Off The Press - March 2019 Autumn Edition 81. Briar Ridge Vineyard

Off the

Press Autumn 2019 - Issue 81

Winemaker’s Autumn Club Pack Wines | 2019 Member Events Calendar Vintage 2019 Winery & Vineyard Updates | Cellar Door Paws & More...

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www.briarridge.com.au Share your #winestagrams with us #BriarRidge

2019 Member Events #V19 Vineyard & Winery Updates

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Cellar Door Paws & More...

Hello and welcome to the Autumn edition of Off The Press.

We are delighted to announce that with Autumn brings the completion of our renovated Tasting Deck - that so many of our members enjoy! The renovations bring a welcomed fresh new look and feel to the Cellar Door, with extra space for you to sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquil scenery - with a glass of wine in hand and a cheese and/or antipasto to enjoy....so if there was ever a time to visit, it’s now. We’ve even added a little sitting bench and water station for your four legged friends who are always welcome to join you on your visit to the Cellar Door!

In terms of vintage 2019, our Mount View, Hunter Valley harvests have all been put to tank, and we have turned our attention to the cooler climate regions of Orange, New South Wales and Wrattonbully, South Australia. It has been an exciting Vintage for Alex (Winemaker), Gwyn (Consultant Winemaker) and Belinda (Vineyard Manager) who are keen to tell you all about it over on page 6.

We hope you enjoy your 2019 Autumn Club Pack wines, we’ve included a couple of new vintage releases - along with some interesting new varietals for you try.

As always, we look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on your next visit to the Cellar Door or at one of the 2019 Member Events, flip over to page 7 for more details.

- See you soon!

Cheers, Alexandria & the Briar Ridge Team.

A welcomed fresh new look and feel to the Cellar Door.

P.S Don’t forget to call ahead and book a cheese, antipasto or mega platter on your next trip to the Cellar Door (02 4990 3670).

P.P.S Remember to keep an eye on the Briar Ridge Vineyard Facebook and Instagram for some insight on all the latest happenings and Briar Ridge news.

Good times and great wines...

Autumn Team Picks There is something for everyone within the Briar Ridge wine portfolio!

Here’s a few of our team picks to enjoy this Autumn.

2018 Limited Release Fiano 2018 Early Harvest Semillon 2017 S.V. Briar Hill Chardonnay 2017 Stockhausen Signature Shiraz 2016 Limited Release Members Blend 2018 Shiraz Verduzzo Free delivery until 31st May, 2019.

Normally $12 Australia wide.

Milo the Beagle When it’s quiet... where is he!?

Ernest the Labradoodle Is always ready for the ball.

Mojo the Labrador A schmacko always goes down a treat.

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Max the Puggle A friendly tail wag is always guaranteed.

Bear the German Shepherd/ Kelpie cross Energy abounds for this big boy.

The Briar Ridge Wine Garden When was the last time... you caught up with friends? Enjoy tranquil gardens and mountain views... sit back and relax in comfortable picnic lounge chair seating, with a bottle of your favourite Briar Ridge wine and a delicious cheese and/or antipasto platter.

Call ahead to make a booking 02 4990 3670. Picnic packs start from $38 and cater for 2-4 people.

Violet the Beagle Always keen for a cuddle.

The Briar Paw Pals...

There’s something about a delicious glass or two of wine and a four legged friend... and at Briar Ridge that’s no exception. Something all the team agree on is that dogs are indeed a person’s best friend - which was the inspiration behind this edition of Off The Press’ front cover. Surprisingly it was an easy shoot, even with seven dogs and a baby!

We hope you enjoy meeting all the Briar Paw Pals and look forward to meeting your four legged friends on your next visit to the Cellar Door!

Pictured: Bottom Left - Steve Davis and Mojo, Jacob Jurd and Max, Gwyn Olsen and Ted, Alex Beckett and Bear, Jaclyn Davis and Saffy.

Saffron (Saffy) the English Staffordshire Terrier Our very own cheese connoisseur.

Top Right - James Patheyjohns and Violet who belongs to Steve Pike, Sue Mulligan our Wine Club Assistant, Steve Pike and Milo, Kacey Johnston our Sales & Marketing Coordinator and Alexandria Carruthers and Ernest.

#briarpawpals

Vineyard Update From Belinda Kelly, Vineyard Manager As I write this report, I’m sitting in the tractor surrounded by vineyards, it’s 2am on a clear, warm, Summers night. The peace and tranquillity you would expect at this hour has been replaced by lights, tractor engines, trucks and the rattle of the grape harvester as it passes over some of the Shiraz vines in the Mount View Vineyard.

Vintage 2019 so far has included lots of long nights, machine harvesting and early mornings for the hand picking. We started two weeks later than 2018, with ‘The Dam’ Verdelho, closely followed by the Dairy Hill Semillon and then the Briar Hill Chardonnay - with the quality of fruit we have seen come off the vines being fantastic!

By the time ‘Off the Press’ makes it to you, we should have all our Hunter Valley whites and reds delivered safely to the winery and in the hands of Alex and Gwyn. Who will be working their magic and creating some delicious 2019 wines for us all to enjoy.

Winery Report From Alex Beckett, Winemaker & Gwyn Olsen, Consultant Winemaker Vintage 2019 has seen a return to traditional picking dates, with the whites coming into the winery in late January and the Shiraz ripening in early February.

It’s shaping up to be an exceptional year for both reds and whites, with great fruit expression and fragrance showing promise at this early stage.

As we put together this edition of ‘Off The Press’ all the Hunter whites are busily fermenting away in the winery and the reds are arriving with intense colour and tannin. We are looking forward to some traditional medium bodied, long living Hunter Shiraz from this stellar Vintage.

Fruit is ripening well on the vine in Orange, NSW and Wrattonbully, SA. We expect to see some great clean fruit with crisp acidity coming in for the classic favourites Cold Soaked Cabernet Sauvignon and Big Bully Cabernet Sauvignon.

Alex has been hard at work with a few secret winemaking projects, so stay tuned for some new wines coming out later this year!

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The 2019 Vintage Wine Club Events Calendar 23rd March Bathers’ Pavilion Luncheon

17th May Stockhausen Signature Museum Release Dinner

17th August Blending Session & Lunch

31st August

6th October

November

Blending Session & Dinner

New Releases Tasting

Sydney Harbour Cruise

Date to be confirmed

For further event details & to purchase your tickets visit www.briarridge.com.au

GOLD for the 2017 Single Vineyard Briar Hill Chardonnay 2018 Royal Queensland Wine Show - 95 Points & awarded GOLD. Sourced from our Briar Hill block, this Single Vineyard Chardonnay is a serious style packed with intense fruit and winemaking artefact. White flowers, nectarine and gun powder notes fill the nose. The palate explodes with bright peach notes, wet stone and nutty characters. Crunchy white nectarine like acidity dances across the palate whilst a judicious use of oak provides structure and length.

RRP $35 | Members $28

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Where passion trumps convention...

Autumn Winemaker’s Selections Mixed Selection Six Pack

1 x 2018 Fumé Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 1 x 2016 Stockhausen Signature Semillon 1 x 2018 The Squire Chardonnay 1 x 2017 Tempranillo Shiraz 1 x 2016 Limited Release Merlot 1 x 2017 Limited Release H.R.B Shiraz Pinot Noir

White Selection Six Pack

1 x 2018 Fumé Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 1 x 2018 The Squire Chardonnay 1 x 2016 Stockhausen Signature Semillon 1 x 2018 Limited Release Fiano 1 x 2018 Limited Release Albariño 1 x 2014 Signature Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Red Selection Six Pack

1 x 2017 Tempranillo Shiraz 1 x 2016 Cold Soaked Cabernet Sauvignon 1 x 2016 Limited Release Merlot 2 x 2017 Limited Release H.R.B Shiraz Pinot Noir 1 x 2017 Stockhausen Signature Shiraz

Mixed Selection Dozen Pack

1 x 2018 Fumé Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 1 x 2018 The Squire Chardonnay 1 x 2018 ‘The Dam’ Verdelho 1 x 2018 The Limetta Off Dry Semillon 1 x 2016 Stockhausen Signature Semillon 1 x 2018 Rosé 1 x 2017 Tempranillo Shiraz 1 x 2016 Cold Soaked Cabernet Sauvignon 1 x 2016 Limited Release Merlot 1 x 2017 Limited Release H.R.B Shiraz Pinot Noir 1 x 2017 Stockhausen Signature Shiraz 1 x 2014 Single Vineyard Dairy Hill Shiraz

White Selection Dozen Pack

2 x 2018 Fumé Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 1 x 2018 The Squire Chardonnay 2 x 2018 ‘The Dam’ Verdelho 2 x 2018 Limited Release Fiano 1 x 2018 Limited Release Albariño 2 x 2016 Stockhausen Signature Semillon 1 x 2016 Single Vineyard Briar Hill Chardonnay 1 x 2014 Signature Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Red Selection Dozen Pack

1 x 2017 Tempranillo Shiraz 1 x 2016 Old Vines Shiraz 1 x 2016 Cold Soaked Cabernet Sauvignon 1 x 2018 Shiraz Verduzzo 2 x 2016 Limited Release Members Blend 1 x 2016 Limited Release Merlot 2 x 2017 Limited Release H.R.B Shiraz Pinot Noir 2x 2017 Stockhausen Signature Shiraz 1 x 2014 Single Vineyard Dairy Hill Shiraz

Contact Us Briar Ridge Vineyard 593 Mount View Road, Mount View NSW 2325 PO BOX 148, Cessnock NSW 2325 Email vintageclub@briarridge.com.au Phone 02 4990 3670 | Fax 02 4990 7802 Open 7 days a week for tasting and sales, 10am - 5pm Jaclyn Davis | Owner & General Manager Alex Beckett | Winemaker Alexandria Carruthers | Operations & Communications Manager Steve Pike | Cellar Door Manager Kacey Johnston | Sales & Marketing Coordinator Sue Mulligan | Wine Club Assistant