It was a full house at Longroom as we gathered at the second annual Women in Wine luncheon to hear leading women in New Zealand wine share their stories at a fundraiser for Variety, The Children’s Charity…
It was a full house at Longroom today as an Auckland storm lashed Ponsonby Road outside, and we gathered in the warm restaurant – further warmed by wine.
Today was the second annual Women in Wine luncheon, where leading women in New Zealand wine shared their stories at the fundraiser for Variety, The Children’s Charity. The event is raising money for Variety, The Children’s Charity, as Longroom restaurant owner Andy Roberts’ mother Bev is on the committee at Variety and was quick to spot a fabulous opportunity for a fundraiser after she attended the first Women in Wine lunch there in 2011.
This year, on Tuesday 3rd July, Jules Taylor of Jules Taylor Wines, Victoria Scott of Allan Scott, and Kirsten Searle of Matawhero spoke over a delicious three course meal – matched with wines from each of their respective vineyards- about their paths leading to where they are today in the wine industry.
The only man in the room, Mark Wright, MCd the event, as Ambassador for Variety. "All the men are here to serve you," he joked. Variety has been in New Zealand for 27 years and raised $13 million which all stays in NZ to help Kiwi kids in need.
"If you’re travelling with children, please see to your own wine first" said Mark Wright.
Below: the entree of Balsamic pear and blue cheese salad.
Below: the main of Kingfish with green beans and almonds.
Victoria Scott of Allan Scott laughingly told us she’d read us the first chapter of her life story. This book started with her father beginning his career almost 40 years ago in 1973 in Malborough. Her sister Sara Scott spoke at Women in Wine last year, and her brother Josh owns Moa Beer.
Kirsten Searle of Matawhero said that she’s not just about promoting Matawhero, but showcasing Gisborne wines as a whole, as they don’t get much press compared to Malborough Savs and Central Otago Pinots.
Jules Taylor of Jules Taylor Wines is wearing Miranda Brown – a New Zealand fashion textiles designer and artist the vineyard has a relationship with and whose clothes Jules loves wearing. Jules comes from a non-wine background (a mother who drank gin with cigarettes) and Jules actually studied Zoology at University before finding her true wine calling.
She says our marketplace is cluttered; "It’s like toothpaste – you go in there and there’s millions of the buggers!"
Hannah Munn, below right, is the only employee at husband and wife-run Jules Taylor Wines alongside Jules and George. "She is Employee of the Month every month" says Jules of Hannah, who describes her job title as "Dogsbody."
The Jules Taylor late harvest Malborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011 was thread’s favourite tipple of the day – it was like liquid nectar. Jules tells me that most New Zealand dessert wines are made from Reisling but hers is from Sauvignon Blanc grapes left on the vine until they turn into little raisins and are very sugary and made into their dessert wine.
It is divine. Does that word actually come from de-vine, as in of the vine? I don’t know but one thing’s for sure, these women in wine are all de-vine.
Below: Women in Wine guests.
Megan Robinson
3 July 2012
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