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How to plan the perfect festive party!

December 7, 2018 by admin

As the festive season approaches, it’s time to start thinking about your Christmas celebrations.

At Fairbourne our premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is enjoyed around the world, so with that in mind, we thought we’d share our top tips to help you plan a fabulous festive bash, whether you’re celebrating in the Northern or Southern hemisphere.

Location, location, location

Decide whether you’re hosting at home or renting a space. This decision may be determined by your budget or the number of guests you want to invite. In the southern hemisphere as the weather warms you can take your festive fling outside, allowing for an extensive guest list. However, as the wintery weather hits the northern hemisphere, your outside options may be limited. If you have space, you could invest in a party gazebo. We’re not talking about a flimsy shelter with little protection; gazebos have come a long way! Check out White Pavilion Gazebos, they’re 100% waterproof and designed to withstand the very worst the British weather can throw at them. Add an infrared heater and some sparkling lights for a winter wonderland venue.

Choose a theme

Will you plump for a traditional Christmas theme with Secret Santa gifts and Christmas crackers? Or an elegant evening soiree with sparkling conversation and frocks to match? You might even go yo-ho-ho and plump for a costume party or crazy Christmas sweater event!

Plan the menu

The trick here is to keep it simple. No host wants to spend all their time in the kitchen, so preparation is vital. In the southern hemisphere, it’s easy for us to roll out the barbecue and much of the food can be prepared in advance. Your meats will love marinades, and your salads will rest superbly as long as you keep them fresh. In the northern hemisphere why not set up a buffet with winter-warming chillis and stews that can be prepared ahead and left bubbling in the slow cooker. If you’re throwing a drinks party, it’s canapes all the way! Check out this recipe from the blog archives for our smoked salmon blinis, always a hit, and with just four ingredients you can whip them up in a trice!

Send your invites

Once you’ve decided on your location, theme and menu, send out your invites. Ask your guests to RSVP so you can organise catering numbers. You’ll still need a little flex as there’s no way of knowing exactly how many people will or won’t turn up on the day. To over cater or under cater? That is the question! No host wants their guests to go hungry, but nor do you want to be left with a mountain of uneaten food. If you’re worried about running out, bulk up on bread and starchy foods. Especially those that can be frozen or used over the next few days.

Select your wine

Thankfully, this is a simple process! Choose Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for its versatility and consistent five-star reviews. At Fairbourne our wine is crafted to be enjoyed with food. It is, of course, a wonderful apéritif to serve with canapés. But, it can also honour a starter, especially seafood or smoked salmon. It also pairs beautifully with white meats like chicken, turkey, goose and pork, and can accompany a fine cheese board… Goat cheese, a delicious Chevre, and Sauvignon Blanc is a match made in heaven.


Head to your local Majestic Wines store to buy your Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Or contact us in N.Z.

Happy Christmas to you, from us!

 

Filed Under: Ideas, Sauvignon Blanc

Three things you might not know about Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc

October 10, 2018 by admin

At Fairbourne we do things a little differently to some other Sauvignon Blanc winemakers. Whenever one considers the great wines around the world, and inevitably Europe, there are some common characteristics, they are style and site specific. From the outset we decided we would hand-pick grapes from a single vineyard and produce a terroir inspired Sauvignon Blanc, the ancient clay gravel soils where the vines grow, define Fairbourne’s unique style.

The methods we employ, not to mention the love, passion and skill that Sarah has for her winemaking craft, means that there are some things you may not know about Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc… So, let us enlighten you.

  • Fairbourne ages well – Unlike, some Sauvignon Blanc wines, which should generally be drunk within a year or 2 of vintage date, you can cellar a Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for up to ten years. Our wine is naturally lower in sugar, and less acidic, so the complex layers mature gracefully.
  • Not just an aperetif – A chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc is often considered as simply a refreshing aperetif before moving on to the main event. At Fairbourne our wine is crafted to be enjoyed with food. It is, of course, a wonderful apéritif to serve with canapés. But, it can also honour a starter, especially seafood or smoked salmon. It also pairs beautifully with white meats like chicken, turkey, goose and pork, and can accompany your cheese course… Goat cheese, a delicious Chevre, and Sauvignon Blanc, is a match made in heaven.
  • Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc consistently earns 5* reviews – Restraint is the key influence of the Fairbourne winemaking philosophy. That’s one of the reasons we produce wines that are consistently reviewed as five-star offerings by the industry’s top wine experts. Here is Raymond Chan’s review for Fairbourne 2017…

    Bright, light straw-yellow colour with pale green tints, lighter on the edge.  The nose has an elegantly concentrated and taut core of aromatic gooseberries and fragrant white florals with an amalgam of fresh herbs, snow peas, unveiling cooler nettle and mineral notes.  The aromatics are refined with a mouthwatering and penetrating intensity.  Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is sleek and finely concentrated with a heart of gooseberry fruit entwined with fresh herbs, nettles and cut-grass, unfolding white florals and minerals.  The palate flows along a fine line with electric tension from the zesty acidity, leading to a lingering finish of gooseberries and nettles.  This is a refined and elegantly concentrated Sauvignon Blanc with gooseberry fruit and cool-spectrum notes, white florals and minerals on a racy palate.  Serve with seafood and Pacific Rim fare over the next 2-3 years.

 

Filed Under: Fairbourne, Sauvignon Blanc

Seasonal veggies and Sauvignon Blanc

September 11, 2018 by admin

This post is for our U.K. based Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc fans. We’ve been reliably informed that following a long hot summer, the first whiffs of autumn are in the air. Autumn is one of our favourite seasons, not least because of the wonderful harvest of vegetables that you can find in your garden, allotment or even at the farm shop and farmer’s markets.

It’s the season for beetroot, broad beans and sweetcorn. If you have a glut of any of these favourite veggies here are three recipes that you can use to create a perfect weekend lunch or light supper.


Beetroot & Goat’s Cheese Salad

  • A few heritage beetroot, cooked and cubed
  • A handful of walnuts toasted, drizzled with maple syrup and left to cool
  • A little orange juice, balsamic vinegar and olive oil, whizzed into a dressing
  • Mixed salad leaves or rocket
  • Goat’s cheese, cubed

Lay the mixed leaves on your serving platter, top with the beetroot, goat’s cheese and walnuts, then drizzle with the dressing. Serve with a chilled glass of Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.


A simple pasta dish with Broad Beans and Parmesan

  • Your favourite pasta, fussilli, pappardelle or spaghetti
  • Broad beans, blanched
  • Mint
  • Olive oil
  • Juice and zest of a lemon
  • Parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, drain and reserve a little of the cooking liquid. Toss in the broad beans, chopped mint, juice and zest of the lemon and some olive oil. Loosen with the reserved cooking liquid if necessary. Top with freshly grated Parmesan and black pepper. Serve with a chilled glass of Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.


Sweetcorn and Bacon fritters

  • Corn kernels stripped from two fresh cobs
  • A couple of spring onions chopped
  • Two eggs, separated
  • A few slices of bacon, cooked, cooled and cut into pieces

Mix together the corn kernels, spring onions, egg yolks and bacon in a bowl. Whisk the egg whites, until stiff, and fold into the mixture. Fry spoonfuls of the fritter mixture in a blend of butter and oil. Serve with avocado, salsa and a chilled glass of Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.


Head to your local Majestic Wines store to buy your Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Filed Under: Fairbourne in the UK, Menu Inspiration, Recipes, Sauvignon Blanc

It’s White Wine Day

August 1, 2018 by admin

The 3rd of August celebrates White Wine Day! Of course, there are many varieties of white wine, but at Fairbourne, we concentrate on just one… Sauvignon Blanc! Our Sauvignon Blanc stands out from the crowd because we make it somewhat differently, we make premium, handpicked, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

The difference between hand harvested Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and that harvested by machine is monumental. Flavour and palate texture from hand-harvested Sauvignon Blanc is far more expressive, and the wine has greater length. Sauvignon Blanc grapes have very “wild/savage” characters. Hand harvesting lessens juice contact with the more aggressive and phenolic characters of crushed skins, bunch stalks and petioles. Therefore, hand harvested grapes can produce a more focused aroma spectrum and better express the nuances of the vineyard with a clear and powerful varietal expression.

If you’re going to celebrate White Wine Day, (something we feel should be encouraged), might we suggest that Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc would make the perfect tipple!

Here are three tips to help you celebrate White Wine Day!

  • Remember to select the correct vessel! Not all wine glasses are created equal. When selecting your glassware, it’s important to consider that glass shape can provide a unique experience for drinking your wine. Check out an earlier blog post with more information on this.
  • Be sure to serve your Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc at the optimum temperature. Chilling our Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to serve between 14 and 16°C (52 and 61°F) will delight your taste buds!
  • Serve with food… Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is extremely versatile. It can honour simple seafood, such as fresh oysters and steamed mussels, as well as salmon. Additionally, it pairs with white meats like chicken and pork. Goat cheese, a delicious Chevre, and Sauvignon Blanc is a match made in heaven. The wine’s vibrant flavours also compliment spicy and ethnic cuisines.

Wherever, and however, you choose to celebrate White Wine Day; we’d like to raise a glass to you!

If you’re based in New Zealand Check out our list of stockists to find your Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc, and if you’re in the U.K. head to your local Majestic Wines store.

 

Filed Under: Fairbourne, Hand Picked, Sauvignon Blanc

25th May is Wine Day

May 11, 2018 by admin

We’re beginning to think that May might be the best month in the calendar, it just keeps on giving!

Not only was May 4th International Sauvignon Blanc Day, but May 25th is Wine Day! A day that celebrates one of the most loved and historical alcoholic tipples, wine!

At Fairbourne, we think wine should be celebrated every day! But if you would like to make an occasion of Wine Day on 25th May, here are a few tips to help you do exactly that…

  • Celebrate with friends – Raising a glass with friends to love, friendship, health, wealth, and happiness makes a special occasion truly joyful. It’s an art that has been practiced by many cultures around the globe from the start of recorded history. It’s also a wonderful way to make perfect memories!
  • Celebrate with food – Fairbourne premium, elegant and hand-picked Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, is supple across the palate with a generous mouth-feel, the vibrant and expressive fruit flavours lead to a smooth dry finish. It’s made to be enjoyed with food, and is extremely versatile. Fresh fish and seafood are natural accompaniments, but it will also pair beautifully with white meats like chicken, turkey, goose and pork. As an easy drinking wine you’ll find it’s compatible with fresh and fragrantly spiced cuisine.
  • Celebrate with the best – Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, is terroir inspired from a single vineyard. That means it tastes like no other Sauvignon Blanc you will have tried because the ancient clay gravel soils where the vines grow, define its unique style. Unlike many other Sauvignon Blanc wines, our grapes are hand-picked for elegant and refined flavours. Sarah then works her magic, so that Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc consistently earns 5* reviews.

Wherever, and however you choose to celebrate Wine Day, we’d like to raise a glass to you! If you’re in the U.K. head to your local Majestic Wines store to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc.

Filed Under: Fairbourne, Fairbourne in the UK, Hand Picked, Ideas, Sauvignon Blanc

Spring is here! Or is it?

April 10, 2018 by admin

If you’re living in the U.K. spring should officially have sprung… But it seems the weather is as changeable as ever. A hint of sunshine and warmth is followed by steady rain, and even snow! However, the vagaries of British weather, shouldn’t stop you enjoying your Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which is always consistently good! We believe that your favourite varietal transcends all seasons, and tastes as good sipped by the fireside, as it does slurped in the sunshine!

With that in mind, here are a few suggestions for spring suppers and light lunches that will pair perfectly with your favourite Sauvignon Blanc, no matter what the weather gods throw at you.

For rainy days when only comfort food will do – A warming bowl of soup makes the perfect lunchtime treat. Turn it into an evening meal with some crusty bread and an antipasto platter. Classic seafood chowder is a great choice, but if you’re looking for more soupy inspiration, check out this blog post from the archives, for two recipes that both pair perfectly with Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

For spring suppers when the sun comes out to play – As new season produce hits the shelves look out for tender, sweet British asparagus. This Asparagus and Cheese Tart recipe, served with a simple salad and a bottle of Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc, shouts springtime! And if things really start heating up, roll out the barbecue, but think beyond the humble sausage and burger. Choose chicken, fish or seafood to pair with Fairbourne premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

For days when it’s complicated – If you’re planning an event ahead of time and have no idea what the weather will be like then cover your bases by choosing a simple pasta dish. Comforting enough if there’s a chill in the air, but equally good eaten al fresco! For something different try Spaghetti with Anchovy Carbonara. Find a recipe HERE.

Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc.

Filed Under: Fairbourne, Fairbourne in the UK, Ideas, Menu Inspiration, Recipes, Sauvignon Blanc

A Sauvignon Blanc Easter

March 21, 2018 by admin

The Easter holiday is just around the corner, and with it comes the opportunity for family and friends to feast together. If you’re looking for a wine to fill your fridge for the social occasions that you’re holding or have been invited to, then look no further than Fairbourne premium hand-picked Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Here are three reasons why…

Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, is extremely versatile. This means you can serve it throughout your entire Easter feast. It’s a wonderful apéritif to serve with canapés, especially seafood and salty cheese inspired nibbles.  It will certainly honour a smoked salmon starter, it pairs beautifully with white meats like chicken, turkey, goose and pork, and can accompany the cheese course… Goat cheese, a delicious Chevre, and Sauvignon Blanc, is a match made in heaven.

You’ll be invited back! At Fairbourne, as specialist producers of premium hand-picked Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc we’re clearly in love with the vibrant and expressive fruit flavours this grape varietal yields. It seems that the Brits agree with us! A survey of 400,000 people, found that Sauvignon Blanc wine is the top choice of tipple in every British town, city and county, bar one… So you can guarantee that if you gift your host a bottle of Fairbourne, you’ll be invited back.

A wine for all seasons. If you’re reading this in the Northern hemisphere you’ll be hoping for a little spring sunshine over the Easter holidays. And if you’re reading this in the Southern hemisphere we may be lucky enough to enjoy a few of those perfect early autumn/late summer days. But wherever you’re drinking your Sauvignon Blanc you can be sure that if you choose Fairbourne your favourite varietal will transcend all seasons.

Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc.

Filed Under: Fairbourne, Fairbourne in the UK, Sauvignon Blanc, Shop Online

Open that bottle!

February 9, 2018 by admin

At Fairbourne, we believe life is for living… Eat the cake, buy the shoes and open the bottle! (Not necessarily all at once, or in that order.)

We’re pleased to know we’re not alone with this philosophy, and in fact, that a special day was created in the year 2000 to ensure that special bottles of wine, champagne and spirits are actually enjoyed! Open That Bottle Night was founded by ‘Tastings’ columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher; and this year it takes place on 24th February 2018. Read all about the day HERE.

Unlike many Sauvignon Blanc wines, Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc will be as good, if not better if you decide to cellar it… Raymond Chan recently re-reviewed our Fairbourne 13, it kept its five-star rating and Raymond said it was… “better with bottle age.”

If you have a special bottle of Fairbourne set aside, and decide that the last February in Saturday is a good time to unscrew the cap here are our four steps to enjoyment central!

  • Remember to select the correct vessel! Not all wine glasses are created equal. When selecting your glassware it’s important to consider that glass shape can provide a unique experience for drinking your wine. Check out an earlier blog post with more information on this.
  • Be sure to serve your Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc at the optimum temperature. Chilling our Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to serve between 14 and 16°C (52 and 61°F) will delight your taste buds!
  • Serve with food… Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is extremely versatile. It has the capacity to honour simple seafood, such as, fresh oysters and steamed mussels, as well as salmon. Additionally, it  pairs with white meats like chicken and pork. Goat cheese, a delicious Chevre, and Sauvignon Blanc, is a match made in heaven. The wine’s vibrant flavors also compliment spicy and ethnic cuisines.
  • Serve with friends… The original premise of Open That Bottle Night was that the annual occasion should motivate friends and family to connect with each other over a bottle, and create great memories!

Still in need of a special bottle to mark this day of the year? Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc. If you’re in New Zealand order HERE.

 

Filed Under: Fairbourne, Fairbourne in the UK, Glassware, Ideas, Sauvignon Blanc, Shop Online

Make it a Happy New Year!

January 5, 2018 by admin

We know it’s customary at this time of year to make a few resolutions, but at Fairbourne, we think those New Year’s pledges should be less about abstaining from the things you enjoy, and more about appreciating those things even more, thus ensuring your 2018 is a happy one! So with that in mind, we have three New Year’s Resolutions to help you relish every sip of your Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

  1. Resolve to ignore dry January – We’ve heard it’s become a thing…! No matter whether you’re in the Southern or Northern hemisphere January is a tricky time of year to go teetotal! If you’re in the Southern hemisphere you are mid-summer and with that comes all the social get-togethers of the season. If you’re in the Northern hemisphere, January is generally cold, dark and miserable, and taking away the treat of a tipple or two just makes it more melancholy! So rather than abstain altogether, choose to drink better and embrace quality over quantity, by selecting the very best Sauvignon Blanc. At Fairbourne we hand-pick our grapes from a single vineyard. Our wine is supple across the palate with a generous mouth-feel, the vibrant and expressive fruit flavours lead to a smooth dry finish. Fairbourne consistently achieves five-star reviews.
  2. Resolve to try new food and wine pairings – We believe that good wine is made to be drunk with good food! Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is extremely versatile. While it’s true that it pairs beautifully with seafood, fresh oysters, steamed mussels, and salmon. It also pairs with white meats like chicken and pork, and even if these are served with herb sauces or rubs the Sauvignon Blanc holds it own. The wine’s vibrant flavors also compliment spicy and ethnic cuisines.
  3. Resolve to let your wine evolve – Unlike many Sauvignon Blanc wines, Fairbourne 2016 will be as good, if not better by the end of this year, the year after, and the year after that! Raymond Chan recently re-reviewed our Fairbourne 13, it kept its five-star rating, and Raymond said it was… “better with bottle age.” Buy a case of Fairbourne, and drink a bottle on the same day each year for the next six years to see how gracefully the complex layers mature.

Here’s to a Happy New Year!

 

Filed Under: Fairbourne, Sauvignon Blanc

One chicken, one bottle of wine, two mid-week meals.

November 21, 2017 by admin

The evenings are darker and the temperatures cooler… Winter has well and truly arrived in the U.K. and with it comes the desire to hunker down mid-week with some good old-fashioned comfort food, a glass of wine and Blue Planet on catch up!

Nothing can be more comforting than roast chicken and veggies… That’s why we believe that Monday should be the new Sunday!

Okay, we understand that you might not want to cook a full roast meal on a Monday evening after work, but in all honesty, if you throw your bird in the oven when you walk in the door, by the time you’ve changed into your civvies, sorted your to-do list for the next day and poured a glass of Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc, your chicken will be almost cooked. Make things easier for yourself… Substitute roast potatoes for creamy, mashed spuds and stir fry some seasonal veggies to keep things simple.

The good news is that the leftovers from your Monday evening meal, can be used in all sorts of thrifty domestic god/goddess ways, to create some fabulous mid-week winter warmers… Try one of these recipes:

  • A lovely mustardy bake with roast chicken and broccoli.
  • Warm things up with this spicy chicken and chorizo jambalaya.
  • These cheesy chicken crispbakes are easy to make mid-week, serve with a simple side salad.
  • Roast some Kumara and fill them with a tasty, creamy chicken mixture. View the recipe here.
  • Get double thrifty by stripping the meat from your chicken and boiling up the carcass to make your own stock. Then make some heartwarming roast chicken soup.

All of these meals need just one extra ingredient to make them perfect, a chilled glass of Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. You may even manage to make one bottle stretch to two nights!

Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find yours.

Filed Under: Fairbourne, Fairbourne in the UK, Ideas, Menu Inspiration, Recipes, Sauvignon Blanc

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Sauvignon Blanc

Here at Fairbourne Estate we make premium, handpicked, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The word Sauvignon is a derivative from the French word Sauvage meaning wild or savage and of course the word blanc is the French word for white. The wild or … Read More

A little spice is very nice!

16th January marks International Hot & Spicy Food Day! While it’s common to reach for a beer when you're eating a … [Read More...]

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