NZ Wineries make a splash again

Published: 27/02/2008

What a week we have just had. One hundred wineries descended on Melbourne and Sydney last week to show their new vintage wines. This year marks the largest showcase yet, and was well attended by trade and general consumers alike.

The event is organised by NZ Wine Growers Australia and I would have to say this is the most professional trade show I have attended in a long time. Not only were the venues well chosen, but the glassware (Spiegelau) was appropriate and a substantial amount of cheese, biscuits and nibbles were available for the duration of the event.

Melbourne

Selador Wines had the pleasure of representing Domaine Georges Michel (Marlborough) and Wild Earth (Central Otago). We met both wineries over consecutive years at the same event. Have we met anyone else to be added to the portfolio………you will have to wait and see!

Domaine Georges Michel continue to produce consumer friendly, wines with varietal and regional characters. The twist is that although made from NZ fruit, the style is more restrained and elegant. As the family have French origins this is no surprise and adds to the unique character of the wine. We just love selling and consuming their wines!

Wild Earth is relatively new to the portfolio, and despite this we have sold our first allocation in less than 12 months. They produce a Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The wines are food friendly, with weight and character that ensure they stand out from the crowd. If only I had counted the number of consumers that came back to the stand and commented on the Pinot Noir as being one of the best examples of a Central Otago Pinot Noir in the room!

A small gathering took place on Tuesday 19th February at Iku Izakaya (www.iku-izakaya.com.au) where Swan Michel (winemaker for Domaine Georges Michel) and Quintin Quider (owner of Wild Earth) jointly hosted an amazing night. Tucked away at Yarra’s Edge, Docklands, with a very balmy night, guests worked their way through 7 wines and 5 taste sensations. Despite it being a ‘school night’ the evening was a great success, with the last guest leaving around 12:30am. A huge thank you to the team at Iku Izakaya.

Sydney

This is a newish market for us at Selador Wines, and our Sydney wine representatives (Tim Donelan and Dan Morris) are doing us proud. We spent a day at NZ in a glass, meeting trade and the general public, then two days on the road.

I am always relieved to be driven around Sydney when out visiting clients, as this takes the pressure off and enables a few extra visits to be made. Both Tim and Dan have made the most of having Quintin from Wild Earth in town. Several new accounts have been won and there has been an increase in the number of new listings for Wild Earth, Central Otago.

Mention should be made of Busshari Restaurant (119 Macleay Street, Potts Point), which is a favourite for Quintin. My dining experience was very brief (as I was en-route to the airport) but long enough to know I will go back (and sample the beef wagu that I missed out on)!

Thanks again to Tim and Dan for looking after me and the wineries. I look forward to visiting again very soon.