Glengarry's Sunday ramblings of all things vinous, grain and glorious. The Sunday Sediment. Issue Seventy-Seven
Sarah, Welcome to the Seventy-Seventh edition of The Sunday Sediment, a collection of what’s new, what’s on and what’s happening instore at Glengarry and within the world of wine. Sip away.
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ITALIANI ROSA PINK SPARKLERS FROM THE LAND OF PASTA & PROSECCO
Ciao. Are you Italian? No? We thought not. In
Of interest here is Prosecco. Produced largely
that case you’re probably more than a little
in the north, this inherently Italian style is the
confused by the proliferation of uniquely-
current high-flier (popularity-wise) of that
monikered sparkling wines that emanate from
country’s sparkling wine. When it comes to
Italy’s shores. Prosecco, Lambrusco, Asti,
pink, however, the Prosecco Powers That Be
Franciacorta – it’s all a little murky if you don’t
hold fiercely to their traditional white-wine
quite know what’s going on. The ancient
identity; i.e. no red varieties permitted. This is
Greeks, who had a word for everything, called
not to say that rose Proseccos don’t exist; they
Italy Oenotria, or Land of Vines. It was true
just can’t be labelled as such.
then and it is still so today, because no other country produces such a remarkably diverse range of wine styles.
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Want to know what such a thing would taste like? The rather lovely and delicate sparkling rose from Santa Margherita fits that bill. Made from Prosecco’s Glera variety with some red input via a kiss of Malbec, it is elegantly fresh, florally fragrant, delivering that same refreshing, easy-drinking quality that makes Prosecco so popular.
There are few Italian winemakers who do not produce a spumante style (spumante being Italian for sparkling wine). The finest are crafted in the most northerly regions of Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. The most fashionably successful is Prosecco. Italy produces more sparkling wine styles than any other country, including an impressive selection of sparkling roses.
Prosecco aces Mionetto produce a refined and fragrant sparkling extra-dry rose. Aromatic notes of grapefruit, blackcurrent and rose enhance its raspberry and strawberry characters. Just the thing for a little casual sipping in the sun. Made the same way as champagne, the
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thoroughbred Franciacorta is its Italian equivalent and includes some very fine rose expressions. Fashioned for early consumption, the historically sweet Lambrusco is a red variety that is these days used to make an increasingly dry and refreshing sparkling rose.
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WHISTLING SISTERS
If you have been to Ghuznee Street in the last
Continuing on the theme of “Red�, the new Red
year or two you might have noticed it has
Pils also pushes established boundaries,
begun to rival Cuba Street in the Cool stakes.
combining old world and new world hop
With a rash of brew pubs, eateries, trendy
varieties to create a refreshing beer that has a
clothing stores, and coffee shops this is
decent malt base, yet maintains balanced and
certainly an area to make a point of visiting.
subtle flavours.
Perched on the corner of Ghuznee St and Taranaki St, in what used to be the Salvation
For the stout drinkers the recent variation is
Army Op shop, is Whistling Sisters
Orange Blossom. Using the hopback system
Fermentary. The passion project of hospitality
once again, 10kg of fresh oranges were
heavy weight Russell Scott (Leuven Bar, The
introduced into the brew to add a subtle citrus
Featherston City Tavern, Avida Bar) and Bede
twist. This nicely rounds off the toasted aromas
Roe, began when they opened doors in March
and flavours into a smooth finish.
of this year. Bede and head brewer Dale Gould produce craft beer that cater to all types of beer drinkers.
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For the conservative beer drinker there is the
So far all of these beers have sat at sub 5.5%
core range XPA or Golden Lager. These are
ABV. For the more adventurous drinkers there
session-able beers that won’t strip your taste
are a series of one-off beers. Using only the
buds. The seasonal range consists of beers
freshest ingredients, these beers push the
purpose-built for events, festivals, or climate;
boundaries of that beer can be. Long Live
new and exciting riffs on classic beer styles.
Livia; an Italian Imperial Pilsner, uses single origin Eraclea, and Slovenian hops with bay
Whistling Sisters gained notoriety at Beervana
leaves and chestnuts to create a powerful (8%
2018 with their Sipping Duck: Thai Red Curry
abv) yet well balanced beer. With malty sweet
Ale. This beer earned them a place in the top
aromas and hints of honey this beer has subtle
15 People’s Choice Awards. Using a hopback
floral notes and a touch of citrus.
(a sealed chamber into which you would usually put whole leaf hops) they imbue the flavours of your favourite red duck Thai curry into a beer. Using real roast duck to achieve this, some people might have second thoughts, but with a lot of care this brew walks the tightrope of familiar while also maintaining the exotic.
If beer alone isn’t enough to get you down to Whistling Sisters, then maybe the charcuterie treats of award winning chef John Allred (Osteria del Toro) will entice you. Or perhaps you just want to see why the ‘loo’ was featured among the top ten in www.wellingtonnz.nz. Or perhaps you want to do the Brewery tour to find out more. There is certainly more than one good reason to visit Whistling Sisters. Read More..
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DOMAINE PAUL JABOULET AINE
Long one of the Rhone’s most recognisable brands, replete with well-tended vineyards, careful vinification, and diligent aging practices (right down to employing their own cooper, who makes and maintains their stock of barrels).
There has been much change at Paul Jaboulet Aine in recent times, all of it for the better with the Frey family, of Bordeaux’ Chateau La Lagune and Champagne’s Billecart-Salmon, taking over the reins. The change in ownership has introduced a welcome shot in the arm, one that has enabled a perhaps tiring Jaboulet to
While there is an indelible Jaboulet character
regain significant ground and capture once
to all of the wines, the key to them - whether
again the glories of their past. After all, when
you're looking at the rustic Cotes du Ventoux,
you manage some of the most significant
the lusciously rich Beaumes de Venise dessert
pieces of wine real estate in the world, you'd
wines, or the brooding, earthy flavours of the
want that to show in the bottle, wouldn’t you? 6
other reds - is that they are an accurate and authentic reflection of where they're grown.
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TASTINGS AND EVENTS
WINEMAKERS DINNER | JERVOIS What better in mid January than a winemakers dinner? Guillermo Beltramín from Emiliana in Casablanca, Chile is coming to NZ and will host a beautiful dinner in our wine lounge. Our Chilean Head Chef Loreto will match these Biodynamic wines with a selection Tapas that she’s creating just for this dinner. The dinner will feature six of the Emiliana wines. WHEN: Wednesday 16th January
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WHERE: Glengarry Jervois Rd, 54 Jervois Rd Ponsonby TIME: 7.00pm
MEET MICHEL DRAPPIER | VICTORIA PARK 7
We are delighted to be hosting Michel Drappier in Auckland in January 2019. A wonderful opportunity to meet Michel and taste the range. Drappier is based in the Urville region of Champagne. The house, founded in 1808, produces both vintage and non-vintage cuvee as well as a prestige wine known as Grande Sendree Drappier is considered one of the finest boutique champagne producers in the world. We will taste the entire range available WHEN: Thursday 17th January
to us! Carte Blanche NV, Rose de Saignee, Blanc de Blanc Signature Brut, Quattour Blanc
WHERE: Glengarry Victoria Park,
de Blanc, Millesime Exception 2012 and 2013,
118 Wellesley St West Auckland TIME: 7.00pm
Grand Sendree 2008 and Grand Sendree Rose 2008. Read more....
PRESTIGE CHAMPAGNE TASTING | THORNDON For a strictly controlled region such as Champagne it is surprising that there very few regulations regarding Prestige Champagne. However, it is clearly in the best interest of each House to make sure that these wines are the very best that they can produce. A typical Prestige Champagne is made entirely from Grand Cru grapes from the oldest vines. These
WHEN: Wednesday 30th January
wines are also aged a lot longer in the cellars
WHERE: Glengarry Thorndon,
and there are numerous examples of late
53 Hutt Rd, Thorndon
disgorged wines. There is also more thought
TIME: 6.00pm
put in to the bottle and the presentation to make it as luxurious and special as possible. We have a stellar line up and look forward to trying them with you. Read more....
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That's it for this week's Sunday Sediment. Issue Seventy-Eight will be winging its way to your inbox next Sunday. Cheers,
Jak Jakicevich
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