Hemingway Fine Wines, Premium Wines, Christchurch, New Zealand

There is some quality drinking to be found in the half dozen wines below including some new labels and new vintages of old favourites like Felton Road which are never around for very long due to their small production. The wines are a mix of special occasion wines and quaffers, the latter ones being the affordable wines we like to have on hand and be able to open at any time without having to think too much about the cost. For that reason and because we tend to drink more reds on a regular basis in winter I have put together some favourite quaffers from Italy and Spain and called it the "Mediterranean Mix" - scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the selection and if you want to read my slant on the wines of Italy.

Aragus Old Vines Garnacha Cabernet Joven A new wine just arrived from Spain and this is perfect for those who love the character of Spainish Garnacha and the weight of Aussie Cabernet - the reason being that this is mostly Old Vines Garnacha (60%) and Cabernet (40%) but it's all-Spanish, and it's very good. Just one of a number of really great value for money wines currently in stock - remember that everything is tried prior to ordering is therefore guaranteed on quality and recommendation - if you don't like it for any reason just return it and your money will be refunded in full or the wine replaced. RRP is $15. Our special price to you is only $13.90/btl

Herzog Tasting this coming Tuesday at 6pm at Eliza's on Bealey The response to our Herzog tasting annoucement has been solid - we can seat 50 easily in the comfort and warmth of Eliza's lounge - and there are now only 10 seats left. If you are interested in tasting some on NZ's best made wines while listening to a riveting narration from Hans and Therese Herzog then phone us now to secure one or more of the last seats available. The wines are excellent and serious wine buffs should not miss this opportunity. Cost $30pp. Call now to secure one of the last seats. Phone 374 3344

Felton Road Pinot Noir 2006 Felton Road have only a small production but the quality is excellent. The 2006 vintage is their 10th year of Pinot Noir and the only thing that changes is they keep getting better. The 2006 is a well balanced wine displaying characters of black fruit, raspberry and chocolate, fine tannins and a long finish. Any Pinophile worth his/her salt will want this wine. We have limited stocks that won't last too long. Also have some Block 3 2006 and Chardonnay 2006. Our Price $55.00

Grant Burge Barossa Vines - 25% off Cabernet Merlot 2005 Grant Burge wines from the Barossa are top quality across their whole range and *for value* in an Oz wine nothing gets better than this Cabernet dominant wine. It shows characters of black cherries and liquorice with hints of tobacco and spice and is one of best Oz wines you will find for the price. We also have the Shiraz and Chardonnay for the same discount on rrp of 25%. RRP is $20.50. Our fantastic price is just $15.90

Kawarau Reserve Pinot Noir 2005 - organic Dean Shaw is one of the best winemakers in Central Otago and this is one of his best efforts from the high quality 05 vintage. It has a very nice balance between ripe black fruit - plums, boysenberries - and a fine structure with lots of varietal character. All in all an outstanding pinot and the bonus is the wine is organic - no pesticides, chemicals and low sulphur. RRP is $41.50. Your special price is $36.90 To order any of the wines in this email please click here

Coto de Hayas Crianza 2003 Our former part-time employee, Lincoln Oenology graduate and now winemaker in France, Andy Cook, described this wine as the equal of most $30 NZ and Aussie big reds in a blind tasting. It was not a denegration of new world wine but a strong recommendation of a wine that offers incredible value-for-money. Made from 30 year old vines (Garnacha 60%, Tempanillo 40%) this is a full-bodied, highly complex wine with good oak integration and a long finish. We currently have all the Coto de Hayas range in stock. RRP is $14.90. Astounding value for money at just $12.90/btl

Grant Burge Miamba Shiraz 2005 This opulent Grant Burge wine has dense fruit, rich with red berry, plum and cherry aromas.The palate is velvety with flavours of black cherry, raspberries and dark chocolate, complimented by toasty oak and grainy tannins. Good palate weight, texture and persistence of flavour and although drinking well now has a cellaring potential of ten years. RRP is $24.50. Our special price to you is just $21.90

The Mediterranean Red Dozen Mix

12 Quaffing Italian & Spanish Reds worth over $200 for only $160 - save 20% on rrp

Brian's selection for every night opening: 1 x Aragus Garnacha-Cabernet Joven. 1 x Antinori Santa Cristina 2004. 1 x Umani Ronchi Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2005. 1 x Conti Zecca Donna Marzia Primitivo 2005. 1 x Coto de Hayas Crianza 2003. 1 x Fontella Chianti 2006. 1 x Serenata Nero D'Avola. 2 x Carchelo 2006. 1 x Don Ramon 2004.  1 x Armantes Old Bush Vine Grenache 2004. 1 x Castillo De Fuendejalon Crianza 2004

To order Mediterranean Mix or other wines Click Here

Save 20%

Discovering the wines of Italy

There are about three and half million different labels of wine in the world and, it is a fact, most of it is 'vin ordinaire' and the vast majority of that is undrinkable. But the good stuff is what we're interested in and it's a neverending quest to find the best wines for the least cost. The Mediterranean Mix above is an attempt to put a box of those wines together for the least cost -they have been kept to Italian and Spanish wines for this 'Mix' because their wines offer the most diversity of wine character and styles at really affordable prices.

Italy provides more interest in wine for me than any other country because of its diversity. It would also be the most underrated wine country and is still establishing it's reputation after a huge overhaul and transformation during the past two decades. Italy makes more wine, drinks more wine and exports more wine than any other country in the world. It also has more grape varieties made into wine - over 2000 grape vareties are credited as indigenous to Italy. The geography of the country - a peninsula more than 1200km long - provides a multitude of microclimates that range from continental in the north to mediteranean of the middle and south. Add to that an equally diverse topography and soil composition and you have a winemaking tradition that is as important in it's history as the Roman Empire itself whose legions spread viticulture to Western Europe.

Wine is part of daily life in Italy and for many Italians it is unthinkable to sit down to eat without wine on the table. For that reason Italian wine is mainly dry and therefore food friendly and is the perfect accompaniment for those classic Italian dishes - bolognaise, canelloni, lasagne, etc. We have a really excellent range of Italian wines ranging from nero d'avola, primitivo, negroamaro and aglianico in the south to sangiovese and trebbiano in the middle to nebbiolo, corvina and garganega in the north. They are exciting wines and to indulge in them is to embark on a neverending voyage of wine discovery.

Watch this space for some Italian tastings soon to be scheduled.

Cheers
Brian

Normal Business Hours
Hemingway Fine Wines:                   Monday & Tuesday 11am to 7pm
                                                         Wednesday to Friday 10am to 8pm
                                                         Saturday 10am to 7pm
We freight wine all over NZ and most parts of the world.

Phone 374 3344. Fax 374 3343.

Ample parking at rear of building for use by HFWs after 5PM and on Saturdays.

The wine you drink is the wine you deserve