Barrels & Bottles Wine Blog

Another surprise drop in visit on Saturday by my cousins resulted in yet another test for the authors wine cellar and culinary skills... which went as far as dialing for a Chinese meal from the local take-away. I have to admit to feeling hungrier than usual (yes it is possible) so there was a mass of assorted stir-fry food in the middle of the dining table for people to get stuck into.

My usual Sauvignons were rested for a more simpler food so it was left to either a bottle of Domaine Camplazens Viognier from the Languedoc or the Koberner Weisenberg Riesling Kabinett from the Mosel region of Germany.

I was favouring the Riesling I have to admit. I have a secret love for German wines stemming back to when I first joined the company and looking to expand my wine knowledge. Alas my sales pitch failed and the Viognier was opened. I was glad I was swayed.

The wine really stood up very well against the rich, spicy Chinese food. Viognier tends to create strongly textured white wines and the use of the French oak really lifted the wine into the heavy-weight category. Even the crispy beef in Cantonese sauce was duly tamed and excited by the offering.

With no ice to hand the bottle did start to warm over the course of the dinner to a noticeable detriment. This was quickly resolved by a quick blast in the freezer to drop it back to optimum drinking temperature again. I have a bad habit of doing this and typing this has decided for me it is time to find a new ice bucket to chill my wines during meals.

Labels: camplazens, viognier, wine

Last night saw a fantastic dinner based around the wines of Schlumberger of Alsace, France. Hosted by the enigmatic Severine Schlumberger herself the dinner featured the entire range of wines as produced by her Uncle.

Alsace wines have always paired well with food and Schlumberger proved this beyond doubt. Delicate, fresh, impeccably clean and amazingly well balanced the wines partnered each course with perfection... each bringing the best flavours and textures from each other.

Sarting with Confit of Salmon on a corriander infused salad, matched with a pair of Rieslings , moving through fillet of Pork wrapped in Morrel mousse with babay vegetables, which went stunningly with the 2005 Princes des Abbes Pinot Gris. A lively balance of ripe grapefruit and deep fruit aromas worked exceptionally well with the slightly fatty texture of the Pork with a very light Jus Lie.

The winning combination was undoubtedly the Pink Peppercorn Cheescake with a Black pepper Tuille and a Strawberry mint and Blasamic salsa, served with a pair of excellent gewurztraminers.

An excellent night with great food and Severine gave a super account of the philosophy behind Schlumberger estate.

Labels: events, food, france, wine

It really is a tough life being a wine merchant. Today the office is filled with various Christmas cakes, biscuits and chocolates which all need testing to see which will make it into our Christmas wine and food hampers.

This sounds like a dream task and everyone in the office was too excited about the prospect of eating Christmas cake on a Thursday in September. The amateurs soon fell by the wayside leaving only the dedicated gluttons and the buyers left in the running. Dominic Field was the surprise combatant managing to try every cake on display. A stunning performance.

Everyone can rest assured we have selected some fabulously tasty cakes and chocolates for this years wine hampers.

Labels: christmas, food, wine

Forget polystyrene and plain brown card when sending wines through the post... you can now send 6 bottles of wine through the post complete with a wine rack!



Costing the same as standard transit boxes but with the added benefit of an instant wine rack already assembled. Simply lift out of the outer box and you have an instant wine rack complete with any 6 bottles of wine or Champagne.

Made from recycled card, the RackPac is stackable and can be replenished many times over. We have undertaken test deliveries with delivery couriers with 100% success. The wines and RackPac arriving undamaged.

Bespoke printing and colours are available on short-run quantities making the RackPac also suitable for corporate branding, counter top displays in off licenses and for the gift market for winery promotions.

Full details due very soon.

Labels: news, rackpac, wine

Highfield Winery are pleased to announce that after an international search they have appointed Pete Coldwell to the role of Sales and Marketing Manager. This new role will be based in Marlborough and Pete will be responsible for managing all aspects of our sales and marketing strategy.

Pete moved to New Zealand from the UK with his Kiwi wife and children 16 months ago, since then he's been the Export Director for C J Pask wines in Hawkes Bay. His background in the UK was in the hospitality sector, including marketing, sales and operations roles. He has had his own consultancy company for the last few years and carried out a number of wine reviews for large UK bar operators.

Labels: highfield, new zealand, news

With great trepidation I have hit 30 years old this weekend, on the 30th of August. I will be trying to put a brave face on and celebrate in fine style but this may be difficult as I feel over the hill.

I have been constantly checking my hair line for any signs that it may be retreating faster than the British coast line. There isn't much I can do about hitting the big 30 so I will be out and about having a few drinks this weekend with friends and work mates on the plus side now I am a mature middle aged man this could be a great excuse to drink red wine, and perhaps I may smoke a pipe while wearing slippers. I might even come dressed for work in a tweed suite with brief case.

This may be some kind of mid life crisis but I have noticed I keep putting pens in my shirt pocket like my old school teachers. I'm off to do something sensible.

by Matt Thompson

Labels: news

I am as guilty (probably like everyone else) of treating Rose wines similar to an embarrassing cousin. Not really a full-bodied red but neither an exciting and vigorous white wine... but occupying some middle no-mans ground that is very easy to shrug past.

Thankfully I was forced to try a bottle of Bellagio Pinot Grigio Rose from Italy last night. A surprise visit by my Aunt and Uncle demanded a bottle of wine but the only thing to hand (that was not sparkling) was the Bellagio Rose. Fearing the worst I flash chilled it for 30 mins, made my apologies before hand and duly served it.

I was expecting insipid strawberry juice but instead we got strong raspberry tones, depth in the middle of the palate and enough alcohol to keep the driver from having a large glass. Everyone enjoyed the wine and I was shocked at the concept of liking it. But I did. This will certainly be on our future list for the cellar.

This got me thinking about wine drinking in general. Most of us tend to stick with the same wine or at least the same grape variety or countries. This is understandable with the sheer range of wines on offer and the cost of buying something that may not be to our liking. This is usually bolstered with the expression "I know what I like"... this should really be "I like what I know". Preconceptions and limitations (knowledge and financial) keep us within a comfort zone. I am a guilty as the next person for misplaced preconceptions... last nights Bellagio Rose brought this home.

For the rest of the year I am ditching my default wine list and setting out on an unchartered voyage to try wines that I have not previously tried. I am no doubt I will discover some howlers along the way but hopefully (and this is the expectation) I will find something truly superb which I can add to my personal drinking list and heartedly recommend to others.

Labels: tasting, wine