Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Here’s another Excellent Publication of the Carpe Vinum Fine Friday Flights and Newsletter of Extreme Importance! This week we’re heading into the South Pacific to a series of small islands. No, not Hawaii. It’s a series of LARGER small islands. I mean. . in the grander scheme of things they’re small islands. . .well. . .smaller than Australia, anyway. It’s New Zealand! They’ve been making some fine wines down there! And we’re grabbing a healthy sampling of them!

Did you ever notice that the grape varieties that grow in certain regions taste better in the opposite climates of those regions? The warmer weather of Australia and California and the South of France produce some of our heaviest reds: Syrahs, Cabernets, Grenaches, Malbecs, and so on. When do these taste the best? During the fall and winter when consumed with heavier dishes like steaks and roasts. The cooler weather regions like New Zealand and Oregon and France’s Alsace produce lighter-styled wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Rieslings and Sauvignon Blancs. And when are these the best? During the heat of the summer with our picnics and sipping on the porch with friends. A bit odd, isn’t it?

I guess in a manner of speaking, then, the bottle is storing the weather and climate to be enjoyed at a different time and place. That’s partially why I chose New Zealand for this week. It’s a colder-climate growing area and, now that the weather is cooperating with my tasting selections, is going to work out perfectly with the heat. On another positive note, New Zealand wineries excel at so many different varieties, it’s a veritable smorgasbord of wines. Plus considering that New Zealand is bigger than it looks, the growing regions span from “warm-like-California” through “those-penguins-are-eating-all-the-grapes” temperatures. Long story short, though, it means we can try a lot of different things: Semillon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and on and on and on.

So Friday, June 23rd, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

New Zealand!!!
Sileni Estates 2003 Semillon, Hawke’s Bay
Framingham 2002 Dry Riesling, Marlborough
Greenstone Pointe 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
Sacred Hill 2004 Rose, Hawke’s Bay
Omaka Springs 2003 Pinot Noir Reserve, Omaka Valley

More NZ!!!
Whitehaven 2003 Pinot Noir, Marlborough
Hatton Estate 2003 Carson’s Cabernet/Merlot, Hawke’s Bay
A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Spain’s Galicia!