The Nelson Region is a strong silent type. Not as flamboyant as Central Otago and dwarfed in size by its neighbour, Marlborough. Perhaps it’s because every Nelson winery is family owned and they simply go about making good wines. And there’s no doubt Nelson produces some of the country’s most irresistible and gratifying wines.

As we embrace and celebrate regionality, it is fitting to pay more attention to this little region renowned for gloriously perfumed aromatics and sumptuously delicious Burgundy varieties.

I love the precision and clarity of flavours from the Plains where some of the most intensely flavoured Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling come from. Yet I equally adore the more textural wines from the Hills.

Seifried Estate’s Gewürztraminers and Rieslings are meltingly delicious, and so are Blackenbrook’s Aromatics, which show lovely perfume and richly textured mouthfeel. Then there’s the indigenous yeasts and barrel-fermented style of Neudorf Moutere Pinot Gris which display astonishing complexity and silkiness.

Read entire article here.

Scallops, sharks and singers

Come on down to Talley’s in Akerston Street to sample delicious food from 5 Nelson restaurants, a glass of hand-crafted wine by Neudorf, Waimea, Rimu Grove, Kahurangi or Blackenbrook or a cup of heart-warming Blackenbrook Mulled Wine.

Entry Fees:  $10 for adults, $5 for children under 15, and $20 for a family pass.
For further information click here.

The tour started at Richmond Plains with a fantastic tasting of this year’s tank samples and bottled Blanc de Noir.

It was back in the van at 11am and off to Blackenbrook Wines at Tasman, where co-owner and winemaker Daniel Schwarzenbach showed us around, talked about how he makes wine and let my bunch of wine lovers taste some of his product, comparing finished wines with new-season tank samples.

The group were astounded at Daniel’s passion and dedication to quality in everything he does. For me, Blackenbrook’s 2008 Reserve Gewurztraminer was the best match with the still-warm home-baked bread Ursula Schwarzenbach produced for us.

The next stop was lunch with Tim and Judy Finn at Neudorf Vineyard, followed by a comprehensive winery tour with Chris Seifried at Seifried Estate.

Read the entire article here.

Ursula Schwarzenbach and her daughter Isabelle giving some fresh fruit to Community Foodbank Co-ordinator Jackie McCullagh

It’s been a cold and rainy winter so far.  Coupled with the lack of employment currently available there must be more people in our local community than ever struggling to put food on the family table or to heat their homes.  Many local children have to go to school with empty tummies and so we wanted to do our bit and try to help a little”

For every bottle of Blackenbrook Chardonnay, St Jacques Pinot Noir, Reserve Pinot Noir or Montepulciano ordered from their website up until July 16, they will donate a can of food or some fresh fruit to the Nelson Community Foodbank.

To order please click here and enter the Code FOOD BANK to get your special discount.

Read entire Press Release here.

Pisa Range, Dry Gully, Desert Heart, Aurora Vineyard, the Darling, Clearview Estate, Terrace Hights Estate and of course Blackenbrook Vineyard can’t wait to see you in Queenstown!

For more information please contact Andie Pearce on 03 443 2606 or 027 411 7184.

Jackie McCullagh, Co-Ordinator Nelson Community Food Bank with Ursula and Isabelle Schwarzenbach

For every bottle of Blackenbrook Chardonnay, St Jacques Pinot Noir, Reserve Pinot Noir or Montepulciano ordered from our Web Site we will donate a can of food or some fresh fruit to the Nelson Community Food-Bank.

And what’s more: We offer 15% discount on those wines if you order a case or 5% if you go for six bottles. Free delivery to the Nelson Region, $7.00 per case to the rest of New Zealand.

To order please click  here and enter the Promo Code FOOD BANK to get your special discount.  The offer will end on Friday, 16 July or while stock lasts.

So please help us making a generous food donation to the Motueka Food Bank!

Warm Regards
Daniel & Ursula Schwarzenbach

He was impressed with Nelson‘s gorgeous backdrop, the warm hospitality he experienced at Warwick House and the unforgettable dinner at Hopgoods Restaurant.  He chose wines from Blackenbrook, Seifried and Neudorf vineyards, matching Kevin Hopgood’s menu perfectly.

Read the entire travel review here.

Here are the judges’ comments:

Mineral freshness on the nose.  Crisp lemony citrus with a touch of cat pee and green gooseberry on the palate.  Refreshing passionfruit finish.

The International Wine Challenge – now in its 27th edition -  is the world’s most prestigious and influential independent wine competition.  With a record number of 46 wine producing countries entering the 2010 Challenge, the competition enjoyed a 15% increase in entries year on year with standards higher than ever.

It looked like an extremely well thought out winery that Daniel could run mostly on his own with just one other person to help him in peak times.

…and the resulting Gewurztraminer 2008, Pinot Gris 2009 and Blackenbrook Riesling 2007:

Wow – three awesome aromatic styles in a row but there was more to come.

Blackenbrook Chardonnay 2008 is creamy and buttery with a touch of pineapple and tropical guava and a savoury backbone.  I wrote ‘Good Chard!’ and noted it was rather easy drinking.

Blackenbrook Montepulciano 2008 is vivid in colour and the viscous texture is layered with tannins. A floral wine with hints of violets, briar rose hips and an earthy brambly depth, it has  creamy oak with a savoury finish.

Thank you, Sue – hope your MG made it back to Auckland safely and please call in again on your next road-trip!

Read Sue Courtney’s entire article here.

Dominic Britten of Britten Wine Merchants will represent us in Victoria – give him a call today to secure your very special bottle of Blackenbrook wine!

Britten Wine Merchants

67a Keon Street

Thornbury – Melbourne

Phone 03 9016 9336