Wineletter #260 March 2020

March is gearing up to be a busy month; at the beginning we have the launch of Te Mata's iconic Coleraine 2018. Our team tried it recently, proclaiming that it's the best yet. Then we have a very impressive line-up of Bordeaux wineries gracing our tasting rooms. There will be visitors galore around Dram Fest as they land and leave from Auckland. Following that, it’s Saint Patrick's day; we have the Irish beers and spirits to celebrate instore and ready to go. One of our most accom-plished winemakers, Steve Smith MW, will be instore launching his new wines from Smith and Sheth. There is, too, a line-up of wine, beer and spirit tastings around the Glengarry group that’ll leave you wanting for nothing. You’ll find it all online at glengarry.co.nz/tastings

Somewhere amongst all this we are praying for rain in the north and warmth in the south, with the country desperate to break the drought up north as much as heat is needed in the south before vintage. Which is, of course, the other thing that will start to gear up in March: it’s the 2020 vintage in New Zealand – the opposite to our friends in the north – and the time when Kiwi winemakers batten down the hatches and take care of those little berries as they come in. We’ll see you on the other side, winemakers; we’ll see the rest of you instore soon.