smoky.

Gracias a Dios Cultivated Tobala

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $139.99

Tickety-Boo

Cultivated Tobala provides a very different profile to its older Wild brother (below). Herbal characters and smoke are present on the nose, while the palate offers fresh cut grass, lime and grapefruit peel. The finish is long and smoky with a light spiciness and dark chocolate aromas.

Gracias a Dios Madre Cuishe

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $139.99

Tickety-Boo

Earthy and herbal, with lemon, cucumber and peppermint. A smoky character too, with notes of caramelised sugar.

Gracias a Dios Wild Tobala

45% ABV, 700ml RRP $139.99

Tickety-Boo

This mezcal uses agave harvested after 15 years. It is vegetal and funky, with notes of smoke and peat. Balanced and complex on the palate with discreet fruit and spice, and a hint of lime zest. Flavours of capsicum and thyme are balanced with sweet agave notes; slightly tropical with a hint of mint. Long, rounded finish.

The Lost Explorer Espadín 8YO is a sweet and herbaceous mezcal, well-balanced with hints of red apple, ripe fruits and a mild smoky layer to finish.

Alipús San Miguel

47.3% ABV, 750ml RRP $140.99

Proof & Company

This release from Alipus is ‘Destilado en Barro’ – distilled in small clay pots, which is typical of the region of Sola de Vega, Oaxaca, where this mezcal is produced using agave Americana.

The Lost Explorer

8YO Mezcal

Espadín

42% ABV, 750ml RRP $144.99

Federal Merchants

A sweet and herbaceous mezcal, wellbalanced with hints of red apple, ripe fruits and a mild smoky layer to finish.

Ilegal Añejo

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $170

Mineral

A rich and rounded tequila that is aged for 13 months in new American oak barrels. It has aromas of maple, clove, and bitter orange with dark chocolate and sweet agave on the palate.

Casamigos Mezcal

40% ABV, 700ml RRP $184.99

Federal Merchants

This mezcal from popular tequila brand Casamigos is made using the traditional method of baking the harvested piñas in earthen pits and then crushing them with a horse-drawn tahona wheel. It has aromas of fragrant herbs and fruit with a hint of smoke, leading to a palate of smoke and black pepper with a long, silky finish.

The Lost Explorer Tobala 10YO Mezcal

42% ABV, 750ml RRP $259.99

Federal Merchants

An earthy expression with hints of tobacco, cocoa, vanilla and leather, balancing wood aromas and umami flavours.

The Lost Explorer Salmiana 12YO Mezcal

42% ABV, 750ml RRP $329.99

Federal Merchants

Intensely herbaceous with a sweet and spicy profile, offering hints of green chilli, grapefruit and fresh agave.

For distributor details see the Distributor Index on page 81.

Glenfiddich Grande Couronne arrives

THE NEWEST addition to Glenfiddich’s single malt Grand Series – Grande Couronne – has arrived in New Zealand.

The whisky is matured in American and European oak casks for 26 years at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland, before an extended finish of up to two years in meticulously sourced French Cognac casks.

The Grande Couronne bottle and packaging are adorned with an ornamental gold filigree, with Renaissance-style artwork inside the presentation box.

“It’s our pleasure to release Glenfiddich Grande Couronne to New Zealand, inviting Kiwis who want to stand out from the crowd with an extraordinary drinking experience to uncork true opulence,” says Brand Manager Megan Barrett-Hamilton of distributor Federal Merchants & Co.

Glenfiddich Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, says Glenfiddich Grande Couronne showcases the iconic distillery’s innovative approach. “It is the only Glenfiddich single malt that has

matured in American and European oak casks and finished in rare French Cognac casks. The length of the finish, two years, is highly unusual and adds extra layers of sweet, toasted oak and velvety

New aperitif Pampelle for summer

PAMPELLE – the world’s first ruby red grapefruit aperitif – is bringing a taste of the French Riviera to New Zealand this summer.

Made in France’s Cognac region, Pampelle is an artisanal, complex and versatile aperitif that captures the bittersweet essences of Star Ruby Red grapefruit. It is 15% ABV and 30% naturally lower in sugar than other leading aperitifs.

The grapefruit are

macerated citrus peels, and Pampelle’s signature Eau-deVie, made from grapes that have been fermented and distilled through column stills.

Aperitifs are becoming increasingly popular with Kiwi consumers and Pampelle founder and CEO, Patrick Borg, says it’s a versatile addition to summer drinking. “Pampelle can be a refreshing tipple on its own or as a flavourful ingredient in cocktails. It’s

aromas of café crème, brown sugar and soft spice.”

Glenfiddich Grande Couronne RRP $1,050 Federal Merchants

Fashion meets flavour

BATCHED PREMIUM Cocktails has teamed up with cult Kiwi fashion label Stolen Girlfriends Club to launch a limitededition Espresso Martini in a branded keepsake box.

The new release uses Batched’s popular Espresso Martini, which is made using New Zealand vodka and fair trade coffee beans, while the new bottle design features an intricate anatomy sketch sourced by Stolen Girlfriends Club’s Marc Moore.

“I’m very partial to a well-made espresso martini and appreciate the bar-quality nature of Batched,” says Moore. “At Stolen Girlfriends Club, we describe ourselves as ‘young blood with old bones’, so it feels fitting we have a skeleton as the face of this new collaboration.”

Batched x Stolen Girlfriends Club Espresso Martini (725ml) RRP $69.99

Premium Liquor Co.

Bond Store creates Botanic Garden gin

KĀPITI COAST distillery, the Bond Store, has created a limited-edition gin to support the Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden, featuring heritage roses from the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens and native kawakawa.

The Friends of the Botanic Garden have been supporting Wellington Botanic Garden for 32 years, fundraising and working to foster public interest in the gardens’ scientific, educational and cultural work and $25 from each bottle sold will go towards this.

The collaboration is believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand, drawing inspiration from a similar collaboration created for Kew Gardens in the UK.

Aptly named “Down the Garden Path”, the boutique gin pays homage to the Botanic Gardens, and alongside traditional botanicals, incorporates native kawakawa and rosehips specially harvested from the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens, resulting in a distinctive aromatic gin.

Down The Garden Path – RRP $65 The Bond Store

New gin collab from Lighthouse Gin and Mt Difficulty

LIGHTHOUSE GIN has released a limitededition collaboration with iconic New Zealand winery Mt Difficulty.

The new Lighthouse x Mt Difficulty Barrel Aged Gin is handcrafted with Lighthouse’s signature nine botanicals and natural spring water filtered by the local Remutaka Ranges. It is then rested in Mt Difficulty barrels, retired from five years’ service to their Central Otago Pinot Noir. The gin has a golden appearance with a light, citrus flavour and a hint of thyme and red berries.

The release comes as Lighthouse Gin prepares for the opening of its new distillery in early 2023. Nestled on the edge of the Martinborough Terrace, The Runholder will be the new home of Te Kairanga, Martinborough Vineyard and Lighthouse Gin, with a restaurant, tasting room and distillery.

Lighthouse x Mt Difficulty Barrel Aged Gin – RRP $90

Celebrate with Mucha Liga

THE THREE expressions of Mexican tequila brand Mucha Liga are now available in a gift pack trio through distributor Premium Liquor Co. The 100ml Blanco, Añejo and Reposado are packaged in the distinctive Mucha Liga bottles that were inspired by Mexico’s ‘Lucha Libre’ (freestyle wrestling) culture.

Mucha Liga Gift Pack – RRP $79.99 Premium Liquor Co.

The Bond Store distiller Bec Kay with Down the Garden Path

Foley Wines

Four Pillars wins inaugural ‘Green’ award at IWSC

AUSTRALIAN DISTILLERY Four Pillars has won the inaugural Green Spirit Initiative Award at the world’s biggest spirits awards, the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

The award was open to distilleries, producers and spirits companies across the globe and was created to highlight the work being carried out to improve environmental credentials.

The Four Pillars distillery in Healesville, Victoria, was awarded the global prize as a result of its efforts over recent years

to minimise waste and save energy, and follows the construction of its newlyexpanded distillery ‘Healesville 2.0’. This building uses progressive sustainable initiatives that include cooling veils and pineapple leather, as well as solar and a massive reduction in glass wastage.

In March 2022, Four Pillars became Australia’s first certified Carbon Neutral

gin distilling business with both the new distillery itself and all the gins bottled on the premises certified Carbon Neutral.

Four Pillars Gin was established in 2013 in the Yarra Valley on the outskirts of Melbourne. It was awarded International Gin Producer of the Year in 2019 and 2020 by the IWSC.

Tickety-Boo

New distillery for Reefton Distilling Co.

REEFTON DISTILLING Co. opened its new distillery on the West Coast in late September and laid down its first Moonlight Creek Single Malt Whisky.

The opening comes two years after the business purchased land and existing buildings on the edge of Reefton in early 2020, setting its plans for expansion in motion.

The new distillery sits on a 1.6ha site and has three large copper stills, brewing equipment and spirit tanks, a bottling room and warehouses. Plans are also in place to add a visitor centre and bonded stores for whisky maturation in future.

Reefton Distilling Co. uses locally sourced ingredients for its Little Biddy Gin, Wild Rain Vodka and Reefton Distilling Co. Liqueurs, and

SHOWCASE

will use New Zealand-grown and malted grain and West Coast spring water to craft its Moonlight Creek Single Malt Whisky.

Patsy Bass, Founder and Chief Executive Reefton Distilling Co. spoke of her 100-year vision for the distillery and its positive impact on the local economy. “This business is not about gin and spirits, it’s about helping to regenerate a town, providing jobs for the next generation, so that they might have a future on the Coast, stay here, raise their own families and keep the community alive and vibrant.”

The small heritage building in the heart of Reefton, where Reefton Distilling Co. first opened in 2018 will remain as the cellar door and for visitor tours and tastings. Patsy Bass

‘The

The story of a Last Minute Gin

WHEN THE call came from a national Duty Free chain to make an artisanal, bespoke and quintessentially Kiwi gin, the team at KJ & Co and master distiller Andy Deuchars, in true Kiwi No.8 wire mentality, went to work to produce a clean, balanced and extremely versatile gin.

KJ & Co CEO Jason Dellaca said it was perfect timing. “We were very lucky that Andy had been working on a gin recipe for a while and as such we were able to get an exceptional gin to the market within a very tight timeline. Not many companies would have the in-house skill set to make a quality product like Last Minute Gin within the parameters that we were given.”

Master Distiller Andy Deuchars believes the success of Last Minute Gin lies in its elegance and simplicity. Using only five botanicals, Last Minute Gin is citrus-forward with subtle hints of juniper, and Asian spice creating a long and refreshing finish.

Last Minute Gin is an extremely versatile gin, an ideal base for cocktails, a classic G&T, or pair with a classic soda over ice and add a wedge of lime.

Last Minute Gin 40% ABV, 700ml RRP $49.99

Contact Brandhouse at orders@brandhouse.co.nz

Thyme after Time

Master Distiller Andy Deuchars with Last Minute Gin

with

Mackay’ whisky still in the new distillery

GEORGIE BEGG

Cardrona marks 7 years with special release

CARDRONA DISTILLERY celebrated a milestone seventh year of production on 5th November by adding a special new release single malt whisky to its range of luxury small batch spirits: The Otago Pinot Cask.

The new whisky marries spirit aged in four locally-sourced, hand-selected Felton Road Pinot Noir casks, which were brought to the distillery within hours of the wine leaving the barrel to preserve the casks’ rich Pinot Noir seasoning.

There are 1,217 bottles available of the distillery’s first 700ml bottle release, each presented in individually numbered bottles and oak boxes.

The Cardrona Day Special Release, 2022 Otago Pinot Cask – RRP $350.

Cardrona Distillery

SHOWCASE

Mix a Galliano Vanilla Mule for summer

AS LAZY summer afternoons roll into long summer evenings, it’s the perfect time to add some innovative new cocktails to the menu that will impress with very little effort.

The Galliano Vanilla Mule (Galliano Vanilla, lime and ginger ale or ginger beer) is a simple, sweet spritz-style refresher. The soft aroma of vanilla and the hallmarks of the original Galliano L’Autentico (Mediterranean anise, cardamom, lavender, peppermint and cinnamon) make this liqueur a match for both bold and subtle flavour accompaniments.

Galliano Vanilla has a round scent, a sweet vanilla flavour, and a lower ABV (30%). It offers versatility in cocktails while retaining Galliano’s unmistakable character.

The additional zing of ginger, which mixes well with all Galliano flavours, is the kick that creates the “mule,” so it’s the ideal spicy festive drink or summer cooler.

Three easy ingredients combine to produce a cocktail fit for the most discerning connoisseur, without having to purchase a raft of fancy mixers or

Cocktail magic at KOL

ACCLAIMED RESTAURATEURS Sid and Chand Sahrawat have opened a third establishment, KOL bar and eatery, in Auckland’s Ponsonby.

The Sahrawats, who own and operate restaurants Cassia and Sid at The French Café, had been discussing a bar concept for some time when they heard the iconic villa site on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Hepburn Street was available.

KOL serves innovative cocktails alongside an extensive champagne, wine, and beverage list. The drinks list is complemented by a selection of tandoorinspired snacks and dishes primarily cooked over fire.

Mangesh Shah (Cassia and Sidart) rejoins the Sahrawats as bar manager, having recently been awarded Best Bartender (Sidart) in the 2022 Metro Restaurant of the Year Awards.

His cocktail list includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, with standouts The Aamba, an innovative take on the traditional mango lassi, and the

kolauckland.co.nz

measure out lots of different spirits –making it the perfect tipple to have on hand over the busy holiday season.

Served in a spritzer glass over ice, the Galliano Vanilla Mule is an inspired prelude to a summer lunch; as a chilled accompaniment to a hot afternoon, or as a reviving pre-dinner aperitif.

Galliano Vanilla 30% ABV 500ml RRP $42.99

Distributed by Beam Suntory

Galliano Vanilla Mule

• 45ml Galliano Vanilla

• 15ml lime juice (squeeze and drop lime wedge into the glass)

• Top off with ginger ale or ginger beer

• Garnish with mint sprig.

Instagram-worthy The Arils (pictured), which is decorated with an aromatic, smoky cocktail bubble.

Distributors

AF Drinks

hello@af-drinks.com af-drinks.com Anew chooseanew.com

Asahi Beverages NZ 09 298 3000 asahibeverages.co.nz

Astrolabe Wines 03 577 6794 astrolabewines.co.nz

Bach Brewing 09 390 0149 bachbrewing.co.nz

Beam Suntory 0800 69 23 37 beamsuntory.com

Behemoth Brewing 09 948 0425 behemothbrewing.co.nz

Beverage Brothers 03 390 1377 beveragebrothers.co.nz

Blanc angie@blancnz.co.nz blancnz.co.nz

The Bond Store 021 667 683 thebondstore.co.nz

Brandhouse 0508 468 688 brandhouse.co.nz

Buzz Club thebuzzclub.co.nz

Cardrona Distillery 03 443 1393 cardronadistillery.com

Clearview Estate 06 875 0150 clearviewestate.co.nz

Coal Pit Wine 027 693 6111 coalpitwine.com

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners NZ 0800 692 337 cocacolaep.com

CoLab 03 445 1670 colabwinemerchants.com

DB Breweries 0800 746 432 db.co.nz

Dhall & Nash 0800 369 463 dnfinewine.com

Elephant Hill 06 873 0400 elephanthill.co.nz

Emerson’s 03 477 1812 emersons.co.nz

Emporium Brewing 03 319 5897 emporiumbrewing.co.nz

Epic Beer 0800 212 337 epicbeer.com

EuroVintage 0800 388 766 eurovintage.co.nz

Federal Merchants 0800 846 824 federalmerchants.co.nz

Foley Wines 03 572 8200 sales@foleywines.co.nz

Forrest Wines 03 572 9084 forrest.co.nz

Frucor Suntory 0800 4FRUCOR frucorsuntory.com

Garage Project 027 535 0917 garageproject.co.nz

Giesen Group 03 344 6270 giesen.co.nz

Good Sh*t Soda hello@goodshitsoda.com goodshitsoda.com

Great Little Vineyards 09 529 0935 greatlittlevineyards.com

Grey Beard Trading 021 712 784 greybeardtrading@gmail.com

Hancock & Sons hancockandsons.co.nz Hancocks 0800 699 463 hancocks.co.nz

Johner Estate 06 370 8217 johner-estate.com

Kahurangi Estate 021 424 899 kahurangiwine.com

Kono Beverages 03 546 8648 kono.co.nz

Lion 0800 107 272 lionco.com

Long Breeze Distributors 027 205 2795 longbreezedistributors.co.nz

Lyre’s lyreswholesale.co.nz

Maison Vauron 09 529 0157 mvauron.co.nz

Marisco 09 522 9684 marisco.co.nz McLeod’s Brewery 027 240 1782 mcleodsbrewery.co.nz

Mineral orders@mineralwine.co.nz mineral.co.nz

Mission Estate 06 845 9350 missionestate.co.nz

Negociants 0800 634 624 negociantsnz.co

No.1 Family Estate 03 572 9876 no1familyestate.co.nz Ohakune Brewers bigmountainmead.com

Pernod Ricard 0800 655 550 pernod-ricard-nz.com

The Premium Liquor Co. 09 975 7432 premiumliquor.co.nz

Procure Liquor 021 393 652 Procureliquor.co.nz

Proof & Company proofandcompany.com

Q Liquid 09 636 7730 qll.co.nz

Sprig + Fern 03 544 8675 sprigandfern.co.nz

Taylor Brown 09 447 3801 taylorbrown.co.nz

Te Kano Estate 03 928 6951 tekanoestate.com

Thirsty Camel info@thirstycamel.co.nz thirstycamel.co.nz

Tickety-Boo Liquor 09 377 7597 tickety-boo.co.nz

Villa Maria 0800 505 656 villamaria.co.nz

Vintners NZ 0800 687 9463 vintners.co.nz

Whisky and More 029 773 0394 whiskyandmore.co.nz

Whitehaven 021 738 315 whitehaven.co.nz

The Premium approach

How did The Premium Liquor Co. start?

The Premium Liquor Co. (PLC) is part of Global Endeavours Group, which was founded by Kiwi Hamish Gordon. He started Natural Sugars, a successful commodities business, in 2009 and then started Pure Bottling as a contract manufacturer. In 2018, PLC was established as the branding arm of the group, to put volume through the bottling plant and use the raw sugar, making it a semi-vertical operation. With a vision to develop and distribute drinks for the modern world, we set about building a national rep force and growing our portfolio.

How has PLC grown since launch?

I came on board in February 2018 and the early days was me selling our own brand Sundown Gin out of the back of the car to liquor stores. Within a month we had full distribution throughout the Bay of Plenty and confidence in the brand to commit to a full national rep force.

My goal then was to add more brands to the portfolio so we were selling a diverse range. Over the last five years, PLC has grown to have 14 own brands and 20 imported and domestic distributed brands, with a total of 160 SKUs.

We’ve got a Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, two tequilas, a couple of bourbon brands from America and a very strong gin brand from Ireland called Drumshanbo. We acquired Stil Vodka from Bacardi and we’ve extended the range with a gin, feijoa and vanilla vodka. The Batched pre-made cocktails brand we distribute is also another shining star.

From a start-up team of two, we now have 20 employees and service all liquor stores nationwide. We’ve got a full rep force in New Zealand, people in the UK and Japan and agents in Taiwan and Korea.

How does PLC keep pace with consumer demands?

At the outset we realised there was a move towards low/no sugar drinks, and

this was the real focus for us to develop brands to meet this need. Sundown Gin RTD was one of the first low sugar premix brands and it immediately gathered a following. Hint Vodka was our second brand and it was, and still is, the only premix with no sugar or sweeteners.  Sundown was very much the springboard to give us confidence in the market. And with our successes, we’ve also had brands that haven’t worked. The ‘fail fast’ mentality is definitely what we’ve been doing. Rather than do an expensive focus group, I’ll put the money towards a brand idea and put it to market. That’s the best way to figure out whether something will work. We have 36 NPD projects on the go at the moment.

What do you see as the current challenges?

I feel like liquor is fairly robust with regards to recession [but] we’ve had amazing pressure from cost of supply and increase in costs to manufacture products, and shortage of labour. Then there was that 7% increase in excise tax in July. And sometimes it’s not so much that the costs are going up, but it’s the timing of the cost increases. To be fair, the retailers

are relatively accommodating. They understand, because they’re seeing the same pressures in their own businesses.

What’s ahead for PLC?

The market is ever evolving, and people always want to try something new. So, the 36 NPD projects we have in play are either new brands, range extensions or rebranding.

Premium New Zealand spirits are also an opportunity with export as a focus for us. Our own brands Coast Rd Vodka and Rose & Twig Gin, along with Batched, are all now looking at export markets in the UK, Japan and America. We’ve just got Batched into Japan, we’re talking with a big American distributor currently, and we’ve put a person in the UK.

We’ve got a sister company in Australia too, so we’ve got all our brands over there. Premium wine is another opportunity. We recently bought a winery in Hawke’s Bay, offering some amazing reds and chardonnays.

Tell us more about the new winery… It was Moana Park Estate and we’ve rebranded it to Shed 530 Estate. The acquisition has allowed us to bolt on sales into South Korea, Japan, and China. We’ve got plans to develop the current cellar door and grow it into a brewery and distillery, which is a big opportunity for us. The winery is in a really nice setting and lends itself perfectly to concerts, so we might get into events there as well.

What keeps you excited about the drinks industry?

It’s dynamic. Our ethos and vision for Global Endeavours Group is that we want to do great things with great people. We’ve got some great customers, fantastic suppliers, and distributor relationships with people all over the world. And we can create and come up with new brands, and it’s completely up to us to be able to find opportunities. And that’s exciting… the creative juices are flowing and the world’s our oyster.

In just five years, The Premium Liquor Co. has become a key player on New Zealand’s drinks scene. General Manager Matt Bruce talks growth, the importance of being agile and their exciting new project in Hawke’s Bay…

RED DOOR HIGHLAND GIN

Our classic London Dry Gin delivers signature notes of juniper and bitter orange peel, complemented by our unique selection of botanicals, inspired by the landscape of Scotland. Best enjoyed with good quality tonic water and a wedge of pink grapefruit to make the perfect G&T. OPEN, SERVE AND SHARE THE GOOD TIMES. Exclusively distributed by Whisky Galore Order at

S E L F S H E LF

improvement

We’ve given the Invivo labels a new look that’s just as tasty as the award-winning contents of our bottles.