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One of the advantages of having family in the Southern Hemisphere is that occasionally I get to go and visit them. The last five years have been the longest period of my life away from Christmas on the beach, fresh seafood and Sauvignon Blanc.
It never occurred to us as children that Bing Crosby’s White Christmas really had no relevance to us in the antipodes, other than we were celebrating the festive season.
As children, we spent Christmas playing beach cricket, wind surfing, swimming and water skiing and camping. My extended whanau (family) would wake up on Christmas day at our campsite and put in a ham, lamb, chicken and/or turkey (there were a lot of us), on a charcoal BBQ.
As Christmas day is underway every year, we are 35 miles from the nearest town, so it is a nice, quiet family celebration.
This year was no different, with cricket, children running amok, trampolines, great food and wine.
Breakfast consisted of pastry, ham and local brie cheese, with seasonal peaches-- it is our family breakfast tradition.
As this is a wine column, I should focus on that briefly. The evolution of the New Zealand palate and attitude to wine and food has been perpetuated by a very successful wine industry. The New Zealand public has been very willing to change its dining and imbibing habits over the last 15 years. Hooray, I say.
New Zealand is recognized for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. In the last two weeks, I have tried Merlot, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer that have been awesome. The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc has been intense and softer than in the previous two or three vintages from New Zealand.
The wineries have returned to their roots of over delivering on quality. Long may it continue.
Andrew Meggitt is the Head Winemaker at St. James Winery. Originally from New Zealand, he has made wine in France and New Zealand before coming to Missouri in 2002.
One of the advantages of having family in the Southern Hemisphere is that occasionally I get to go and visit them. The last five years have been the longest period of my life away from Christmas on the beach, fresh seafood and Sauvignon Blanc.
It never occurred to us as children that Bing Crosby’s White Christmas really had no relevance to us in the antipodes, other than we were celebrating the festive season.
As children, we spent Christmas playing beach cricket, wind surfing, swimming and water skiing and camping. My extended whanau (family) would wake up on Christmas day at our campsite and put in a ham, lamb, chicken and/or turkey (there were a lot of us), on a charcoal BBQ.
As Christmas day is underway every year, we are 35 miles from the nearest town, so it is a nice, quiet family celebration.
This year was no different, with cricket, children running amok, trampolines, great food and wine.
Breakfast consisted of pastry, ham and local brie cheese, with seasonal peaches-- it is our family breakfast tradition.
As this is a wine column, I should focus on that briefly. The evolution of the New Zealand palate and attitude to wine and food has been perpetuated by a very successful wine industry. The New Zealand public has been very willing to change its dining and imbibing habits over the last 15 years. Hooray, I say.
New Zealand is recognized for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. In the last two weeks, I have tried Merlot, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer that have been awesome. The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc has been intense and softer than in the previous two or three vintages from New Zealand.
The wineries have returned to their roots of over delivering on quality. Long may it continue.
Andrew Meggitt is the Head Winemaker at St. James Winery. Originally from New Zealand, he has made wine in France and New Zealand before coming to Missouri in 2002.
