Now the dust has settled, and 2018 has become a distant memory, we now look forward to 2019. Among the joys and Chaos 2018 brought, we have also moved into the neighbourhood. We've acquired a private room upstairs, which we would love to show off to you, and so we personally invite you to pop by and check it out! While here, feel free to try a range of cheeses from Sabato, as well as a few local wines, beers and the new blush boysenberry gin!

Kicking off his winemaking career in 2002 as a cellar hand for Villa Maria, it wasn't long before Dave was promoted to Assistant Winemaker in 2005, and taking the reigns as the Senior Winemaker in 2015. During Dave's time with Villa Maria, he had exciting opportunities to gain vintage experience in Oregon, Washington State, and has been a wine judge for the Royal Easter Show as well as the Air New Zealand Wine Awards. Armed with a degree in Microbiology, and a Certificate in Winemaking, Dave is an adamant believer that winemaking is a point where science meets art. We welcome you to join us, as we share a few yarns and taste our way through his more recent wines.

With over 300 different red grape varieties across the Globe, it's safe to say there will be a decent hand full (or more accurate, a bucket full) of varieties you have yet to try – or even heard of! We'll focus on the reds from Europe, where centuries of history helped carve the foundation of todays wine producing regions, from the Middle East to the Spanish Coast.

Tonight we will taste various grape varieties, and explore the different wine making traditions and regulations. Our tour will begin in Lebanon, one of the oldest wine producing regions, where the Phoenicians domesticated grapes 5000 years ago. Then we'll visit the Northern Provinces of Italy, hike the volcanic slopes of Sicily, and finish with a quick visit to Galicia and Valencia of Spain.

With centuries of experience, and a unique terroir, is it no wonder the Champagne Region is seen as the ancestral heart of sparkling wines. Though over the recent years, we have seen the popularity of previously overlooked styles, like Prosecco, rise across the global landscape. So how does it all stack up? Tonight, we will blind taste four different Champagnes against various styles from Italy, Australia, NZ, and Spain. Who knows, you may even find a new potential favourite for an upcoming Mid-Winter Christmas!