Friday night saw Joyce Austin return from Auckland to present our fourth public wine-tasting, in Cork’s Ambassador Hotel, and we’ve a special 48-hour sale to mark the occasion.

We had an overwhelming response to tickets, with 50 hungry wine lovers treated to an intriguing evening of world-class New Zealand wines. In a tasting of eleven of our newest arrivals from New Zealand, it was a combat zone as each person pitted their skills in a blind tasting evening. Needless to say there were a few surprising revelations with a healthy quota of both red faced and proud-as-peacock faces! There was a huge buzz as our gathering delved into a new taste experience in pairings of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, along with delicious summer sipping Rosé.

Check out what a couple of tasters thought of the night: our thanks to Brian Clayton and Manic Mammy for your kind words and support, we’re absolutely delighted you enjoyed the evening.

To mark the tasting, and our goal of making New Zealand one of your top summer picks, we have a 48-hour sale on all New Zealand wines until midnight Thursday, 11th June, with 10% off across the board. In particular check out this cracking mixed case selection, hand-picked by Joyce herself. It’s a delicious case, so if you’re sipping New Zealand, now’s the time to buy.

Wines tasted on the night were:

Muddy Water Pinot Noir Rosé
Waipara Springs Sauvignon Blanc
Tussock Sauvignon Blanc
Waipara Springs Chardonnay
Mount Cass Chardonnay
Coney Piccolo Pinot Gris
Tussock Pinot Gris
Greenhough Dry Riesling
Waipara Springs Riesling
Bilancia Pinot Noir
Waipara Springs Premo Pinot Noir

Congratulations to Wietse Buwalda of Crosshaven, Co. Cork, who scooped €220 worth of wine and a pair of New Zealand crystal wine glasses in a prize draw for orders placed on the night.

And finally, our thanks as always to Joyce for a great night’s education and entertainment. There are already rumours that Curious Wines’ first Dublin tasting could be a New Zealand night this side of Christmas, so watch this space.