Fairbourne Estate

Premium Sauvignon Blanc

Why Sauvignon Blanc and Autumn pair perfectly…

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Autumn has most definitely arrived in the UK. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your beloved Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for winter reds… Indeed not, at Fairbourne, we believe that your favourite varietal transcends all seasons, and tastes just as perfect while sipped by the fireside, as it does quaffed by the poolside!

Here are three ways to enjoy Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc even though the temperatures outside may have cooled:

A super soup – A warming bowl of soup makes the perfect lunchtime treat. But a seafood chowder is wholesome enough for a main meal supper time too! A great chowder doesn’t need to be complex, simply pick up some fish pie mix from the seafood counter at your favourite supermarket and a packet of cooked, mixed seafood from the freezer department, and everything else you need is probably in the fridge or the store cupboard. We love this recipe from the BBC Good Food website. It’s simple and fast to prepare.

A smashing salad – Just because the cooler climes are here you don’t have to give up on your salad, simply warm things up a little bit. This Trio of Warm Seafood Salad, uses mussels, halibut and scallops; and would pair beautifully with Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

A Sunday Roast – It’s no secret that seafood is a natural accompaniment for Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be reserved exclusively for the fish course. Its versatility and easy drinking nature also ensures it is very much at home with white meats, and what could make a warmer welcome for Autumn than a juicy roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings? Delight your Sunday lunch guests with a bottle of Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for social sipping. Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find yours.

 

How to host the perfect Barbecue…

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It’s official the U.K. summer has arrived, with a wee heatwave last month, it could be the start of something good, and it’s even been dry for Wimbledon so far!

As things officially start to heat up, it’s time to roll out the Barbecue. As Antipodeans we’re used to cooking, eating and entertaining outside, so we thought we’d share our top tips on how to host the perfect barbecue.

  • Start with the guest list – Work out how many can you cater for your place? Remember that you can keep things informal at a barbecue, let it run all afternoon or all evening. So you may find guests dip in and out of your soiree at different times, meaning you can invite a few more bodies than your pad could handle at a sit down formal supper.
  • Plan a stonking menu – Think beyond the humble sausage and burger. Choose chicken, fish or seafood to pair with Fairbourne premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. This website features some awesome recipes… Including these divine Monkfish Kebabs. Don’t forget to check your guests dietary requirements and include some vegetarian options. Remember that whilst the grill is the star of the show it also needs some supporting acts, so don’t skip the side dishes.
  • Be prepared – The great thing about barbecue food is that much of it can be prepared in advance. Your meats will love marinades and your salads will rest superbly as long as you keep them cool. So do as much as you can the night before. If you learned to be prepared in the Scouts, you may also have learned that lighting a fire (or a grill) is not always the easiest thing to do, especially if a breeze is blowing… So have plenty of charcoal and fire lighters on hand.
  • Check the weather – Yes it’s been a pretty decent start to summer, but remember the U.K. can be unpredictable. Think about borrowing or hiring a gazebo just in case things take a turn for the worse.
  • Order your wine – Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc.

Hello UK Spring! Hello Sauvignon Blanc.

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For our friends in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s that time of year again… The evenings are lighter and the days a little warmer, Spring has arrived!

It’s time to come out of hibernation and tentatively enjoy long weekend lunches Al Fresco, and early evening suppers on the terrace.

With the new season, comes a change in menu, casserole dishes get relegated to the rear of the cupboard and there’s a yearning to conjure up lighter dishes and succulent salads filled with spring goodness.

As new produce arrives at your local farmer’s market, we thought we’d share some of our favourite UK spring ingredients that pair beautifully with Sauvignon Blanc.

Asparagus:

Add some to your Caeser salad, stir fry it with ginger and cumin seeds for an Asian-inspired side dish, or simply griddle it in a pan and serve with good olive oil, a little lemon juice and shavings of Parmesan cheese. Add a glass of beautifully chilled Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc to tantalise your taste buds.

Jersey Royal New Potatoes:

We wrote a whole post about Jersey Royal new potatoes last year, it includes a fabulous recipe… Jersey Royals with Hot Smoked Salmon, and Watercress Salad in a Horseradish Dressing. Find it HERE. We love them as a side dish, best served dripping in butter with mint from the garden; but if you want to spice things up a bit you could roast them with olive oil and cumin seeds, and serve with a side sauce made from yoghurt blended with mint and chive. Don’t forget to pour your Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc to delight your diners.

Spinach:

This vitamin rich, muscle building leafy green is all too often saved for the dastardly post-workout smoothie… So why not bring it back to the kitchen this spring time? Double cream, Parmesan cheese and a pinch of nutmeg will turn your spinach side dish into something quite decadent. Whisk up a spinach and Feta frittata for a weekend lunch, or top a spinach salad with warm goats cheese, balsamic vinegar and walnuts… Delicious! Remember every good salad deserves a glass of Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc to sip alongside!

Now you have the recipe inspiration, don’t forget the wine! Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc.

 

Serve some Fairbourne with Christmas

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The countdown is well and truly on, with only just over two weeks until the fat man in the red suit zips down the chimney.

You’ve no doubt ordered your turkey, goose or another main event for the festive feast; your Christmas pudding may have had its first steam. You’ve likely sourced your Christmas crackers containing colourful hats, delightful trinkets and a few funny jokes! But have you chosen your wine yet?

Here are three reasons to choose Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc…

  • Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, is terroir inspired from a single vineyard. What does that mean? Well, it 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. The grapes are hand-picked for elegant and refined flavours.
  • Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, is extremely versatile. This means you can serve it throughout your entire festive 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.
  • Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, (unlike many wines made from the same grape varietal) is a Sauvignon Blanc that can be drunk now or will age beautifully in the bottle. So, in the unlikely event that you and your guests don’t get through your case this Christmas, you’ll have made a head start on your Christmas shopping for next year!

Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc; or if you’re in New Zealand shop online.

 

How to enjoy your bank holiday weekend in Blighty!

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Whoop whoop long weekend coming up for all of our Fairbourne fans in the UK. Monday 28th August is summer bank holiday, and we’re hoping you get fine weather.

The long weekend at the end of August, just before the kids return to school, is traditionally a time for a final summer fling; and some of you might be hopping in the car to travel for a weekend away in the country or to attend one of the popular summer events, like the Notting Hill Carnival, where the streets of London come alive with colourful floats, street performers, music and tempting food stalls.

But here at Fairbourne we encourage you to balance any rushing around with a little investment in yourself… Excuse the bank holiday puns… We couldn’t resist them! Sit back, relax and put your feet up… Because holidays and Sauvignon Blanc go together, as Forrest Gump once said… Just like peas and carrots!

Bank-Holiday-Relax

Here are 3 reasons to have your fridge brimming with Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc this bank holiday weekend!

  • You may get a chance to eat al fresco! One of summer’s greatest delights. There’s nothing more joyful than seeking the shade of a tree, laden with a picnic, rug and delicious chilled wine. Or gathering around a barbecue for a long, lazy evening.
  • Whatever you’re eating Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc’s clean taste and herbal mineral finish mean it’s a versatile and foolproof wine to drink with food. So when you’re invited to neighbours for an impromptu lunch, turn up armed with a bottle of Fairbourne and you’ll be a very popular guest.
  • It’s like going on holiday, without the travelling! Fairbourne is terroir inspired from a single hillside vineyard, so you can transport yourself to the wide open spaced, blue skied climes of New Zealand with a single sip! Even if the weather doesn’t come out to play in Blighty.

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

3 ways to enjoy Sauvignon Blanc for a UK summer

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It’s almost summertime in the UK! (Truly it is!!) The kids break up from school in just a week or so, and with the recent results of the referendum, and the drop in the value of the pound against the euro, it’s been widely reported that more Britons will be taking staycations this summer, and enjoying everything that Great Britain has to offer.

Summer-and-Sauvignon-Blanc-UK

Thankfully, this includes Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, so you can transport yourself to the wide open spaced, blue skied climes of New Zealand with a single sip! When the mercury eventually rises it’s time to reach for something cold and refreshing, and a vibrant Sauvignon Blanc says summer at first sniff.  Day or night, whether you’re hosting a leisurely lunch or decadent and delicious dinner, a zesty ‘Sav’ is simply perfect summer drinking.

Here are 3 ways to enjoy Sauvignon Blanc this summer…

  1. Barbecue up a storm – Food always tastes better when eaten outside; and there’s much to be said for those heydays of the eighties and nineties when barbecueing became popular. But… Barbecues should be and thankfully have become about so much more than burgers and sausages. Choose chicken, fish or seafood to pair with Fairbourne premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. This website features some awesome recipes… Including these divine Monkfish Kebabs.
  2. Fish & Chips – After a day on the beach there’s nothing better to fill the stomach than traditional “fish & chips” eaten out of the paper! The crispness of Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc helps to cut through the delicious fatiness of the fish and chips.
  3. A picnic basket full of fun – When the sun comes out to play, take advantage of the great outdoors with a spur of the moment picnic. Enjoy crusty breads with cheese, a delicious Chevre, and Sauvignon Blanc, is a match made in heaven. Or if you want a sophisticated basket of goodies choose smoked salmon, a summer salad of peppery rocket or cress, fresh ciabatta with wasabi mayo, and for something sweet, succulent nectarines.

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

3 reasons tennis and Sauvignon Blanc are a perfect match…

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It’s that time of year again… The Wimbledon Tounament is fast approaching; and the weather in truly British style, does not look particularly promising! But that never really dampens the spirit of the occasion, and hopefully this year won’t be a repeat of 1922, when the tournament was plagued by rain every single day!

Whilst there’s nothing quite like enjoying the atmosphere at a live sporting event, sometimes, especially on a drizzly day, it seems the best viewing takes place at home, and we have the perfect match for your perfect match… Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc! So why not invite a few friends around for a tennis party at your place?

PerfectMatch

Here are 3 reasons tennis and Sauvignon Blanc are the perfect match…

  • It will remind you of summer, even if it’s raining! A crisp chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc epitomises summer like no other beverage!
  • Crisp and elegant, Sauvignon Blanc hits the high notes with its explosive aromatic personality.  Its clean taste and herbal mineral finish mean it’s a foolproof wine to drink with food.  There’s a reason Sauvignon Blanc is one of the world’s favourite go-to grapes.
  • Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc is extremely versatile. Choosing to serve Fairbourne at your tennis party will give you much scope in the foods you can serve alongside it. It has the capacity to honour plain, simple seafood, fresh oysters and steamed mussels, as well as salmon. Pair it 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. You might be watching a lunchtime or evening match, rest assured our wine can be served as an apéritif, it can take centre court or accompany the cheese course!

Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc; or if you’re watching Wimbledon from New Zealand shop online.

What’s in season? – In the UK… Jersey Royals!

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Here at Fairbourne Estate, our New Zealand summer may be coming to an end, but for all of you who enjoy our wine in the Northern Hemisphere yours is just beginning, and we understand it’s going to be a cracker of a weekend in the UK, where temperatures are set to sizzle up to 23C in weather hotter than the Mediterranean!

What better way to celebrate a beautiful early summer weekend than with a lunch time get together enjoying fresh, seasonal fare and great wine!

It’s about this time of year that delicious Jersey Royal New Potatoes are at their best… Their fabulous flavour comes from the unique growing conditions on the island of Jersey. The potatoes are often grown in fields too steep to be harvested mechanically, so are hand harvested, much like our Fairbourne Sauvignon Blamc grapes. Jersey Royals are a true seasonal delight, the crops are short-lived so enjoy them while you can.

Mont Orgueil Castle

We found this great recipe online, that includes Jersey Royals and delicious smoked salmon, we’re sure it will pair beautifully with Fairbourne Premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Jersey Royals with Hot Smoked Salmon, and Watercress Salad in a Horseradish Dressing

  • Preparation Time: 10 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 15 minutes
  • Serves: 2

Ingredients

  • 500g Jersey Royal new potatoes
  • 100g crème fraîche
  • 1 tsp creamed horseradish
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 spring onions, finely sliced
  • 2 hot smoked salmon fillets, skinned and flaked
  • 1 bunch watercress, rinsed

Method

  1. Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add the potatoes and reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the potatoes for about 15 minutes or until tender
  2. Mix together the crème fraîche and creamed horseradish.  Add enough lemon juice and black pepper to taste
  3. Drain the potatoes and leave to cool slightly. Add the spring onions and salmon.  Stir in the crème fraîche mix until all the ingredients have a light coating. Toss in the watercress and serve, ether slightly warm or cold.

Head to your local Majestic Wines store in the UK to find Fairbourne Sauvignon Blanc; or shop online in New Zealand.

 

Shop Online

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We have good news! Our Fairbourne Estate premium Sauvignon Blanc is now available for sale online for delivery within New Zealand.

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Yes Russell and I will ship directly to your door, making it easier for you to enjoy our wines without having to carry them home.

Our current vintage of Fairbourne, 2013, is available by the case or as a single bottle in a luxury gift box.

You may also wish to sample previous vintages, in which case our vertical tasting case might be the perfect choice for you, one bottle of each vintage – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Alternatively our twin luxury gift box contains one bottle each of our Fairbourne 2012 and 2013.

Happy Shopping! Oh and did we mention that we offer free shipping nationwide!

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

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