Huia Vineyard Celebrates 20 Years
Claire and Mike Allan, along with their daughters, Sophie Eve and Tui Honey, celebrated the first 20 years of Huia Vineyards in October. To mark this milestone, they have been working on a collaboration with iconic NZ Artist, Dr Fiona Pardington. The Huia bird has long featured as a subject in Pardington’s photographs. Asking to use an earlier work for this project was the initial intention. However, Pardington loved Claire and Mike’s story so much that she has created a completely new, original work that has the art world buzzing and gallery buyers touting it as one of her best. There are only ten prints available of the work, titled “Inseparable Huia” with each fetching an asking price of $19,700. The work was unveiled publicly for the first time at the Huia 20th celebration and all ten works have now sold. Huia has produced a strictly limited edition run of two of their hero wines, featuring this beautiful work that shows a male and female Huia leaning towards each other, as if a moment away from embrace.
The two wines are:
- Inseparable Huia Magnum – Huia Millennial Brut 2000
- Inseparable Huia 750ml – Huia Blanc de Blanc 2010
These two wines are limited and not generally for sale. Please enquire with your Negociants NZ Area Manager.
The Huia Blanc de Blanc 2010 which replaces the Huia Brut 2009 was also released at the 20th Celebration and is available for sale now. Click here for the tasting note.
Huia also have launced a redeveloped website, so take a look here www.huiavineyards.com
Otago Winner Celebrates New Zealand Junior Sommelier Title
The new Junior Sommelier of the Year title was won by Richard King, a 24-year-old from the Hilton in Queenstown, who has been celebrated his win with a helicopter tour over the vineyards of the Central Otago region and an afternoon of tutored tastings as part of the prize offered by Misha’s Vineyard, who sponsor this award.
The New Zealand Sommelier Awards are coordinated by Celia Hay, Director of the New Zealand School of Food and Wine with head judge Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas. The competition is a highlight of the New Zealand School of Food and Wine’s annual Wine and Food Celebration held in Auckland each September.
The Cuisine Good Food Awards
Held at the Auckland Museum, Negociants was a primary sponsor of these awards which showcase the best of the hospitality scene through New Zealand. The French Café took our Restaurant of the Year, Apero won Negociants NZ Best Wine Experience and the Opawa Best Drinks List award went to Charley Noble.
The Opawa Story
Opawa Wines proudly presents a video produced by Gather & Hunt. Winemaker Brett Bermingham takes you on a journey through Opawa Wines history and philosophy, while discovering the Opawa river with Driftwood Eco Tours.
