The Auswine Forum

Dear Craig and SueNZ and other Kiwi's

There must be at least a small bunch of us who would love to come over to NZ and try your wines (particularly the reds). What might be possible?

Who's interested and what would be the best way to get a faceful of your top wines (without paying $1800 for a 2 day conference)?

Cheers

Luke

Certainly happy to give advice re wineries to visit etc and always keen for an offline dinner where possible

C

Craig

Where and when would be the way to go? I'm aware that many of the premium places may not even be available for tastings. Last time i went to NZ, I lived in a Winnebago for a month but I doubt that I should be doing this while going for wine tastings..

Do u have big tasting week-ends in various regions that link up or events that are affordable?

Thanks for any advice

Luke

Hey,

And if we do this in may/june with the Grange release and the current airfares, we could get a bottle of 04 Grange from NZ and essentially pay for the flight with the savings, whilst enjoying the tastings of NZ food and wine...

Perhaps this could be a tour group sort of thing...

Do u have big tasting week-ends in various regions that link up or events that are affordable?

nope. Everything is adhoc. We follow our nose and organise tours/ tastings as we feel like em

We would very gladly host a lunch and open some bottles for Auswine members travelling through the Wairarapa ... www.wycroft.com

I could be interested in a weekend in inzid. Flights are very cheap right now.

I think that going to NZ in winter may be problematic for travel - when would you suggest would be the best time Craig? Is it possible to procure many of these wines in Auckland or somewhere and get together and drink them?

cheers

Luke

I've just booked myself a weekend break in Christchurch in mid June (long story short I won a free flight to NZ on a work trip to Wellington in February). Part of the plan is to spend at least one of the weekend days hitting some wineries - can anyone pass on some recommendations? Need to be hittable from Christchurch as I haven't the time to re-base myself in Queenstown...

Thanks in advance.

Loztralia wrote:I've just booked myself a weekend break in Christchurch in mid June (long story short I won a free flight to NZ on a work trip to Wellington in February). Part of the plan is to spend at least one of the weekend days hitting some wineries - can anyone pass on some recommendations? Need to be hittable from Christchurch as I haven't the time to re-base myself in Queenstown...

Thanks in advance.

Go up the road an hour or so to Waipara and visit Pegasus Bay, Waipara Springs and a few others.

Luke W wrote:Craig

Where and when would be the way to go? I'm aware that many of the premium places may not even be available for tastings. Last time i went to NZ, I lived in a Winnebago for a month but I doubt that I should be doing this while going for wine tastings..

Do u have big tasting week-ends in various regions that link up or events that are affordable?

Thanks for any advice

Luke

Not Craig - but if you want the biggest tasting weekend there is Pinot Noir 2010 in Wellington next year - but that's the $1800 2-day thing.

You can go to wine festivals and the like but you end up spending an awful lot of money especially if you want to taste rather than drink.
If wanting to tour wine regions, summer is better as many places close after Easter for the winter, although they may open for a group.
I reckon you could put together a good itinerary if you had a week and a bunch of friends in a mini bus. Wouldn't be time for much additional sight seeing though, except from the air. The flight from Auckland to Queenstown is most of the most scenic I've ever flown - but it was a good day.

What's a winnebago, BTW.

Cheers,
Sue

Luke W wrote:Dear Craig and SueNZ and other Kiwi's

There must be at least a small bunch of us who would love to come over to NZ and try your wines (particularly the reds). What might be possible?

Who's interested and what would be the best way to get a faceful of your top wines (without paying $1800 for a 2 day conference)?

Cheers

Luke

Luke - Just remembered - Wine (previously called Wine NZ) is on from 23-25th August. A three day trade fair. $20 per day. A really good introduction to NZ and its wines.
http://www.hospitalitynz.co.nz/wine.htm
Could base some dinners and local tours around it.
But you do kind of have to be either wine media or in the wine trade.

Not Craig - but if you want the biggest tasting weekend there is Pinot Noir 2010 in Wellington next year - but that's the $1800 2-day thing.

rip off. pay me $1800 and I will make sure you taste twice as many great nz wines as Pinot Noir 2010 and not just pinot noir either

not as many boring speeches either

Dear Sue

A winnebago is a large camper van (there were 5 of us altogether).....

I like the idea of 23-25 August - I wonder where can we get accreditation from?

I might try the local paper


Thanks

Luke

Hi, if you get to Hawke's Bay on your travels to NZ I'd be more than happy to help out with a tour itinerary, bookings whatever down here. Let me know how it works out.
Cheers
Lyn

Lyn

I'd love to get to Hawke's Bay - is there a cheap flight from Christchurch?

I don't think that I'm going to have time to drive and ferry given only 8 days planned and a return ticket to Christchurch.

Cheers

Luke

Luke W wrote:Lyn

I'd love to get to Hawke's Bay - is there a cheap flight from Christchurch?

I don't think that I'm going to have time to drive and ferry given only 8 days planned and a return ticket to Christchurch.

Cheers

Luke

Luke - you didn't mention the return ticket to ChCh before.
If you are in ChCh on Tuesday on 7th July, then Hawkes Bay will come to you - right Lyn?
click here for details.

However, July is not really the best time of year for touring the South Island wineries - unless you like to ski too.

Cheers,
Sue

Bummer Sue

I'll be in NZ in Feb 2010 (17th - 26th) - any other place in the South Is that will feature Hawkes Bay?

Ta

Luke