Highfield Newsletters

    Budburst 2006

Spring Greetings everyone
 
We are thrilled to report that Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2005 has again been recognised, this time in winning 2nd place in the Sauvignon Blanc category ahead of all Australian and South African wines at the Tri Nations Wine Challenge. The concept of this wine show is that the judges select seven of the top wines from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in each varietal class and the wines go head to head in a Tri Nations taste off. Two Highfield wines, Highfield Sauvignon Blanc and Elstree Cuvee Brut were selected for entry into this unique wine show. With such a high calibre of international judges and with only a few wines from each country asked to enter, the invitation to submit two wines was a great achievement in itself.
 
Spring Chardonnay Special
Highfield Chardonnay 2002 - double gold medal winner
“A consistently classy wine. The stylish 2002 vintage has a rich, inviting bouquet. It’s a beautifully poised wine, big-bodied and creamy-smooth, with strong grapefruit and peach character woven with fresh acidity and a seasoning of toasty oak. Maturing well.”  Michael Cooper, Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines.
Usually $32.50 per bottle
For New Zealand mail order sales;
$25 per bottle or
$135 per 6 pack. Save $60 per pack and receive a free Highfield polo shirt.
See following pages for order details and remember to tell us your shirt size.
 
Budburst
Environmental conditions from now through until December directly influence flowering, and consequently the amount of grapes the vine produces. Spring is a critical time for that reason and in typical timing the first of the chardonnay and pinot noir buds have just started to burst after lying dormant all winter. The emerging buds are now at their most vulnerable to any late frosts that occur. On our pinot noir block at the winery, the wind machine is up and the alarm is on ready and waiting for an icy morning. I’m coming to the realization that spring is not the best time for those of us on frost watch to catch up on sleep.
Winemaker, Alistair Soper
 
Art Exhibitions
We have two art exhibition openings coming up; Sculptor Rebecca Rose is joining us at Highfield with her opening on Wednesday 18 October 2006 at 6.30pm. All welcome and RSVP preferred.
Artist Bronwyn Williams invites you to her exhibition ‘Dawn to Dusk’ at Highfield from Friday 24 November 2006. Her distinctly New Zealand flavoured pieces can be found here until February or visit www.fernfield.co.nz.
 
Profile – Shin Yokoi
Shin Yokoi is co-owner of Highfield Estate. Living in Osaka, Japan, Shin’s primary business is fire fighting products, specializing in sprinklers and hoses, but his passion is most definitely fine wine. Shin first tasted wine at the age of 20 and was charmed by French still and sparkling wines. In 1990 Shin opened a small Champagne store in Kyoto called Champagne des Villages. He imported many great Champagnes, and enjoyed a special relationship with the famous Champagne house of Drappier, who would later help guide the style of Highfield’s sparkling wine Elstree. Shin’s love of sparkling wine seeded his interest and investment in Marlborough and Highfield. He saw the region as having great pinot noir and chardonnay potential and thus sparkling wine also. Unbeknown to him it would be Marlborough sauvignon blanc that would steal the spotlight and become the national wine icon. “New Zealand is such a young wine growing country and we will not see the full potential until the next generation” Shin reveals “The vines are very juvenile but the weather is perfect for growing grapes”. Shin loves visiting New Zealand for the large open spaces and low population levels, giving him a great sense of peace. He is always relaxed at Highfield and takes pleasure in the good food, wine and hospitality.  
 
Spring Menu
Executive Chef Stefan Link and his team at the restaurant have whipped up another exciting array of delicious dishes for spring. We have a heavily seafood influenced menu with my absolute favorite fresh scallops, as well as soft shell crab, smoked salmon and monk fish. Our sirloin steak, lamb rump and Thai chicken and mango salad are all too good to miss. We are now open for brunch.  
 
Life Education Fashion Show
Two hundred guests were greeted at the Thomas’s fashion show with a glass of Elstree Cuvee Brut on arrival before heading underground to the barrel cellar for further entertainment. This impressive annual event, held in different venues each year aims to raise money for the Life Education Charitable Trust, which delivers health programmes to school children. We are thrilled to report that the show raised a monstrous $25,000 this year. Get your tickets early for next year, this was a sell out!
 
New Distribution  
We have changed our USA importer and gained a bunch of new importers in
Canada, Asia and the Pacific. Check out the distribution area on the website for our complete listings.
 
All the best and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
 
Naomi and the Highfield team.

Mail Order:

Within New Zealand:
To order wines from our latest vintage fill out our ONLINE ORDER FORM and submit your order or PRINT out our lastest ORDER FORM and send to HIGHFIELD ESTATE via the options offered below:

  • 1) Post: Highfield Estate Winery, Brookby Rd, RD2, Blenheim
  • 2) Fax: (03) 572 9257

Please Note: Delivery free anywhere in New Zealand for six bottles or more.

Rest of World:
Contact Highfield Estate at naomi@highfield.co.nz

Highfield Estate Winery, Brookby Rd, RD2, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand
Tel. +64 (3) 572 9244 Fax. +64 (3) 572 9257 Email. naomi@highfield.co.nz