OFF THE PRESS Issue 77 Spring 2017

OFF THE

PRESS SPRING 2017 ISSUE 77

2017

BUDBURST HAS WELL AND TRULY ERUPTED THROUGHOUT OUR VINEYARDS IN MOUNT VIEW, ORANGE AND WRATTONBULLY

SPRING CLUB PACK WINES UPCOMING EVENTS WINERY UPDATE & MORE...

www.briarridge.com.au

Hello AND WELCOME TO THE SPRING OFF THE PRESS EDITION 77!

Spring has finally sprung and, thankfully, so have a few more of the 2016 red and 2017 white wines… so pour yourself a glass… or two… maybe three… and find a relaxing spot somewhere in the sunshine or maybe in that favourite comfy chair, as we tell you all about what has been happening with your much-loved Winery, Wine Club and Cellar Door since we wrote last…

It was wonderful to catch up with so many Vintage Club members at the Blending Session and Hunt, Gather and Harvest Dinner in June. We hope those who attended had lots of fun and enjoyed catching up with our favourite wine legend Karl Stockhausen. The next members event will be the ever popular Sydney Harbour Twilight Cruise on November 4th – tickets are selling quickly for this one, please touch base with Alexandria (Wine Club Coordinator) to book!

Steve (Cellar Door Manager) and the team have been busy at the Cellar Door with some new release wines including the 2017 Early Harvest Semillon, 2017 Stockhausen Semillon, 2017 Dairy Hill Semillon, 2017 Rosé and 2016 Old Vines Shiraz.

Our Wine Country Olives range, locally grown by our neighbours here in Mount View now also includes a delicious Olive Tapenade, the perfect accompaniment to any Spring cheese platter.

We are also excited about the new 2018 Winery Dogs Calendar now available from the Cellar Door – the perfect gift for any wine loving dog person in your life or just for yourself!

As always, we look forward to hearing from you and your next visit to the Cellar Door, welcoming new friends and catching up with familiar faces - see you soon!

Cheers, The Briar Ridge Team P.s Don’t forget to call (02 4990 3670) ahead and book a cheese and/or antipasto platter on your next trip to the Cellar Door.

OFF THE PRESS | SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 77 WELCOME

TIP: BOOK AHEAD FOR YOUR CHEESE AND/OR ANTIPASTO PLATTER ON YOUR NEXT VISIT

WINE & Cheese Match Sweet dreams are made of cheese, who am I to diss-a-brie, I cheddar the world & the fetta cheese...

BINNORIE BRIE The Squire Chardonnay, Stockhausen Chardonnay and Briar Hill Chardonnay.

BINNORIE LABNA Late Harvest Gewürztraminer BINNORIE WAX CHEDDAR Cold Soaked Cabernet Sauvignon and the Big Bully Cabernet Sauvignon.

BINNORIE FETTA Old Vines Shiraz, Stockhausen Shiraz, Dairy Hill Shiraz and H.R.B Shiraz Pinot Noir.

SPOTTY DOG CHEESE PASTES Shiraz & Chardonnay. Boutique and locally made, available at Cellar Door.

WINE COUNTRY OLIVES Local to Mount View and available at Cellar Door.

TAR10 CARAMELISED ONION Delicious Hunter produce, with a wide range available at Cellar Door.

OUR VINEYARDS THEIR REGIONS, AND WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE

Our main focus at Briar Ridge Vineyard is to create wines that speak of true place and Hunter Valley Heritage.

Our Hunter Valley (New South Wales) vines have spent the last 45 years growing and producing fruit of outstanding quality due to Mount View’s location in an unparalleled part of the Hunter Valley. The combination of soil (deep, rich and fertile with a limestone base), nutrients and the local microclimate, make all the difference and give our wines flavours and characters unique to the Mount View area.

In addition to our Mount View vineyards, we also have roots in other distinctive Australian wine growing regions - Orange (New South Wales) and Wrattonbully (South Australia). This allows us the flexibility to provide our loyal members and friends with a diverse range of distinctive, regional wine styles that suit every palate.

Our Orange vineyard is located four hours’ drive west of Sydney on Mount Canobolas with an altitude above 750m-800m, classifying it as a cool-climate vineyard. The rich soils are derived from basalt rocks underlying the site, which yield rich, flavoursome wines and balanced acidity.

Our Wrattonbully vineyard, located in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, most notably produces a favourite of many of our members – the “Big Bully” Cabernet Sauvignon.

The areas’ underpinning success as a wine region is due to its ‘terra rossa’ soils overlaying limestone and its predominantly maritime climate, with dry and moderately cool summers ripening most grape varieties to perfection.

To celebrate our success in sourcing fruit from both distinctive and unique Australian wine regions the Briar Ridge team have put together a distinctively regional six pack available to our Vintage Club Members for ONLY $164 (25% OFF) delivered to your door anywhere in Australia until November 30th (Normally $215).

Hunter Valley

Orange

Wrattonbully

1 x 2017 Dairy Hill Semillon

1 x 2017 Rosé

1 x 2016 Blanc de Blancs

1 x 2014 Dairy Hill Shiraz

1 x 2016 Tempranillo Shiraz

1 x 2015 Big Bully Cabernet Sauvignon

OFF THE PRESS | SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 77 OUR VINEYARDS

The Briar Ridge Team Spring Wine Picks & Soirées As we burst into October, Spring has well and truly erupted throughout the Hunter Valley. The vines are featuring pops of bright green as their canopies develop; the days are becoming warmer and longer creating a hive of activity from picnics, long lunches and evenings spent outdoors with family and friends. The team at Briar Ridge have put together a delicious wine offer to celebrate the beginning of Spring. Buy our Spring Wine 6-Pack featured below and receive 4 x Briar Ridge Signature Go-Vino stemless wine glasses. Made from ultra-thin, flexible BPA-free polymer, the glasses are 100% shatterproof and re-usable, perfect for everyday indoor and outdoor use.

We hope you enjoy our “Spring Wine Picks & Soirées” selection as much as we are!

• Gwyneth Olsen (Head Winemaker)

• Kacey Johnston

Going to the beach with Spencer and friends in the afternoon, accompanied by a bottle of the 2014 H.R.B Shiraz Pinot Noir which recently won Gold at the 2017 Clear Image Hunter Valley Wine Show.

(Marketing & Administration Co-ordinator) Being outdoors entertaining friends and family with the 2016 Tempranillo Shiraz, a new blend for Briar Ridge Vineyard released early this year, fondly known as the “Tesh”.

• Alexandria Carruthers (Wine Club Co-ordinator) Cruising across Sydney’s Iconic Harbour on November 4th with our Vintage Club members and their guests, enjoying an evening of great company and laughs with a glass or two of the 2016 Blanc de Blancs.

$184 delivered to your door, the perfect accompaniment to all your Spring soirées this year!

• Steve Pike (Cellar Door Manager)

Normally $243 delivered).

Enjoying one of my legendary loooong lunches with a group of friends... eating great food, listening to music and laughing the day away over a few shared bottles of the newly released 2017 Rosé.

• 1 x 2014 HRB Shiraz Pinot Noir

• Kurt Nilon (Cellar Door Sales Assistant)

• 1 x 2016 Stockhausen Chardonnay

Watching the sunset on my back verandah, with great company and playing with my dog enjoying a glass or two of the 2016 Stockhausen Chardonnay.

• 1 x 2017 Dairy Hill Semillon

• Jan Metcalf (Cellar Door Sales Assistant) Spending time in the garden planting the annuals – swapping the pansies out for the petunias with a glass of the new release 2017 Dairy Hill Semillon in hand.

• 1 x 2016 Blanc de Blancs • 1 x 2017 Rosé

• 1 x 2016 Tempranillo Shiraz • 4 x Briar Ridge Go-Vino Stemless Dimple wine glasses – perfect for outdoors.

Offer available until November 30th 2017.

WINERY REPORT

FROM GWYN OLSEN

Spring is always a busy time in the winery. The 2016 Hunter Shiraz has been blended, bottled and is drinking exceptionally well. With fine and silky tannins, I think this wine will age for a surprisingly long time! The 2016 South Australian reds such as the Wrattonbully Big Bully Cabernet Sauvignon are in the process of being blended into tank.

It was a stunning year for Wrattonbully and this wine is no exception - rich, juicy and well structured. YUM! We are also going through our annual cleaning program to make sure the winery is clean and ready for the next harvest.

Especially now that budburst has happened! We will then look to blend the 2017 Chardonnays and get them ready for bottling before the end of the year.

I look forward to catching up with those members who will be aboard the Sydney Harbour Twilight Cruise on November 4th, and for those of you who will not be, I hope you enjoy your last members pack for 2017.

Winemaker Gwyn Olsen & her wine dog Spencer

Cheers, Gwyn Olsen Head Winemaker, Briar Ridge Vineyard

WHY HAVE SIX WHEN YOU CAN HAVE TWELVE?

THE BLENDING SESSION & HUNT & HARVEST DINNER When we sent out the last “Off the Press” we were also preparing for the Members Annual Blending Session and Hunt, Gather & Harvest Dinner.

Everyone started off with an enjoyable afternoon of sparkling, cheese and wine blending followed by a delicious dinner prepared by the team from Bistro Molines. Members' also enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with our wine legend Karl Stockhausen, who headed up the panel of judges consisting of Andrew Ling and Alex Beckett our Assistant Winemakers.

Do you know what is better than six wines during pack month…? Twelve!

You can enjoy the Winemaker’s Selections in a 12 pack at the capped price of $240 for the Winemakers Mixed and White dozen selections or $260 for the Red Winemaker’s dozen selection and of course you can still enjoy free freight during pack months.

Congratulations again to the winning team – Karl, Andrew and Alex all said it was a very close call.

If you would like to join in the fun of the 2018 Members Annual Blending Session and Hunt, Gather & Harvest Dinner this will be in August. Alexandria will be releasing dates shortly.

The Tailor made selection is also available - make your own dozen selection, at members prices PLUS FREE freight.

ANNUAL MEMBERS' Sydney Harbour TwIlight Cruise Saturday 4th November 2017 Join the Briar Ridge team as we set sail around Sydney's iconic harbour, watching the sun set across the water and the city light up against the night's sky.

An evening of Briar Ridge wines, canapés and great company to draw a close to 2017.

TICKETS: $120 pp VENUE: Sydney Harbour (departing wharf TBC closer to event)

TIME: 6.45pm for a prompt 7pm departure

Please book your tickets with Alexandria, your Wine Club Co-ordinator via phone (02) 4990 3670 or email vintageclub@briarridge.com.au

This is a members and their guests only event.

FEATURE RECIPE

Sugar Cured Gravlax with Dill & Pickled Cucumber

Compliments of Robert Molines, Head Chef & Owner, Bistro Molines Serves 4 We recommend the Briar Ridge 2017 Early Harvest Semillon to accompany this dish.

Ingredients • 1.5kg Rainbow OR alternatively Ocean Trout (filleted, skin on, and all lateral bones removed).

• 600g Caster Sugar • 600g common Salt • Half bunch of Dill

Method 1. Mix salt and sugar together well.

2. Place on top of a large piece of alfoil and sprinkle some of the salt mix then place the trout fillet on top, skin down.

4. Put the salt mix on top of the trout flesh, cover well, then add the dill.

5. Place the other trout fillet on top - flesh down, skin up and cover the top with the remaining mix.

6. Wrap the whole parcel, nice and tight (note: the alfoil must be very large to accommodate this process.

7. Refrigerate for at least four to 5 days turning the parcel daily to cure evenly.

8. When the fillets are cured the salt must be washed away and the flesh patted dry.

VINEYARD UPDATE FROM BELINDA KELLY

It was a long, dull and cold winter in the Hunter Valley, with plenty of cold and frosty mornings -great for the grape vines but not so enjoyable for the vineyard team pruning the vines!

As we now head into Spring the days are becoming longer and warmer which has the vines bursting out of dormancy with Chardonnay and Verdelho the first varieties to reach bud burst in mid-August.

Our main focus in the coming months will be irrigating and mulching the vines, as we experienced an extremely dry winter and the long range forecast is showing it likely to remain dry throughout Spring.

Spreading mulch under the vines, aids in retaining moisture in the ground as well as suppressing weed growth which would otherwise compete with the grape vines for water. It is essential that we keep the vines hydrated to ensure healthy leaf growth, enabling the grapes to ripen whilst remaining protected from sun burn during the hotter summer months.

Hopefully as we head into Summer Mother Nature is kind to us and we receive some good rainfalls with nice warm sunny days.

Cheers, Belinda Kelly Viticulturalist, Briar Ridge Vineyard

To Serve Slice very finely (in large/long slices, almost horizontal).

MEMBER & CELLAR DOOR EVENTS

Best served with fine sliced cucumber in tarragon vinegar and chopped Dill and either Crème Fraîche or Horseradish Cream.

It can also be served with little pancakes (blinis) and salmon roe.

1

Sydney Harbour TwIlight Cruise

Saturday 4th November 2017 (Vintage Club members and their guests only)

2

BATHERS PAVILLION BALMORAL

Saturday 24th March 2018 (Vintage Club members and their guests only)

OFF THE PRESS | SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 77 FEATURE RECIPE & EVENTS

3 UNCORKED BALMORAL

Sunday October 8th 2017

FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 4 WAHROONGA Sunday October 29th 2017

SPRING CLUB PACK WINES

KEY: Mixed Packs White Packs Red Packs

2016 Briar Hill Chardonnay

2016 Squire Chardonnay

2014 Merlot

White flowers, nectarine and gun powder notes fill the nose. The palate explodes with bright peach notes, wet stone and nutty characters.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five years.

A rich and opulent Chardonnay packed with notes of peach and melon.

Subtle influence of oak provides structure and spice notes. Cellaring: Enjoy now and over five years.

This estate grown Hunter Valley Merlot is an elegant medium bodied style showcasing plums and cinnamon spice.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five years.

2016 Moscato

2014 Briar Vineyard Blend

2014 Members Blend

A vibrant wine style displaying fresh and fruity aromas full of strawberries and musk.

Cellaring: Enjoy now.

2017 Early Harvest Semillon New Release Harvested early to capture the racy citrus flavours with refreshing acidity and a refined, persistent finish.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five to ten years.

2017 Rosé New Release This wine shows great length with rich guava, strawberries and cream flavours dominating the palate.

Cellaring: Enjoy now.

2016 Old Vines Shiraz New Release The perfumed nose displays hints of white pepper and lifted violet notes leading into a palate of rich, juicy red fruits with bight crunchy acidity.

Fine grained, silky tannins provide great structure and length supported by clove and aniseed oak spice notes.

Cellaring: Enjoy now or over the coming years.

2016 Tempranillo An intense full bodied wine with fine tannins, the palate has savoury, plush mid palate dark red fruits and honey soy notes. Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five years.

The nose opens with nuances of herb, tomato leaf and lemon blossom. Complex and layered, the upfront fruit characters of nectarine, passionfruit and lemon lead to a savoury, textured wine.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five years.

2017 Stockhausen Semillon New Release The wine displays a bright lemon blossom bouquet with lingering lime characters on the palate. The finish is refined and persistent. Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next ten years.

2015 Big Bully Cabernet Packed with intense fruit notes of blackcurrant and red fruit notes. The subtle dark spice notes of nutmeg and clove linger on the nose and the palate is rich and juicy, with cocoa like tannins providing a silky structure and good length. Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years.

2014 Petit Verdot Intense black fruits, herbaceous leaf notes and robust but fine tannin structure that this variety is known for. Cellaring: Enjoy now and on into the future.

A classic Australian blend this rich and dense wine is filled with cassis and plum notes, supported with dark spice notes of clove, aniseed and nutmeg leaving an intense but elegant finish. Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five to ten years.

2013 Dairy Hill Shiraz A lovely intense red fruit palate complemented by savoury and spice characters typical of the region.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next ten years.

2016 Tempranillo Shiraz Made in the traditional Spanish ‘joven’ style, this wine has no new oak allowing the focus to be the bright juicy palate and crunchy acidity.

Cellaring: Enjoy now.

2015 Tempranillo A medium bodied wine packed with cherries and savoury spice that is beautifully integrated with fine tannins. Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five years.

2016 Stockhausen Shiraz Displaying vibrant deep crimson colour with lifted bouquet of savoury spice, the palate is full and supple with excellent fruit and fine tannins building great length.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five to ten years.

2013 The Blend Blended to create a complex and age-worthy wine it shows richness of fruit with fine ripe tannins producing a layered lingering finish.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next ten years.

2013 Dairy Hill Semillon The wine is tangy and vibrant whilst young displaying pure Semillon fruit aromas of lemon blossom and lime.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next ten years.

2016 Trebbiano A savoury wine with spice notes and a lemon sherbet acidity. Cellaring: Enjoy now.

2016 Stockhausen Chardonnay It is rich and creamy with ripe peach and tropical notes. The refreshing citrus characters are supported by a subtle use of oak to produce a wine that is soft and creamy with a lingering finish.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next five years.

2015 Stockhausen Semillon The nose has delicate floral notes of lemon blossom and hints of lemongrass opening to a defined palate of great length and elegance.

Cellaring: Enjoy now and over the next seven years.

2016 Blanc de Blancs The wine is showing lifted aromas of citrus and stone fruits combined with creamy yeast complexity. The palate is fresh and lively with a long fine crisp finish.

Cellaring: Enjoy now.

2017 The Dam Verdelho Made to be packed full of flavour and to be enjoyed as soon as you can get your hands on some! It was made to highlight the primary fruit characters of guava, melon and hints of mandarin.

Cellaring: Enjoy now.

OFF THE PRESS | SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 77 SPRING CLUB PACK WINES

OFF THE

PRESS SPRING 2017 ISSUE 77

YOUR SPECIAL DAY WITH Briar Ridge VINEYARD Overlooking stunning Mount View, with lush vineyards and beautifully landscaped gardens, Briar Ridge Vineyard provides an idyllic setting for your wedding or commitment ceremony and reception.

Our elegantly styled Rose Room can accommodate cocktail or seated receptions and provides a relaxed and romantic atmosphere to celebrate your nuptials with family and friends.

Enjoy a five-star menu crafted by the Hunter Valley’s highly acclaimed restaurant, Bistro Molines, featuring quality, locally sourced produce, matched to complement our award-winning wines.

Contact us for a wedding package today or to arrange a viewing and complimentary wine tasting.

We look forward to making your special day unforgettable!

Email weddings@briarridge.com.au Phone 02 4990 3670

Contact Us ALEXANDRIA CARRUTHERS

Vintage Club Co-ordinator Briar Ridge Vineyard 593 Mount View Road, Mount View NSW 2325 PO Box 148, Cessnock NSW 2325

Share your ‘#WINESTAGRAMS’ with US! The team at Briar Ridge get excited when it’s time to send out the Vintage Club member wine packs, but we

Email vintageclub@briarridge.com.au

get really excited when we see how everyone is enjoying

Phone 02 4990 3670 | Fax 02 4990 7802

snaps posted to Instagram and Facebook, don’t forget

Open 7 days a week for tasting and sales, 10am - 5pm

their newly acquired club pack wines with a few happy to hashtag #BriarRidge

#BriarRidge

www.briarridge.com.au