New Zealand wine picks and cheese tasting notes.

1. Groovy Grapes Guide:
www.groovygrapes.com ~ 1.866.7GROOVY New Zealand Wine Picks + Cheese Pairings
NO. 1 FAMILY ESTATE CUVÉE NO. 1 BLANC DE BLANCS
VINTAGES 56358 | $36.95 | Marlborough, New Zealand
Pure golden color with a delicate mousse. Lemon curd and
apricot marmalade on golden raisin toast aromas follow
through on a crisp, round entry leads to a tangy, fruity-yet-dry
medium-to-full body with nice yeasty dough and quince
accents. Finishes with a mouth-watering acidity. A classy
aperitif or pair with spicy chicken or fish dishes.
CRAGGY RANGE KIDNAPPERS VINEYARD
CHARDONNAY 2008
VINTAGES 142554 | $23.95 | Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
This Chardonnay clearly separates itself from much of the
New World pack with its flinty nose and subtle aromas of
almond and lemon zest. Apricot, pear and oyster shell flavours
are all framed by balanced acidity and a delicate but persistent
texture, reminiscent of French Chablis. Though this wine has
seen oak, it is subtle and plays only a supporting role.
Cheese Pairing: Cendré de Lune
GOOSE BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009
VINTAGES 28134 | $22.95 | Marlborough, New Zealand
Pale yellow coloured, the nose shows intense aromas of
sweet pea pods and passion fruit. Medium to full-bodied,
flavourful tropical fruit and gooseberry flavours with pea pod
on the zesty finish. This is classic Marlborough Sauvignon
Blanc, the style that put New Zealand on the world wine map.
Cheese Pairing: Grey Owl
SEIFRIED ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2008
VINTAGES 707778 | $19.95 | Nelson, New Zealand
A very elegant New Zealand Pinot. Ruby red in the glass, it
offers up delicate aromas of plums and field berries. Light
bodied and graceful, with tangy fruit and impressive finesse.
Enjoy it as a sipper, or with mild fish dishes. This wine won a New Zealand Wine Fair Ottawa
Silver Medal for Pinot Noir at the 2009 San Francisco Discover the fabulous array of over 200 New
International Wine Competition. Zealand wines on offer and enjoy your wine
Cheese pairing: Le Douanier experience with a sampling of fine food and
cheeses.
COOPERS CREEK SYRAH 2007 Tuesday April 27, 2010
VINTAGES 120808 | $16.75 | Hawkes Bay, New Zealand 7pm - 9:30pm
The 2007 vintage, which includes a drop of Viognier (1.5 The Westin
percent), is a strongly colored wine with a deep core and Tickets $60 call or buy online.
purple hints at the rim. It’s fresh and fruity, with satisfying
nzwine@ketchin.com 705 444 0195
blackcurrant, plum, herb and spice flavours, with meaty and
toasty oak notes. Medium to full in body, the tannic structure is W: www.nzwine-events.ca
superb, giving the wine great balance and drinkability.
Cheese pairing: Bleu Benedictin Can’t make the Wine Fair? Have us re-create
your own private New Zealand Tasting . 866-747-
6689 or events@groovygrapes.com
Note: some of these wines were hard to get and may
be out of stock.
SEE DETAILED CHEESE TASTING NOTES ON NEXT
PAGE

2. www.groovygrapes.com ~ 1.866.7GROOVY
Cheese Notes
Grey Owl Cheese:
Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Québec, Fromagerie le Détour, The milk fat content of this cheese is 24% and
its moisture content 57%.
Fresh Chevre lovers rejoice! This is your next step in goat milk cheese appreciation! Soft, dense and
luxuriously smooth white curd enrobed in a dark grey speckled vegetable ash rind. Made in the style
of classic French Loire goat cheeses with flavours that are impeccably fresh yet incredibly complex,
while the pleasant lemony tartness lingers. As it ages, a creamy layer develops beneath the rind.
Suggested Wines: Dry and crisp or off-dry fruity whites.
Le Douanier Cheese
Rivière-des-Prairies, Québec, Fromages CDA inc., Milk type: Cow, pasteurized M.F.: 24% Category:
Semi-soft Humidity: 48% Rind: Washed and brushed Ripening: Surface, over 9 weeks
A semi-soft cheese with a washed and brushed rind. This variety is left to ripen for more than 9
weeks. The cheese features a signature central line of edible vegetable ash. With its earthy aroma
and organic flavour, Le Douanier tempts the palate with a hint of nuts and green apple.
Bleu Benedictin Cheese
Origin: Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Que. Producer: Abbaye Saint-Benoît Cheese maker: Sylvain Pruneau
Milk: pasteurized cow Type: blue, semi-soft, natural rind
The cheese is a semi-soft, whole milk, blue cheese deeply veined with the Roquefort penicillium
mold. A wheel of Bénédictin weighs 2 kilograms and has a whitish-grey coating. The aroma of the
cheese is reminiscent of mushrooms and has a creamy, delicately salted flavour. The middle of the
cheese wheel is especially creamy.
Learn more about wine and cheese pairing by attending a public event or planning a private
wine and cheese tasting shootout for friends, colleagues or clients. Call 866-747-6689 x
101 or events@groovygrapes.com