Marlborough Winemakers Wine Options 2012 – Round One

Spirits in Marlborough are high if Wine Options are anything to go by. Earlier this month, I took part in the 30^th and final Wine Options Game conducted in a large format by Kingsley Wood, of First Glass Wines in Takapuna. Kingsley’s decided to call it a day, and it’s a real loss, as he’s been responsible for encouraging interest and passion in wine for three decades.

The Marlborough Winemakers Wine Options has been growing steadily over the last few years. A keen group of young winemakers including Bec Wiffen, Brett Bermingham, Helen Morrison and Anna Kingscote are behind the scenes in organising and promoting a series of four monthly competitions over winter. With nearly 30 teams involved and strong sponsorship by the wine industry and Marlborough people, it’s becoming an event that is a significant one with surprisingly wine ranging influences in the wine sector in our most important wine growing region.

This year’s event was held at the excellent Drylands restaurant with Dietmar Schnarre providing the services and the venue, as well as putting on hearty food at the end of the event. It was a pleasure to be there again, assisted by the professional Dietmar and his staff, to be able to conduct the first in the year’s series of Marlborough Wine Options. The keenness of the participants reflected the cohesive spirit and energy in the district. It’s a good look for the Marlborough wine fraternity.

• 1^st, 105 points (max. 150): ‘Punk in Drublic’, with Andrew Brown, Maureen Hamilton, Jane White and Veronica Williams, from Framingham
• 2^nd, 100 points (after a tie-break): ‘Truckin’ Beer Hours Later’, with Bec Wiffen, Marcus Wright, Sarah Burton and Alan Hedgeman, of Lawsons/Cloudy Bay
• 3^rd, 100 points: ‘The Riojan Rollers’ with Sam Smail, Peter Jackson, Diana Katardzhiera and Rowan Langdon , a Whitehaven-based team
• In equal last place on 55 points were ‘The Blue Cocks’ and ‘Spit-Hoons’. I won’t say which wineries they came from.
• The ‘Last Man Standing’ winner was Murray Cook of Villa Maria who took away a bottle of Bollinger ‘Special Cuvee’ Champagne.

• Starborough ‘Awatere Valley’ Marlborough Pinot Gris 2011
• Bischofliches Scharzhofberger Riesling Spatlese 2009
• Tyrrells ‘Vat 1′ Hunter Valley Semillon 2002
• Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard Keltern’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2011 (individual game wine)
• Concha y Toro ‘Marques Casa Concha’ Carmenere 2010
• Bouchard Père Beaune 1^er ‘Grèves’ ‘Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus’ 2010
• Mr. Riggs ‘Outpost’ Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010