I spent an enjoyable afternoon at the New Zealand Wine Annual Trade Tasting with a number of the Focus PR crew yesterday. We met some really passionate producers, sampled the new 2009 vintages and saw why sales of NZ wines are at an all-time high.
The tasting was buzzing and the producers were particularly positive, saying it had been packed all day. Between us we managed to visit most of the 70+ tables and bumped into Oz Clarke, who weâd last seen filming at the Courvoisier Architectural Punch Bowl in December, Anthony Rose, Mathew Jukes and Jamie Goode to name but a few journalists.
There was a lot more red wine at the tasting compared with previous years, and to highlight this there was a fantastic self pour seminar on NZ red wines at which the Elephant Hill Reserve Syrah really stood out. The 2009 Sauvignon Blancs were also showing really nicely â crisp and aromatic with mineral and gooseberry overtones. However, my highlights from the tasting had to come from the special showcase table: sweet wine at last! Regulations over the importation of these wines into the EU have thankfully been relaxed allowing us to enjoy some of the fantastic late harvest and sweet-style wines. So, look out for my faves, Craggy Range Noble Riesling and the Waipara West Late Harvest Chardonnay!