CHRISTMAS FUNCTION AT VIN ALTO

Saturday 21st November 11am

Departure from North Shore Event Centre

Transport provided to and from Clevedon

Natale della famiglia

Traditional Italian family style Christmas

MENU

Aperitivo

Vin Alto Classic White Port Spritzer

Vin Alto Classic white port poured over ice with fresh mint leaves topped with Tonic water

Antipasti dalla proprietà e la regione

Selection of antipasti from the farm and region with home made bread from the wood fired oven

Tre pasta variazioni

Salsiccia | Frutti di Mare | Verdure

Scaloppini con limone

Three varieties of home made pasta

Venison sausage | seafood | roasted vegetables

Veal Scaloppini

Tiramisu

Traditional Italian Christmas dessert of coffee soaked savoiardi biscuits, mascarpone and zabaglione

Caffè

Italian style wines will be served with the meal

Price Members $85 Non Members $95

CHRISTMAS AT VIN ALTO

Sunday 2nd December

Enoteca Menu

Kir aperitif on arrival (a blend of Vin Alto Cassis and Chardonnay)

Enzo's Home Smoked Salmon (made to an old Scottish recipe)

Served with Vin Alto La Riserva Chardonnay 2004

Margaret's Country Terrine made with Pork fillet, Spinach & fresh garden herbs

Served with Vin Alto Pinot Grigio 2006

Roasted Sirloin of Venison served with Tagliatelle Pasta, Wild Mushroom & Truffle sauce, accompanied by seasonal vegetables

Served with Vin Alto Celaio 2000

Cheese Board with home made nut wafers

Served with Clevedon Hills Leighton's Port

Devilish Chocolate Roulade (made with Belgium chocolate and Brandy)

Served with Vin Alto Limoncello Liqueur

Coffee

A vegetarian option available if requested in advance

You will be able to while away a pleasant Sunday afternoon in the Museum Tasting Room, which also houses Enzo's extensive collection of antique glassware and winemaking equipment; or otherwise in the intimate olive tree lined courtyard overlooking vineyards, herds of deer and views back to the city. This is an experience not to be missed.

Price: $69 members, $89 guests

When: Sunday 2nd December meeting at North Shore Events Centre at 9:30 for Xmas refreshments and a 9:45 departure. Return time approximately 5pm. There will be pick-up and drop-off points in the city.

NOBILO

Tuesday 13th November

Coopers Creek was established in 1980 and produced its first wines in 1982. Since then it has gained in size and reputation making it one of the most successful medium sized wineries of New Zealand. Export markets have been driven by owner and General Manager, Andrew Hendry, and currently account for between 50% and 60% of total production.

Coopers Creek produces wine styles that reflect the best of the viticultural climatic differences that exist in the regions of New Zealand under a variety of standard and reserve labels. It also produces other labels such as the popular Fat Cat Chardonnay. Currently, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are all in production at their own vineyard sites in Auckland and the Hawkes Bay and in other regions through contract growers.

Mills Reef Winery was first established in 1989 in Tauranga, New Zealand, by the Preston family. Since then, the company has gone on to receive significant critical acclaim. Mills Reef Wines have won over 500 medals in both national and international competitions.

Mills Reef is regarded as one of New Zealand's leading producers of Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay wines, it is:

Family owned by a hands-on father and son winemaking team

A producer of fine hand-crafted wines from premium Gimblett Gravels grapes

Highly regarded for Bordeaux red and Syrah varieties

KEW

Tuesday 11th September

KEW’s estate grown grapes are sourced entirely from their unique terraced and elevated vineyard, allowing winemaker Anita Ewart-Croy to create premium estate wines. Located in the Patutahi Plateau, renowned for producing excellent quality grapes, the vineyard is comprised of Merlot, Chardonnay, Malbec and Gewürztraminer.

WINES

KEW Wild Rose, Unwooded Chardonnay, Barrel Fermented Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Merlot, Top Flat Reserve Merlot, Malbec.

AWARDS

Wild Rosé 2004 - Bronze medal: Romeo Bragato Awards, Air NZ Wine Awards, Top 5 Rosés in NZ Cuisine Magazine, KEW Barrel Fermented Chardonnay rated in Cuisine magazine in the top 20 Chardonnay’s in NZ.

Recent success in the Bragato competition 6 wines 6 medals! KEW Estate Merlot 04, KEW Malbec 04 and KEW Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 04 Silver Medals, KEW 05, Unwooded, Wild Rose Chardonnay 05, and Top Flat Reserve 04 Bronze Medals.

Estate Merlot 04 Recommended by Cuisine (4 stars) Oct edition, Liquorland Top 100 Bronze Medal.

THE NARROW TABLE LUNCHEON

15 June 2008

APERITIF

Morton Estate Method Traditionelle Sparkling (Brut)

Dry with a fresh yeasty bouquet and crispy, nutty and lively flavours

ENTRÉES

FRENCH GOATS CHEESE w WARM BEETROOT SALAD

2007 Waipara Hills Dry Riesling

Dry and fresh and full of citrus flavours predominantly grapefruit and lime

OR

SEARED TUNA w CONFIT VINE TOMATO &SMOKED AUBERGINE PICKLE

2006 Mt. Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir

Slightly savoury with light plum flavours and underlying tannins

MAINS

RABBIT STEW w MUSCATELS &GOATS CHEESE IN CRISP FILO

2005 Marsden Estate Syrah / 2007 Marsden Estate Black Rocks Chardonnay

Syrah – Slightly earthy and with spicy and peppery flavours

Chardonnay – Slightly mealy and toasty with peach and citrus flavours

OR

CONFIT OF DUCK w ORANGE & RED CURRANTS

Morton Estate “The Regent” Merlot Cabernet / 2004 Taylors Jaraman Shiraz

Merlot Cabernet – Spicy and savoury

Shiraz – Displays a nose and flavours of coffee, chocolate, raspberry and aniseed

OR

BRAISED CHICKEN w CEP MUSHROOMS & BACON

2007 Lawson Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc / 2004 Morton Estate BL Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc – Passion fruit aromas with tropical fruit flavours

Chardonnay – Possesses a slight mineral nose with intense citrus flavours

DESSERTS

LEMON BRULEE

Omaha Bay Vineyards Flora

Flora – Citrusy and slightly spicy

Rose Tree Cottage – Displays citrusy and botrytis enriched flavours

OR

APPLE TART

2007 Rose Tree Cottage Noble Riesling / 2006 Spy Valley Noble Riesling

Spy Valley – Displays typical honey and apricot aromas and palate

MARSDEN ESTATE WINES

Tasted 13 May 2008

2007 Pinot Gris

New Zealand’s most northerly grown. Delicate floral and apple aromatics. The palate is distinctively Pinot Gris, displaying a velvety richness coupled with a spicy finish.

2007 Estate Chardonnay

The nose displays melon and peach characters while the palate adds a clean crisp backbone to this richly structured wine. Uncluttered by oak or malo-lactic fermentation.

2007 Black Rocks Chardonnay

Whole bunch pressed, fermented at cold temperatures to capture fruit flavours. Full malo-lactic fermentation and weekly lees stirring coupled with twelve months maturation in French and American barrels help produces this full bodied chardonnay.

2004 Pinotage

Rich and deep in colour the nose reveals rich earth and spice characters. The palate is rich and full enhanced by 18 months oak maturation.

2006 Chambourcin

Deep ink and crimson in colour the bouquet shows berry characters typical of this verity. Medium bodied in style the pallet is youthful and fresh.

2005 Syrah

Oak aged for 15 months the wine displays a spicy vanillin bouquet. The pallet is warm and generous coupled with integrated oak and finely balanced tannins.

1999 Port

Oak aged for 5 years this rich wine intense depth of flavours in complemented by a slither of sweetness.

MORTON ESTATE

April

Morton Estate’s vineyards are concentrated in Hawkes Bay and Marlborough.One of Morton Estate’s newest wine varieties – already popular with the public- has been awarded the top prize for Premium White Varietals in the Hawkes Bay’s leading wine competition. The Morton Estate Private Reserve Viognier from the 2007 vintage was awarded the Trophy at the Hawkes Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards. It was also the only wine in its class to be awarded a Gold Medal.

The Morton Estate White Label Viognier 2007 also gained a Silver Medal at the awards. Viognier is a relatively new variety for New Zealand winemakers but its potential is causing excitement – the win by the Morton Estate Private reserve Viognier is one example of how well this variety responds to different conditions.

Wines Tasted:

Black Label Methode Tradionnelle 2000

Private Reserve Hawkes Bay Viognier 2007

Musetta Merlot Malbec Rose

Black Label Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2004

Black Label Marlborough Pinot Noir 2005

Black Label The Regent Merlot Cabernet 2002

Black Label Semillon Chardonnay