The Auswine Forum

Looks good to me (and I've not been there). The only other place I just thought of was a similar kind of venue - Capri Cafe and Bar in Mission Bay. La Bocca maybe looks better though. Any other opinions from anyone? I'll give it a day for other views then see about booking a table at La Bocca

last time they gave us a seperate room, one big table and arranged a set menu which was very reasonable. im easy. as long as the food is wine friendly im not fussy. from memory the glassware wasnt too bad at la bocca which is onew thing you have to watch with BYO's????

Any chance we can do a serious wine tasting - then if we have to go to a restaurant, then finger food afterwards.
Would be nice if we could get a glass for each wine - if 10 wines then 10 glasses and actually line up the wines - see how they are evolving.
Anyone know anyone who might be prepared to lend us their wine tasting room - perhaps with an invite to sit in on the tasting.
I wonder if we can hire the Glengarry Wine Academy room, for example.

I've taken the liberty of emailing Stonyridge to see if anyone there might be interested in attending (and plugging a few gaps, of course). Hope that you don't mind.

sounds a good idea. i should seriously try to think of some more people that may be interested. i can think of a couple of people who were past workmates but lost touch with them unfortunately. maybe i advertise it on my website??

Any chance we can do a serious wine tasting - then if we have to go to a restaurant, then finger food afterwards. Would be nice if we could get a glass for each wine - if 10 wines then 10 glasses and actually line up the wines - see how they are evolving.

I'm easy. You wont catch me spitting any thats for sure. Just as happy in a relaxed atmosphere with food and getting to know a few people. That's how I drink my vino, especially the good stuff

Notebook at hand of course, all scores with a margin of error of 5 points hehe, no warranty implied or given

SueNZ wrote:Would be nice if we could get a glass for each wine - if 10 wines then 10 glasses and actually line up the wines - see how they are evolving.
Anyone know anyone who might be prepared to lend us their wine tasting room

I'd also much prefer this approach to that of a restaurant.

I'm still not 100% sure I can make it on the 23rd, but if I can I'll bring an 89.

Cheers, Rob

SueNZ wrote:Any chance we can do a serious wine tasting - then if we have to go to a restaurant, then finger food afterwards.
Would be nice if we could get a glass for each wine - if 10 wines then 10 glasses and actually line up the wines - see how they are evolving.
Anyone know anyone who might be prepared to lend us their wine tasting room - perhaps with an invite to sit in on the tasting.
I wonder if we can hire the Glengarry Wine Academy room, for example.

I don't really mind either way, so long as I get to taste them all, meet the folk on the forum and have a good chat. If you're thinking of a tasting room, Sue, could you look into the Glengarry thing? I don't know anything about that. If we are looking for a tasting venue, we could bring nibbles, finger foods to make it social too - I wouldn't want it to lose a social element completely. Anther fine wine store that might be interested in hosting (in order to get a free ticket, so to speak) is Caro's - they often runs tastings. Also, what about First Glass Sue - does it have a room for tasting? I could inquire at Caro's - I know the guys in passing.

Hi, Put me down for 95. Do we have any a spot or two open ? ... might ask a friend or two and bring a 90 & 91

Hi, Put me down for 95. Do we have any a spot or two open ? ... might ask a friend or two and bring a 90 & 91

The more the merrier up to about 14 people id say. My 2x contacts both look non starters

A bottle between 14 people is still a good std half glass

If we are looking for a tasting venue, we could bring nibbles, finger foods to make it social too -

agree. im not into slurp swish and spit into a bucket when it comes to my carefully collected and stored gems.

To update, its looking like:

Mike/Claire (02, 07)
Craig +1 (96, 00)
Nayan (94)
Curt (95 + possibly 90 and/or 91)
Sue/Neil (99, 04)
Rob (hopefully, 89)

So, we may have (confirmed in bold): 89, 90, 91, 94, 95, 96, 99, 00, 02, 04, 07

looks good!! covered all the recent great vintages. 05 I guess would be the next biggest hole

looking forward to it

Yes, I'm quite excited about this! I had in mind that the 07 I'll be bringing would be of interest purely to show the extent of maturation of earlier vintages, almost as just a curiosity (as its undoubtedly a bit soon to be drinking it). However, after reading your recent note on the 07 on KWFC where you raved about it, I'm even excited about this one!

I hope someone will take detailed notes - and posts them! What a fabulous tasting this should be....

I hope someone will take detailed notes - and posts them! What a fabulous tasting this should be....

yip. Will make a kwfc feature and no doubt notes posted here too.

if we have any other people wanting to attend without suitable vintages and need to buy in im sure others have additional vintages that they would let go for say $100 or of course you can get the odd reasonably priced bottle retail; these days.

Yes, I'm quite excited about this! I had in mind that the 07 I'll be bringing would be of interest purely to show the extent of maturation of earlier vintages, almost as just a curiosity (as its undoubtedly a bit soon to be drinking it). However, after reading your recent note on the 07 on KWFC where you raved about it, I'm even excited about this one!

not sure how long the bottle had been open but the 07 was pure, pristine and very drinkable now

Phil Wilkins wrote:I hope someone will take detailed notes - and posts them! What a fabulous tasting this should be....

Hey Phil,

I'll make a point of breaking the habit of a lifetime and actually write this one up on the UK Wine Forum too.

Cheers,

Nayan

Bick wrote: If you're thinking of a tasting room, Sue, could you look into the Glengarry thing? I don't know anything about that. If we are looking for a tasting venue, we could bring nibbles, finger foods to make it social too - I wouldn't want it to lose a social element completely. Anther fine wine store that might be interested in hosting (in order to get a free ticket, so to speak) is Caro's - they often runs tastings. Also, what about First Glass Sue - does it have a room for tasting? I could inquire at Caro's - I know the guys in passing.

Unfortunately Glengarry's at Vic Park has a wine academy on that day.
First Glass does not have a special wine room.
Could you check with Caro's.
Thks, Sue

Bumpity, bump, bump

Just over a week to go, any venue yet?

I've heard back from Stonyridge and the Director, David Jackson and the winemaker, Summer Bell are very interested in attending.

I need to send them details at the earliest.

yip. time and place would be good asap. Mel needs to know whether she can fit netball in as well (shes dreaming i think) or just lunch

i think we can assume my two contacts are negative. i have one cannot attend and one i havent heard back from so looks unlikely

my 2 friends are in ... so the 90 & 91 are too

my 2 friends are in ... so the 90 & 91 are too

awesome!!

I've heard back from Stonyridge and the Director, David Jackson and the winemaker, Summer Bell are very interested in attending.

awesom! hehe, pressure on for 87, 05 or pre release 08

I'll swing by Caro's on the way home from work tonight and firm that up, if they are ok with it - sounds like they will be.

I was in two minds about the venue as its the back of the shop, not a separate room, but I don't suppose that matters. Only onther tasting room venue I came up with was the basement of the liquorland in Mt Eden - they have a tasting room and would let us use it for free. Two problems though - its underground so no natural light for Sue's appreciation of wine colour, and when I looked at the room, it had no tables or chairs! I wouldn't risk it that they might show up in time.

If its Caro's we can always meet nearby for a bite to eat, then go to the tasting. Will post later tonight or tomorrow to let you know if its firmed up at Caro's anyway.

Great news about the confirmed vintages and attendances!

I'll swing by Caro's on the way home from work tonight and firm that up, if they are ok with it - sounds like they will be.

I was in two minds about the venue as its the back of the shop, not a separate room, but I don't suppose that matters. Only onther tasting room venue I came up with was the basement of the liquorland in Mt Eden - they have a tasting room and would let us use it for free. Two problems though - its underground so no natural light for Sue's appreciation of wine colour, and when I looked at the room, it had no tables or chairs! I wouldn't risk it that they might show up in time.

If its Caro's we can always meet nearby for a bite to eat, then go to the tasting. Will post later tonight or tomorrow to let you know if its firmed up at Caro's anyway.

Great news about the confirmed vintages and attendances!

Great! We could always organise to meet at a bar/cafe in parnell or something for early lunch/ coffee/ ale and some social BS for those interested beforehand. Agree, its great we can get this thing off the turf with good interest and range of vintages. Interest has exceeded my expectations.

We can see how final numbers fall but there is a possibility I could bring an 05 with an extra head if it all falls as a good idea in the final muster.

C

Personally, I'd rather taste then eat. Always find my palate dulled slightly after lunch.

Also would mean that we could talk more about the wines over a few more glasses of something else.

Nayan wrote:Personally, I'd rather taste then eat. Always find my palate dulled slightly after lunch.

Also would mean that we could talk more about the wines over a few more glasses of something else.

Agree with you Nayan - taste then eat is the way I would prefer too.
Cheers,
Sue

Personally, I'd rather taste then eat. Always find my palate dulled slightly after lunch.

Also would mean that we could talk more about the wines over a few more glasses of something else.

all good points, sounds good to me. also after "lunch" no need to book, we can just wander in somewhere. all we now is confirmation on time/ place.

Ok, spoke with John Caro tonight - he seemed fine about it in theory, so I'm sure it will be ok, but as he knows Rob (Paradox) well, and knows he's involved, he asked if he could arrange through Rob. Fair enough.

So, Rob, I'll pm you his mobile, in case you don't have it - he asked if you could phone him tomorrow (tuesday) to sort it out. Is that ok? Many thanks.

Sounds like we'd be interested in maybe a two hour slot leading up to a late-ish lunch, so maybe see if he's ok with us being there from say 11:30-1:30 pm on the 23rd? From what I can see there should be 13 of us. Thanks in advance, Rob.

Sorry but logistically it's no go at Caro's. Another venue needed....
Rob

Oh bugger! thanks for looking into it anyway Rob. I'll see if "The Chiller" close by can do it - I'll ask tomorrow. If not, we'll need another idea as backup very soon. The (underground) Liquorland tasting room in Mt Eden is an option, albeit not ideal. Anyway, I'll zap round a few places tomorrow (wed) lunchtime and try to nail something down.

Not surprised re Caros at all. I think you will find the idea of having 13 bottles x 13 people (169 glasses with set up and clean up) in a formal wine show style tasting is going to be a logistical issue whereever we go and perhaps an imposition without suitable 'payment' in kind.

Maybe put a booking in at La Bocca earlier rather than later as insurance policy?? You can always pull the pin if a better option eventuates.

Sue, where do the glasses for wine shows come from? would you have access to them? Could we go private with glasses supplied from outside??

FWDC has a function room. I dont think its cheap but split between 13 it could be an option, lovely venue - glassware would be great negotiate a price for a lunchtime event could be a goer in this economic environment if its lying dormant. They can arrange catering too for a few nibbles

Cheap option would be all sit in aotea square with a bottle in a brown bag and a skateboard and just pass it round them round the circle

Just throwing ideas out. Bicks the man with the can this time. Happy to fit in whatever he arranges

C

While I can't do leg work (as I'm still down in Blenheim), I do have plenty of time on my hands so if you need someone to phone around places, then I'm game. Just let me know who to call.

Really looking forward to this and keen for it not to fall at the last hurdle.