Christmas Feast

Eyvind Hellstrøm, chef at Restaurant Bagatelle in Oslo, Norway's only 2-star Michelin rated restaurant, recently contributed recipes for a sumptuous Christmas menu to the culinary section of one of Norway's main newspapers.

Even without a grasp of the Norwegian language, the pictures of chef Hellstrøm selecting the ingredients and photographs of the various dishes tell the story well. If they aren't quite enough to get your mouth-watering, his recommendation of our Leah Pinot Noir to accompany the duck dish might just do the trick.

Merry Christmas and Bon Appétit.

Our Pinot in Paris

I was delighted to receive an email recently from Michael Berger who spent time with us in New Zealand. Michael visited the house in Waterfall Bay and was surprised and pleased to see the book "King" on a table, written by his brother John Berger - an author, novelist, painter and art-critic; a truly amazing man whose work I admire.

So, while I was pleased to hear from Michael, I was especially grateful for the photo he sent; that of his brother John enjoying a bottle of Seresin Pinot Noir in Paris for his birthday in November. Hopefully John enjoyed our work as much as I've admired his. Happy Birthday John, and here's to many more. - Michael Seresin

Soulful, Supple Leah

Our 2007 Seresin 'Leah' Pinot Noir has been getting a bit of attention in the wine media lately.

Writing in the Independent Wine Monthly, Emma Jenkins, who hasn't always been entirely positive about Marlborough Pinot Noir, found the Leah a nice surprise: "Named after proprietor Michael Seresin's daughter, it is a soulful example of the variety; finely tuned, fragrant, supple and very satisfying indeed. It has an enticing nose of ripe fruit, lots of pretty spice and something just a touch savoury to pique one's interest. The palate is rich yet restrained, with lovely fruit, and again that touch of savoury depth, plus wonderful balance and decent length. The complete package really. And with a RRP of $37, which doesn't seem unreasonable at all. Seresin are committed to organic and biodynamic production so one's conscience is clear to drink as many bottles of this lovely pinot as is necessary. Should cellar nicely too should you be that way inclined."

In the latest issue of Gourmet Traveller Wine, Huon Hooke & Bob Campbell's Top 100 New Release Wines features the 07 Leah as well. With 5 stars and 93 points the wine is described as moderately intense, very complex and more interesting than other more overtly fruity wines from Marlborough in 2007.

2007 was a very special year for us with our normally low yields taken back even further by a cold flowering, so there's not much of this wine left - with almost 6 months still to wait for the 2008.

Wine and Dine with Gusto

Clive Dougall will be presenting Seresin wines at a Winemaker's Dinner at Petone's Gusto Bistro on 22 December.

We're pleased to be working with Gusto who have certainly made an impact on Wellington's dining scene.

For more information and reservations email Gusto Bistro directly or Phone 04 920 1774.

A Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc

Warren Barton's Christmas Wine Guide is early awaited by readers each year - not just as a signal of the impending festive season, but also as a quick and easy guide to some of the country's most highly regarded wines. We're always interested to see what makes Warren's Top 100 wines for the year. Last year our 2007 Memento Riesling was in the line-up. This year our 2008 Sauvignon Blanc is one of only 10 Sauvignon Blancs in the Guide.

Warren writes, "Seresin has always dared to be a little different, even in its approach to sauvignon blanc. This one is partly fermented using wild yeast, a portion of it in oak casks to provide more weight, texture and complexity. No mistaking where it comes from though."

Shoot-Thinning Semillon

After a morning tea of Ginger Loaf and Venison Meatballs (not together) provided by Brett, we shoot-thinned the two staff rows of Semillon next to the winery and cellar door. After the wet winter and relatively warm growing season so far (touch wood), vine growth is vigourous with plenty of potential bunches. By the look of the caps flowering is imminent, and the next few weeks will tell us whether these potential bunches will set into fruit.

Putting a Face to the Wine

Leah Seresin, her son Finbar and friends Peter, Helen, Callum and Nick stayed at Waterfall Bay over the weekend and spent some time with us at the Home Vineyard before flying out.

For most of us, it was our first chace to meet Leah and finally put a face to the name and wine.

Finbar and Nick had a great time with the lambs, chickens and ducks and met our cow and calf too.

While the adults were tasting wines, Finbar and Nick kept Jemma (the winemaker's dog) busy - throwing her favourite toy countless times for her to fetch.

It was a beutiful summer's day and we enjoyed lunch - mainly from the vege garden, strawberry patch and a local cherry grower - in the courtyard beside cellar door.

It was lovely to meet you all - come back again soon.

Pinot Noir Tasting

Today our winemaking team (minus winemaker Clive Dougall who was at home with Mel and newborn Amelia), viticulturalist Colin Ross, winemaking consultant Olly Masters, Michael Seresin, GM MJ Loza and two invited independent expert Pinot tasters spent the day at Waterfall Bay tasting 31 Pinot Noir from around New Zealand, 7 from Seresin Estate. With a focus on the 2007 vintage, the purpose of the day was to understand more about New Zealand Pinot Noir and Seresin's wines as part of this landscape. Tasting blind and with independent expert opinion, we were well placed to have an open and unbiased tasting and discussion.

The wine flowed, glasses swirled, aromas wafted and tasters slurped and scribbled notes and scores before a wine-by-wine discussion.

It was a great learning opportunity and we were pleased with how the Seresin wines looked in the context of other wines. We're not naming names or scores, but two things we can share are:

• the overall high quality of Pinot Noir from New Zealand and the general high quality of wines from the 2007 vintage
• that beauty is in the eye of the beholder - so make sure you don't take someone else's word for it. Experiment, explore and discover for yourself the wines that captivate you.

Champion Lamb

We are very proud of our prize winning lamb Rosa.

Rosa, along with Scotty's daughter Gabby, received the prize for Champion Pet Lamb at the Renwick School Pets day.

Rosa's superior genes were also acknowledged with a placing in the 'best breeding ewe' category.

And given the wet spring day Gabby was given a special prize - the nurture award, for taking such great care of Rosa and keeping her company in the rain.

Wines to try before you die help Cystic Fibrosis

As reported in a previous post, Seresin's 2006 Marama was selected for inclusion in the book "1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die", along with only 23 other NZ wines.

With the support of all the NZ wines in the book, Avenues Event Management put together 4 cases of these Wines You Must Try Before You Die (2 of each of the 24 'must-try' wines from NZ) which were auctioned at the Reuters Charity Golf Classic in September. The auction was a huge success and the funds raised will buy 2 new Eflow nebulisers for the at-home treatment of young sufferers of Cystic Fibrosis - New Zealand's most common, life-threatening inherited disease.

We're happy to have been part of this - with special thanks to the successful bidders.

Tripping on Marlborough Pinot Noir

It was a pleasure to have Phil Tripp visit us from Australia's Daily Telegraph earlier in the year. His article - declaring Marlborough as a 'perfect cradle for the cultivation of Pinot Noir' - appeared on the front page of the travel section 'escape' this weekend, along with one of our favourite shots of our Raupo Creek vineyard (below).

Of Seresin, he says: "Wines are organically and biodynamically grown, hand-tended and hand-picked in true artisanal manner. The Rachel and Leah pressings are rich and classic from hilly clay soils, while the Tatou and Raupo wines, from stonier ground, are even more generous. They also produce a fine array of olive oils from more than 7000 trees including ones infused with lemon, lime and orange."

In fact, Leah and Rachel are made with fruit selected from all of our 3 vineyards, while Raupo (from Raupo Creek vineyard's hilly clay soils) and Tatou (from Tatou vineyard, a stony site) are single vineyard wines from each of those 2 vineyards. We can't argue with Phil's opinion that Marlborough is a special place Pinot Noir - even more so as we learn more about each of our vineyards' qualities.

2008 Sauvignon Blanc Release in Australia

Winemaker Clive Dougall has spent the week in Australia attending tastings and new release events for our 2008 Seresin Sauvignon Blanc. He is pictured here enjoying the warm spring weather at the Ocean Room in Sydney

Guests at this event enjoyed the Sydney harbour views as they sampled Seresin new release wines and fresh seafood prepared by the Ocean Room chefs.

Opening of The Taruna National Centre for Organic and Biodynamic Education

On September 13th, Colin Ross and Wendy Tillman from Seresin Estate were proud to be in attendance and supporting the biodynamic movement in New Zealand at the official opening of The Taruna National Centre for Organic and Biodynamic Education. The new classroom, the Christeller Room, at the Hohepa Porati was ceremonially opened with blessings, songs and thanks to those that made it possible. Peter Proctor (pictured here) concluded the ceremony with a blessing from Rudolf Steiner.

Students from Seresin Estate thus far include Colin Ross who completed the Certificate in Applied Organics and Biodynamics in 2007 and Sean Phillips who is currently completing his certificate.

For more information on organic and biodynamic education, as well as anthroposophical studies, in New Zealand see the Taruna site at: http://www.taruna.ac.nz/

Phone a Friend

It's a beautiful Spring day in Marlborough, and in Kaikoura too, judging by a call just received from Bert and Joanna Shugg, tourists visiting from Tasmania. They kindly phoned us to let us know that they are sitting on the beach in Kaikoura enjoying a lunch of fresh seafood and a bottle of our Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. Apparently it's every bit as good as Jim said it would be, when they visited our cellar door yesterday.

While we'll admit to a bit of jealously (what a great way to lunch!), we are very glad you enjoyed the wine and loved getting your call.

Desert Island Wines

What is the one wine you would have if you were shipwrecked on a desert island?


In the case of Shane Avant, Executive Chef at Fiji's Vomo Island Resort, it's a question he must ponder often. With a much larger wine list, being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean makes sourcing new and interesting wines a real challenge.






Shane manages it through reading, tasting and research, often talking directly with producers. After approaching us and learning more about our Estate, wines and winemaking, Shane selected 3 of our most special, limited release wines to feature at Vomo: Seresin Rachel Pinot Noir, Seresin Marama and Seresin Chardonnay Reserve.









With passionate chefs like Shane tracking our wines down, they're getting harder to find every day ... unless you fancy a tropical island getaway, in which case we can recommend somewhere we know....

Rudolf

It's been such a wet and cool spring so far (just 3 days into it) that even our lambs need woollen coats.

We’ve been hand-raising two little ones, Rudolf (in the wool coat) named after Rudolf Steiner, the father of biodynamic agriculture and anthroposophy, and Rosa (a bit woollier) named… well…, by Scotty’s daughter Gaby.

As they grow, Rudolf and Rosa will stay with us at our Home Vineyard to help us keep the grass mown and add to the diversity of the farm (and provide pretty good entertainment – Rudolf is learning to round up the chooks!).

5 Star Sauvignon Blanc

Writing in the August/September 2008 issue of Gourmet Traveller Wine, Bob Campbell MW gives Seresin's 2007 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc a 5 star, 95 point rating.

‘The country’s most expensive sav blanc is a strong statement by Seresin that will no doubt encourage others to go higher. It’s a powerful and complex wine with a strong influence of classy French oak, and mineral and ripe fruit flavours.’

Playing a good hand

Writing for the Times in the UK, wine critic Jane MacQuitty had some lovely things to say about Seresin's 2006 Leah Pinot Noir.

"Pinot noir is not Marlborough’s strongest suit but in the right hands, such as Seresin, aged in French barriques, the result is a spectacular, smoky, gamey red with fine red fruits on the finish."

A wine to try before you die

Seresin's 2006 Marama Sauvignon Blanc has been selected for inclusion in a new book called 1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die.

Edited by English wine judge and journalist Neil Beckett, there are numerous contributors from around the world. The wines from NZ were selected and reviewed by Bob Campbell MW. Other NZ wines selected for the book come from wineries including Ata Rangi, Cloudy Bay, Dry River, Felton Road, Kumeu River, Millton, Mount Difficulty, Neudorf and Stonyridge.

Graham Beattie, former leading New Zealand publisher, bookseller and book-award-judge, reviews the book on his blog.

Matterhorn's Peak

Congratulations to Christian McCabe and the team at Wellington's Matterhorn on being awarded Cuisine magazine’s Restaurant of the Year for 2008. As well as it's fantastic food, we love Matterhorn for its great coffee, bar, cocktails and wine list - all brought to you by some of the most knowledgeable and passionate barristas, waiters and bar staff we know.

Next time you're in Wellington make sure you visit Matterhorn at 106 Cuba Street, phone (04) 384-3359.

Chef Martin Bosley, from last year's Cuisine magazine's Restaurant of the Year, Martin Bosley's Yacht Club Restaurant, also in Wellington, is cooking for guests at Waterfall Bay on 15 November to celebrate the release of Seresin's new wines. For more details email Jan Whillans.

"A wine to savour"

Writing in New Zealand's Otago Daily Times, Chamian Smith reviews our 2006 Chardonnay Reserve, with a full complement of 5 stars. She writes "Zesty with hints of smoky oak, lovely ripe fruit and layers of complexity, this is the wine I kept coming back to. It's stylish, textural and harmonious, with layers of flavour and deliciously satisfying, lingering aftertaste. A wine to savour".

In Vogue

The August/September issue of Vogue Entertaining and Travel Australia carries an article about Brad Farmerie's appearance at Seresin's Waterfall Bay Dinners in February 2008. Written by Bev Doole and accompanied by photographs taken by Kieran Scott, it brought back lovely memories of the 2008 dinners and we look forward to doing it all again in February 2009 (13th to 16th). For more information and reservations, email us.

Later in the same issue, it was also nice to see Joe from Sarti in Melbourne. Joe spent time with us in Marlborough and at Waterfall Bay at the end of 2006. In the VE+T article he looks like he's enjoying an equally tough time with his chef and their partners at Moonlight Head Lodge.

The Modern Pantry

Our friend Anna Hansen is about to open her new restaurant, The Modern Pantry in St Johns Square in Clerkenwell.

Just like its home in a beautifully restored Georgian building, The Modern Pantry's philosophy is to use traditional and unusual ingredients in new and exciting ways. As well as enjoying Anna's fusion food in the restaurant, people will be able to buy some of the ingredients featured on the menu from The Modern Pantry's Deli.

One of the founders of The Providores, Anna has been guest chef at Waterfall Bay and so we have an inkling of the interesting and delicious food guests will enjoy.

Seresin's 2005 Riesling, 2006 Leah Pinot Noir and 2007 Sauvignon Blanc are on The Modern Pantry's wine list.

Seresin Estate & Chegworth Valley Farm

We have known Dave and his Chegworth Valley family ever since they started selling, and we started buying, their apples, produce and juice at the Kensington & Marylebone Farmers Markets.

When they recently opened this brilliant food store in Kensington Church Street, Dave asked if he could sell some of our produce, namely our organic lemon oil.

Along with our organic and biodynamic wine we make limited quantities of organic olive oils including organic extra virgin oil, a lemon, a lime and a Valencia orange one. So we were very happy to see our produce from a family owned farm in New Zealand available at an English family owned farm shop in Kensington.

How to Eat, Drink and Live

Even if you don't need too much advice on how to eat, drink and live, Fork and Bottle - Jack and Joanne's Guide to Eating, Living and Drinking, is a great resource for things wine and food.

As well as a comprehensive list of biodynamic wine producers (505 of them as at 5 August 2008) there is a great list of interesting and fun wine, food and food-issue blogs and lots more.

Seresin Wetlands

Despite popular rumour, we are not branching into aquaculture. While we are pleased to see our wetland areas thriving, we hadn't planned for them to extend quite this far. This last week's weather has surely reminded us of Mother Nature's power.

Expanding the Brood

The latest critters to join our happy farm are 4 Australorp and 4 Barnevelder chickens. We hope they’ll enjoy their new home!

Seresin, Naive and Melvin Day

Seresin is proud to support the Millennium Gallery and two new exhibitions which open this Friday.

Stabat Mater, an exhibition by one of New Zealand's most distinguished artists, Melvin Day, brings together painting, music and literature, with a collection founded on the music of Vivaldi and a collaboration with French writer Frédéric-Yves Jeannet.

Naive is the personal art collection of our own Jim Rawdon, Seresin Cellar Door Manager.

He says "my interest in naĩve art started some thirty years ago with a corn cob! It was being fed to a large bear by a kind little man and featured in an early American folk art painting. I was taken with the perspective, colours and sheer absurdness of the subject.

My collection contains pieces created by largely untrained, passionate people, often using colour and scale for emotional effect rather than documentation. Kiwis, ferns, cabbage trees and sheep often brought together with striking Maori motifs, make these precious things truly unique to Kiwi culture."

Join us for a glass of Seresin wine and support our local art gallery, at 6:00pm Friday 18 July.

Happy Birthday !

Three reasons to celebrate - one year of blogging, American Independence Day (special holiday cheer to Wendy, Jason, and our friends in the USA), and last but not least - Happy Birthday Misha !

Fine Fabulousness

Yvonne Lorkin reviews wines for a number of regional newspapers in New Zealand, and going by this review we saw in Hawke's Bay Today, it seems she approves of our 2007 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc.

'I know what you’re saying, $50 for a bottle of sav? But for those of you who appreciate the finer points of fabulousness will understand when I say that this is a Sauvignon that will seduce you. Attention to detail has produced a powerfully built, yet delicate wine bursting with crushed lime and lemon zest, fresh herbs, puha and prickly sorbet like characters. Incredible persistence of flavour caps off this stunning organic, biodynamically-produced sauvignon, lovers of which should call Seresin Estate on 03 5729408 or go to www.seresin.co.nz *****'