LATEST NEWS
Vintage Update 2013
You’ve probably heard the buzz about the fantastic vintage of 2013 from anyone within the wine industry, or anyone who loves great Hawke’s Bay wine. Here, Alpha Domus winemaker Kate Galloway explains what made up such a successful growing season for us and many of our fellow wine producers:
The spring of 2012 saw some cold frosty nights which we managed successfully with our frost protection systems. Budburst and early shoot growth was unaffected by these frosts and progressed normally.
Once the full growing season got underway, the vines showed even growth and flowering. Fruitset was excellent in most varieties and as a result, high yields were expected. Fruit thinning was undertaken across the majority of the vineyard with added attention paid to our top-end fruit, to ensure an open canopy and good fruit exposure.
Hawke’s Bay experienced its driest summer in 50 years with very settled weather throughout the growing season. As a result of this, an official drought was declared. In the vineyard, irrigation management was critical during this time to sustain vine health and fruit quality. The exceptional summer gave us the ideal ripening conditions for all varieties.
Continuing excellent weather during vintage enabled harvest decisions to be based on fruit maturity and concentration of flavor, rather than being dictated by adverse weather events or disease pressure.
When the drought finally broke late April, this was timely for establishing a noble botrytis infection in our Semillon destined for dessert wines. This was the icing on top of the cake for us with beautifully raisined fruit coming in at 56 Brix during mid-May.
We’re looking forward to presenting our customers and supporters with the wonderful wines of the 2013 vintage, so keep an ear out and we’ll let you know when the new releases are ready.
Cheers to a fabulous vintage!
Taste Four Corners – One Big Luscious Lunch
If you made it to any of the F.A.W.C! (Food and Wine Classic) offerings in November last year, you know that this is a series of events that truly celebrates the best of our bountiful region's food and wine. We're all getting excited around here, because thanks to a winter edition, we don't have to wait until November for more indulgent events. Winter F.A.W.C! takes place from June 20th to June 23rd, and the Alpha Domus team are pleased to invite you to one of the best events on the impressive programme.
Alongside other boutique wine producers Brookfields, Moana Park and Stonecroft, our wines will be matched with an eight-course high definition lunch designed and prepared by acclaimed fusion chef James Beck of Taste Cornucopia. This will be a fantastic opportunity to explore wines of four different corners of our wine-growing region, and experience them as compliments to James' incredible cuisine. Wine personality and writer Yvonne Lorkin will host the lunch at Cape Escape out on the coast on Sunday, June 23rd from 12 noon.
With so many enticing components, this in one special lunch you do not want to miss, so book your tickets soon as they are limited and selling fast.
For all the information on Winter F.A.W.C! and to buy tickets, pop over to the official website.
2013 Hawke's Bay Charity Fine Wine Auction
Here at Alpha Domus, we reckon one of the best things about winter is the fact that on the first day of the season we get to be part of the annual Hawke's Bay Charity Wine Auction.
This wonderfully successful fundraiser for Cranford Hospice takes place this year at the Tom McDonald Cellar at Church Road on June 1st, and there are still a few tickets available to the event which of course includes tastings of the wines up for auction.
We're very proud to be offering a Quarter Barrique of Anthonius 2010. This gorgeous fortified wine is made from hand-picked Petit Verdot grapes harvested at exceptionally high sugar levels and is made in the traditional port method. The lucky people who get to enjoy this wine will be delighted by its enticing flavours of chocolate, damson plum, spice, fruitcake and ripe red berries.
If you're out of town or unable to make it to the auction, absentee and phone bids are welcome, so get your bidding syndicate together (or permission from your other half!) and get ready for the finest wine auction around. You can check out our lot and find all the information on the auction here.
The Pilot by Alpha Domus Hawke's Bay Rosé 2012 - 4 Stars
Bright, light candy-floss pink, lighter on edge. The nose is softly fresh with aromas of strawberry fruit, red florals, redcurrants, minerals and
mouthwatering watermelon notes. Off-dry to taste, lush, savoury strawberry flavours are intermixed with red florals,
revealing a subtle, earthy, herbal underlay. The fruit is juicy and is enlivened by slippery, lacy acidity, and
supported by a fine, soft-textured tannin thread. The acidity carries the flavours to a moderately long finish with strawberry and confectionary nuances. This is an attractively juicy, off-dry rosé with lush strawberry, earth and herb flavours. Match with dim sum and tapas over the next 2 years. 100% Merlot from a single Bridge Pa Triangle vineyard, given 6 hours skin contact and cool fermented to 12.5%
alc. and 4.0 g/L rs. 17.0+/20 Dec 2012 RRP $21.95.
Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District Launched
This is the brainchild of a small group of local winegrowers: Paul Ham (Alpha Domus Winery), Stephen Daysh (Bridge Pa Vineyard), Grant Edmonds (Sileni Estate), Steve Nathan (Salvare Estate) and Peter Cowley (Te Mata Estate). It now includes ten wineries and seven individual grape growers. Our managing director Paul Ham comments that "This area is ideally suited to the production of quality wines, is proven by the awards won. We excel at full flavoured Syrah, Merlot, Red Blends, Chardonnay and Viognier. These wines are characterised by excellent varietal expression, depth of flavor, generosity, and ample fruit sweetness".
For more information on the Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District click here. And you can expect to see out cool new logo around the place – keep your eye out!
Chinese Distribution Agreement
We're pleased to announce that on August 15 we signed an exclusive distribution agreement with NAC Trading Ltd. Alpha Domus Managing Director Paul Ham comments that, "Now is the time to develop this relationship, as New Zealand is the first country to have a free trade agreement with China and we need to make the most of this advantage as long as we have it. Through this agreement, we're hoping to build a long term relationship between our two companies, which will lead to positive sales of Alpha Domus and New Zealand wines in China."
The first city to receive Alpha Domus wines through NAC Trading Ltd will be Qingdao in the Shandong province.
Back in the USA
We're back in the USA! We're delighted to be working once again with our friends Howard and Shelly Kalmer and their new company Pacific Rim Wine Logistics importing Alpha Domus wines into the US market.
We're using a new and improved importation model, which we think will better suit the US market, and really looking forward to developing our Californian market, as well as servicing distributors in other states.
If you are in the US, or have friends and family who are, good news – you will be able to buy Alpha Domus wines online through PRWL soon; they are just finishing setting up their online purchasing system.
Yvonne Lorkin's Thirsty Work
Here at Alpha Domus we're excited at the news of a new show on FoodTV, presented by local wine writer and guru Yvonne Lorkin. Thirsty Work screens 9.30 on Wednesday nights (from August 15) and Yvonne will spend the seven episodes exploring the incredible locations of the NZ wine and beverage scene, and unearthing some of the colourful personalities responsible for your favourite tipples.
It won't just be a succession of cellar door visits – Yvonne heads out to vineyards and into cellars, barrel halls, wine stores, supermarkets, breweries, and even checks out a backyard vigneron or two! We're delighted to be one of the series' featured producers, alongside a bunch of our neighbours and some other terrific wineries from further afield. We're sure it'll be a hit, so make sure you check it out (and feel free to let us know how good we look on camera!).
Alpha Domus scores at 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards
The results of the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards are out, and we're proud to announce that Alpha Domus has been awarded three medals at the prestigious international competition.
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View the full list of trophy and medal winners from 2012 and previous years.
Hawke's Bay Winegrowers' Charity Wine Auction
The 21st annual Hawke's Bay Winegrowers' Charity Wine Auction is almost upon us, and here at Alpha Domus we're delighted to be offering a half barrique of the 2011 Leonarda Late Harvest Semillon as our lot. This key fundraising event has raised over $2million for Cranford Hospice since its inception in 1981. Like so many families in Hawke's Bay, we have been touched by the work of this special organisation. We are truly grateful to the team at Cranford for their dedicated care of our beloved matriarch Lea, who passed away early this year.This year's event will take place at Orton @ Sileni Estates, and features a new format to freshen it up. Rather than the formal dinner or past years, the Charity Wine Auction will this year be a more interactive cocktail style afternoon-into-the-evening affair. Bidders and guests will be able to sample the auction lots and enjoy tapas style food throughout.
The actual auction of lots will be divided into two sessions during the afternoon to allow everyone to taste, share, and watch the bidding led by MC and auctioneer, Chris Tremain MP.
You can also bid online. Why not get a syndicate together and head along to http://www.charitywineauction.co.nz/? Most of the lots will split up perfectly between a group - especially the Alpha Domus half barrique of Leonara, which can be divided into 300 standard dessert wine 375ml bottles!
Hot Red Hawke's Bay
We'd love to meet you and share our wines (and wax lyrical about their innate beauty and superiority, of course), so make sure to get along to your local Hot Red Hawke's Bay event this June or July. Hot Red Hawke's Bay at Home - Friday, June 1
Tom McDonald Cellar, Church Road Winery, Taradale. Trade visits (registration required) 2pm to 5pm. General Admission 6pm to 9pm.
Tom McDonald Cellar, Church Road Winery, Taradale. Trade visits (registration required) 2pm to 5pm. General Admission 6pm to 9pm.
Wellington - Tuesday, June 12
Chaffers Dock Function Centre, Waitangi Park, Herd St, Te Aro. Trade visits (registration required) 2pm to 5pm. General Admission 6pm to 9pm.
Chaffers Dock Function Centre, Waitangi Park, Herd St, Te Aro. Trade visits (registration required) 2pm to 5pm. General Admission 6pm to 9pm.
Auckland - Tuesday, July 31
Kawau Room 1, Level 3, Viaduct Events Centre , 161 Halsey St, Westhaven. Trade visits (registration required) 2pm to 5pm. General Admission 6pm to 9pm.
Kawau Room 1, Level 3, Viaduct Events Centre , 161 Halsey St, Westhaven. Trade visits (registration required) 2pm to 5pm. General Admission 6pm to 9pm.
Make sure to enter the Q&A Competition at any of the events to be in to win a 'Hawke's Bay party' at your own home with 3 ½ dozen bottles of wine and 2 winemakers in attendance! Cheers!
For more information and to buy tickets visit the Wine Hawke's Bay website.
eRobertParker.com reviews Alpha Domus wines
2009 Alpha Domus The Aviator A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Ratings: 90+
Drink 2011 - 2018
Comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (37%), Merlot (27%), Malbec (18%) and Cabernet Franc (18%), the 2009 The Aviator was matured 16 months in 100% French oak barrels, 75% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it's intensity scented of warm black currant and black cherry preserves with hints of cedar, grilled bread, spice box and tobacco. Medium-full bodied and generously fruited in the mouth, it has a firm level of chewy tannins, up-lifting acidity and a long finish with the oak jutting out a bit. Give this one another year for the oak to marry and drink it to 2018+.
2010 Alpha Domus The Barnstormer Syrah A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Rating: 88
Drink 2011 - 2015
The 2010 The Barnstormer Syrah displays a deep garnet-purple color and aromas of warm cassis and blackberry preserves and hints of mulberries, black pepper, anise and dark chocolate. Medium bodied with a low to medium level of chewy tannins, it offers a decent concentration of youthful berry and black pepper flavors, finishing with good persistence. Approachable now, it should cellar to 2015+.
2007 Alpha Domus The Navigator A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Rating: 89
Drink 2011 - 2015
Blended of 45% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 7% Malbec, the 2077 The Navigator was matured for 20 months in mainly French oak barrels, 30% new. Deep garnet colored, it gives notes of creme de cassis and plum compote with nuances of sandalwood, cloves and spice cake. Medium-full bodied, it has a solid structure of crisp acid and medium-firm chewy tannins fleshed-out by just enough fruit. It finishes with good persistence. Drinking nicely now, it should cellar to 2015+.
2010 Alpha Domus Barrique Fermented Chardonnay A Chardonnay Dry White Table wine from
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Rating: 90
Drink 2011 - 2015
The 2010 Barrique Fermented Chardonnay gives a good intensity of warm peach and apple tart aromas with an undercurrent of crushed digestive biscuits, butterscotch and ginger. Full bodied with a creamy texture, it has a nice backbone of very crisp acidity countering the richness. It finishes with very good persistence of honey-nut and stone fruit flavors. Drinking now, it should keep to 2015+.
Best Ever Result for Alpha Domus at Wine Awards
The team at Alpha Domus are celebrating after earlier this week achieving our winery's most successful showing ever at a wine competition. Trophy winners and Supreme Award recipients of the Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards were announced at Tuesday night's gala dinner and awards ceremony, and Alpha Domus featured prominently, with three major triumphs:
- 2011 AD Noble Selection
- 2010 Barnstormer Syrah
- 2010 Barnstormer Syrah
Reserve Champion Wine of the Show
We had already received a gold medal for the Alpha Domus The Wingwalker Viognier, silver medal for The Pilot Rosé and three bronze medals after the judging in September.
We're delighted with this success, it is a true reflection of the Viticultural and Winemaking team's uncompromising focus on producing high quality wines.
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7 from 7 for AD at Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards
Up against 350 local wines at the recent judging for the 2011 Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards, all seven of Alpha Domus's entries have won medals, including three gold and one silver. Gold medals were awarded for the 2010 Alpha Domus The Barnstormer Syrah, the 2010 Alpha Domus The Wingwalker Viognier and the 2011 AD Noble Selection. The 2011 The Pilot Rosé won a silver medal. All three of the winery's gold medal-winning wines are now in the running for trophies, which will be announced at An Evening of Recognition & Elegance, the formal dinner and awards ceremony on Tuesday 18 October at Hastings' Waikoko Gardens.Managing Director, Paul Ham comments that, "Alpha Domus is coming of age with our continued dedication to quality paying off. In these challenging times there is only one way forward and that is to have a single-minded focus on quality. Our whole team is working toward this, and having the winery situated on the vineyard site means we are well placed to work together to achieve the best possible results."
Yvonne Lorkin Rates New Releases
Wine writer Yvonne Lorkin recently enjoyed a vertical tasting of 6 past vintages of AD The Aviator, and gave the newly-released AD The Aviator 2009 five stars. "It is warming, velvety and long on flavour; it has personality, character and weight that'll carry it through decades to come. Buy now or forever kick yourself." Terrific advice, we agree!
She's also given the 2010 Barnstormer Syrah 4 stars, which compounds very nicely with its recent gold medal at the Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards.
Raymond Chan's Excellent Reviews
Raymond Chan also has some wonderfully positive things to say about the recent vertical tasting of The Aviator.
Check out his detailed impressions of all vintages of our Flagship red at his website here.
Sir Richard Branson gets a Taste of AD
Much to our delight, the 2011 AD Noble Selection has been selected as the exclusive dessert wine for the Sir Richard Branson Live in Auckland dinner on October 20, an exclusive VIP banquet celebrating the 50th anniversary of Outward Bound New Zealand.Taste at the Cloud
The 2010 Barnstormer Syrah is being served at Taste at the Cloud, a premium food and beverage experience held at Auckland's Queens Wharf Fanzone, 'The Cloud' until October 23. Of over 350 wines tasted, only 70 were chosen to play a part in a taste adventure through four New Zealand food zones – urban, rural, seaside and winery/orchard. Our 2010 Syrah is being showcased in the rural zone, paired with regional produce and recipes from around the country.
adventure through four New Zealand food zones – urban, rural, seaside and winery/orchard. Our 2010 Syrah is being showcased in the rural zone, paired with regional produce and recipes from around the country.If you're in Auckland, check it out – Taste at the Cloud operates daily from 10am to 6pm, as part of the Real NZ Festival.
AD The Aviator Cuisine Award
Alpha Domus AD The Aviator 2009 has just been awarded 4.5 Stars in Cuisine magazine.
The judges said... "A wine at the more savoury end of cabernet, combining green olive, pepper, blackcurrent, lead pencil and gently sweet oak aromas. Slightly lighter than the biggest 09 Hawkes Bay cabernets, it carries its fruit well in a supple, silky style of excellent lenght."The Midlands Hawke's Bay Charity Wine Auction
Alpha Domus is proud to be involved in The Midlands Hawke's Bay Charity Wine Auction that was held on Queens Birthday Weekend 4 June 2011. The successful bid of $2,450 received 6 x 750ml bottles, a Magnum, a Jereboam and a Methuselah of the 2009 AD The Aviator. Produced only when conditions are perfect for this style of wine, the Aviator is the company's flagship red. It is a selection of the best parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec from our estate vineyard. Concentrated flavours of ripe red berryfruit and damson plum combine with cocoa notes and savoury oak. Firm, ripe tannins ensure this wine will age gracefully for many years to come.
Alpha Domus Wines Available in Europe
If you have friends or family in Europe, or just want to order Alpha Domus wine in Europe, visit the De Geus wine import website and purchase from their online shop.
Gerard Basset Awarded OBE
Gerard Basset can now add the initials OBE to MS and MW after his name after the world-leading sommelier was honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Watch Paul & Gerard open a bottle of champagne with the Sabrage technique...
From the Vineyard
Pruning is well underway and we have finally got some cold weather to get the vines dormant. Our heaviest frost this morning at -4 deg c.
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Alpha Domus available in Australia from NZ Wine Online
New Zealand Wine Online is the only website in Australia dedicated to selling New Zealand wine, and Alpha Domus wines are now exclusively available in Australia through their online wine store. Australian owned and operated, the team at NZWO are passionate about New Zealand wine. Frustrated by the limited range of NZ wines available at most stores around, they felt it was about time Australia got a real choice - so the NZWO website was born.
NZWO is delighted to have the Alpha Domus range onboard. They are telling their subscribers "We're just a little bit chuffed to be able to announce the launch of another exclusive winery to NZ Wine Online here in Australia. Alpha Domus is one of the Hawkes Bay's most innovative wineries producing some stunning wines across both white and red varietals."
The NZWO website is equally focused on providing NZ wine lovers with a great online resource all about NZ wine. Visitors can browse the site and find out about NZ wine regions, key varietals, vintage reports and upcoming NZ-focused wine events across Australia. They offer a regular newsletter, constantly changing specials and wine-club packs for an ongoing selection of outstanding NZ wines. Check out their website now.
New Dutch Importer Appointed
With our family heritage, the Netherlands is a country very close to our hearts. Therefore we are delighted to anounce the appointment of a new Dutch importer - De Geus Wijnimport specialising in Horceca and corporate wine sales. Their main focus is on the gastronomy sector (60%) and corporate customers (40%). Their main selling area is around Rotterdam, Den Haag and Amsterdam, which contains 75% of population of Holland. Ruud (the owner) is a former chef who has concentrated on wine since 1985. Naturally this means he has a very strong restaurant customer base, some of which are Michelin star restaurants.
Alpha Domus Wines in Shanghai
Alpha Domus wines are now on display in Shanghai. Our distributor, Woolemi Fine Wines, have just opened their first display store in Shanghai. This beautiful store is a fantastic showcase for our wines, and Shanghai is an progressive and exciting market for us, especially with all the activity generated by the World Expo.
The Aviator is "Wine of the Week"!
Our 2007 The Aviator has been named "Wine of the Week" on Sue Courtney's webzine for food and wine lovers. The site covers wine, food, books, news and reviews, with an emphasis on New Zealand. Visit the website to find out more.
Sue is an Auckland-based writer who loves writing about wine, food and her experiences. Her 'webzine' reaches all wine and food lovers who like to cruise the cyber highway - anywhere in the world. As she says, "The cyber-highway goes everywhere and it's the only safe place to drive with a glass of wine in hand!"
Alpha Domus Makes Mathew Jukes Top 60 List for 2010
Acclaimed wine writer Matthew Jukes has named two of our wines in his 60 best New Zealand Wines 2010 - The Pilot Chardonnay 2008 and the Alpha Domus 'The Wingwalker' Viognier 2008.
Matthew Jukes is wine correspondent of the Daily Mail and is read each week by over 9 million readers. He has won The International Wine and Spirit Competition's Trophy for Communicator of the Year, writes best selling wine guides in the UK and Australia, as well as being a wine buyer and internationally respected wine judge.
Each year he publishes his list of 60 best NZ Wines, and also other articles blogs etc. Visit his website for more details.
