WINE - OTAGO
Some of Central Otago’s oldest and rarest wines are to be collected from the Gibbston Valley Wine library and dusted off for an historic wine tasting.
Legendary wine vignerons Alan Brady and Grant Taylor will join current Gibbston Valley winemaker Christopher Keys on Saturday September 1 to co-host a ‘Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir Grand Vertical Tasting’ at Queenstown Resort College.
Beginning at 10.30am, they will be tasting four flights of Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir including the Pioneer Pinot Noirs (1990, 1991, 1993), the Golden Years (1996, 1999, 2000), GT Classics (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005) and Modern Times (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).
The tasting is being held on the same day Gibbston Valley Winery celebrates the 25th anniversary of the vineyard’s first commercial harvest with a black tie dinner in the winery’s new Barrel Hall.
Christopher Keys described the vertical tasting as “truly a once in a lifetime event”.
“The wines at the tasting are now excruciatingly rare, so clearly this will be a unique and thoroughly fascinating walk through our Pinot Noir history, quite an experience,” he said.
Mr Keys said such a tasting would not be complete without the personalities so instrumental in setting the standard for Gibbston Valley and its Pinot Noirs.
“Gibbston Valley Wine founder Alan Brady, and winemaker for 14 years Grant Taylor need little introduction,” he said.
“They’re legends in their craft, and their thoughts, insights, memories and personalities will bring great life to this tasting, and these wines,” he said. “They’ll both be joining me at the tasting as my special guests.”
Spaces for this unique and special event are extremely limited.
Gibbston Valley Wine Club members and a guest, both attending the 25th Anniversary Dinner, are being given the first opportunity to attend the tasting on a “first in, first served” basis.
Wine Club members who miss out on a place at the Grand Vertical Tasting will be placed on a waiting list and given the first opportunity to take place in a second Masterclass called ‘Reserved!’, beginning at 1pm the same afternoon.
“With ‘Reserved!’ we’ll be tasting through the last seven vintages of Reserve Pinot Noir, from 2002 to the just bottled 2011,” said Mr Keys.
“This will be a great chance to have a close look the performance of our premium Pinot Noir.
“I can’t think of a more perfect and timely entrée to the evening dinner festivities.”
Dinner attendees are asked to contact rsvp@gibbstonvalleynz.com to book the Grand Vertical Tasting and indicate if they would like to take part in the Reserved! Masterclass as a secondary option.
Tickets for the Gibbston Valley Winery Anniversary Dinner are selling fast with just a handful remaining before the cut off of 5pm on August 24. All proceeds from the night are going to Gibbston Valley Winery’s new chosen charity Cure Kids.
A full range of wines are up for auction on the night, and other auction items include a 2012 winter collection dress from local designer Claire Bloom, a Scenic Remarkables helicopter flight for two – donated by Totally Tourism, an iconic Otago Winemakers painting from Thomas Brown Art Gallery, a double pass to Warbirds over Wanaka in 2014, and a Meditation Massage at Efora: Spa at the Hilton.
There will also be signed magnums of Le Maitre pinot noir for sale at the cellar door for guests to buy as collectors’ items.
Entertainment will include a five-course degustation dinner and entertainment by local band Calico.
Bookings for dinner and optional transport can be made by calling Kelly Cruickshank at Gibbston Valley Winery on +64 (3) 442 6910 or by emailing RSVP@gibbstonvalleynz.com
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