'The Grind - Seasoned News from Pepper Tree Wines'

SEASONED NEWS FROM PEPPER TREE

ISSUE 24 SPRING 2015

WINE REVIEWS Winery Update

by Winemaker Scott Comyns

James Busby Memorial Trophy for Best Mature Three Year Old & Older at The 2015 Hunter Valley Wine Show

JAMES HALLIDAY 5 STAR PACK

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Welcome With the warmer days looming we are excited to welcome members, guests and friends of Pepper Tree to our annual Spring Food and Wine Celebration!

This fantastic event full of delicious food, fine wine and live music will be held on the Pepper Tree grounds adjacent to the Cellar Door on Saturday October 17. See page 6 for more event details.

It has been another successful year for Pepper Tree with the Winemaking team winning a plethora of awards and trophies. We took home the James

Busby Memorial Trophy for Best Mature Three Year Old and Older Shiraz for our 2011 ‘Tallawanta’ Hunter Valley Single Vineyard Shiraz at the Hunter Valley Wine Show in August.

We were also awarded a red five star rating in the 2016 James Halliday Wine Companion with 12 wines rated 95 points and above. Congratulations to Scott Comyns and the Winemaking Team, on such a fantastic achievement!

Sydney Harbour cruises, as well as welcoming members and their guests to the Cellar Door. Be sure to book in to the Members Tasting Lounge to enjoy our latest releases alongside a yummy cheese or antipasto platter! Phone the Wine Club on 1800 655 965 to make a booking. Please book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Cheers,

The Pepper Tree Team

We look forward to visiting Sydney in the coming months to host our annual

PepperTreeWines PepperTreeWine

Don’t forget to #PepperTreeWines when enjoying your next glass or bottle!

peppertreewines

Judd & Blossom visit Pepper Tree

Pepper Tree Dinner #RestaurantTwo

fam at the Pooch I had a great day with the in fashions on the Picnic and I got 3rd place ies! field and won all of these good

A little slice of heaven !

Some of our favourite snaps featuring #PepperTreeWines!

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More beautiful blue skies in the Hunter Valley!

in The most beautiful winery far! so ley Val r nte the Hu

ISSUE 24

SPRING 2015

Wine tasting #PepperTreeWines

News from the

Winemaker Scot t Comy ns - 2014 Le n Eva ns Schola r

Springtime in the Vineyard It has been another long cold winter, and until recently, very dry. The recent rainfall across the Hunter has been well received as this will set the vines up with much needed moisture and nutrients ready to supply and ripen our precious grapes.

With the warmer weather approaching, the first buds will develop further before bursting open in late September/October.

Driving through the vineyards, we are already seeing plenty of new growth on the vines, which means Vintage 2016 is just around the corner!

In the Winery It has been another year of great results, not only at recent wine shows, but with the release of the 2016 Halliday Wine Companion, with PTW receiving 12 Red Star Rated wines and making it into the Top 10 Best Value Wineries in Australia!

After hosting another fantastic Q4 Winemakers Table Luncheon in the winery, the team has been busy blending the 2014 South Australian reds and it’s almost time to start pulling the 2015 Chardonnays out of oak. Looking forward to seeing what the new wines have to offer in the months ahead.

We are excited to host the Spring Food and Wine Celebration at Pepper Tree Saturday October 17. It’s a fantastic day full of great wine, food and live music. Don’t forget to book into a Masterclass either!

Cheers, Scott Comyns

CLUB

Some of the extensive benefits of the ‘Q4’ Club include:

‘Q4’ stands behind our philosophy of providing ‘Quality’ wine on a ‘Quarterly’ basis.

Join this exclusive membership and receive first priority access to all Reserve and Single Vineyard wines upon release, along with additional discounts and extensive privileges.

Membership is available to a limited number of members and holds an increased commitment of two cases per quarter. Members are offered flexibility with their choice of wine received along with the Winemakers personal recommendations per quarter.

Limited spaces are available for this exclusive Club!

• Receive 20% off Grand Reserve, Reserve, Single Vineyard and Limited Release Ranges • 30% off all Varietal Range.

• Complimentary invitation for you and your guest to attend one of Pepper Tree’s Member Events of your choice throughout the year.

• Invitation to exclusive ‘Q4’ events such as the Benchmark Tasting, Winemaker’s Table Luncheon and ‘Q4’ Christmas Cruise.

• Detailed tasting notes included in every wine delivery.

• James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion upon release each year signed by our Chief Winemaker Scott Comyns.

• Voucher for two at ‘Chef Hatted’ Restaurant Bistro Molines, Mount View to the value of $150.00 along with a bottle of Sparkling ‘Silenus’ to enjoy on your arrival.

• Free freight Australia wide on all purchases plus much more!

For an information package and membership form, please call the Pepper Tree Wine Club on 1800 655 965 or email ptwclub@peppertreewines.com.au.

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ISSUE 24

SPRING 2015

FUNCTION REVIEWS

2015 EVENTS CALENDAR

Winemakers Table Luncheon Once again Scott and the team did a fantastic job preparing the winery for our exclusive Q4 Winemakers Table Luncheon!

Not only did the winery look amazing but we were lucky enough to partner again with Muse Restaurant for this special event. Chef Troy Rhoades-Brown served up another scrumptious menu with each course perfectly complimented with a trio of Pepper Tree Wines. The red wine blending session sparked a little competition revealing some aspiring winemakers in the group. Thank you to those who attended!

We look forward to this wonderful event again next year.

Pepper Tree Wine Club Events

Local events that Pepper Tree will be attending

September Hunter Valley Wine Market Saturday 26th September, 2015 Honeysuckle Precinct, NSW

October Hunter Valley Uncorked Balmoral Sunday 11th October, 2015 Balmoral Beach, NSW Spring Food & Wine Celebration Saturday 17th October, 2015 Pepper Tree Wines, Pokolbin, NSW (Tickets on sale now)

Wahroonga Food + Wine Festival Sunday 25th October, 2015 Wahroonga Park, NSW

November

Annual Pooch Picnic The Pepper Tree team were delighted to welcome guests and their four-legged friends to our annual Pooch Picnic. Blessed with beautiful blue skies, it was the perfect day out for the entire family! The Wonderdogs and musician Nick Saxon kept everyone entertained, whilst an array of pet friendly stalls provided yummy treats and gifts! We always love making new furry friends!

Proceeds from the day were donated to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.

Vino Paradiso 6th, 7th and 8th November, 2015 The Rocks, Sydney, NSW Sydney Harbour Evening Cruise Friday 13th November, 2015 7-10pm Sydney Harbour, NSW (Limited tickets available) Sydney Harbour Afternoon Cruise Saturday 14th November, 2015 2-5pm Sydney Harbour, NSW (Taking wait list now)

December ‘Q4’ Christmas Cruise Sunday 6th December, 2015 2-5pm Sydney Harbour, NSW (Tickets on sale now)

To book A WINE CLUB EVENT

email ptwclub@peppertreewines.com.au or phone 1800 655 965.

Due to the extremely high and growing demand, some events may have set ticket limitations per membership. Event details subject to change.

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ISSUE 24

SPRING 2015

2012 ‘Elderslee Road’ Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon We are pleased to provide you with our 2012 ‘Elderslee Road’ Cabernet Sauvignon. Elderslee Road runs along one of the ancient dunes or shorelines that make up the Wrattonbully landscape.

These ancient dunes harbour the famed red “Terra Rossa” topsoil over free-draining Gambier Limestone, perfectly suited to growing great Cabernet.

Tasting Notes The ‘Elderslee Road’ has a marvellously rich palate packed with sweet ripe berry fruits balanced by French oak. Fine tannins provide great structure and depth to the long and generous palate, whilst flavours of cassis and blackberry integrate perfectly with spicy oak.

Vintage Notes With near perfect growing conditions leading into vintage, 2012 was one of the finest vintages of the region on record.

Fruit quality across all varieties was exceptional especially Cabernet Sauvignon.

Awards GOLD (Class 14) – Limestone Coast Wine Show 2014 95 Points – James Halliday 2016 Australian Wine Companion

Click here for Detailed Tasting Notes

Club Member Price $35.50 ‘Q4’ Member Price $33.60 RRP $42.00

2014 Limited Release ‘Polly Fumé’ Hunter Valley & Orange Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Our ‘Polly Fumé’ is our take on a traditional old-world white wine style.

Tasting Notes This is a full bodied and complex white wine that is a blend of barrel fermented Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. The Semillon provides the wine with minerality, finesse and a fresh and lively character, whilst the Sauvignon Blanc has developed an unrivalled complexity and an aromatic palate.

Vintage Notes 2014 vintage in the Hunter Valley started the season with good rains before budburst in late August. All whites were picked in good condition with very good flavour and balance. Overall it was an excellent vintage.

The Orange season started well with adequate rain and mild weather up until Christmas. Some hot spells early in the New Year along with a few minor rain events kept vineyard staff busy. White varieties ripened evenly with excellent acid levels.

Awards 96 Points – James Halliday 2016 Australian Wine Companion

Click here for Detailed Tasting Notes

Club Member Price $23.50 ‘Q4’ Member Price $22.40 RRP $28.00

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ISSUE 24

SPRING 2015

Tickets ONLY

60.00

$

per person

11.00am TO 3.30pm Saturday 17th October 2015 Relax on the beautiful grounds of Pepper Tree and celebrate Spring!

Bring along a picnic rug to kick back on, or have a dance to the groovy tunes of The Big Bang while you sample some sensational Pepper Tree Wines and taste the flavours of our four regions.

Enjoy a casual lunch to match, prepared by Chef Andrew Wright (The Cellar Restaurant). Attend a Masterclass hosted by our Chief Winemaker Scott Comyns (11.30am or 1.30pm).

Tickets include; • Tasting Glass • Food and Wine Tokens • Contango Coffee Voucher • 30 Minute Masterclass with our Winemaker. Bookings are essential.

to book your ticket CALL THE WINE CLUB ON 1800 655 965

Staff Profile Mollie McPherson Contango Espresso Roasters Supervisor

LOCAL HUNTER VALLEY ROASTERS

How long have you been working at Pepper Tree Wines?

18 months.

What is your favourite Pepper Tree wine currently available?

The Venus Block Chardonnay!!

If you could have dinner with three people of your choice who would it be?

George Harrison, Helena Bonham Carter and my lovely colleague Kirby Faseas.

What is your favourite restaurant to visit in the Hunter Valley?

Bistro Molines…Their pâté is simply divine.

OPEN DAILY

9.30am to 3.30pm

One of the Hunter’s top rated coffee destinations highlighting the synergies between coffee beans and wine grapes.

Award winning coffee Featured Single Origin coffee available daily Coffee beans available for sale Light food options & sweet treats Selection of specialty teas Range of Contango merchandise

What has been your favourite Pepper Tree event?

facebook/ContangoEspressoRoasters

Pooch Picnic! We get to play with all the puppies!

twitter/@ContangoCafe Instagram/@Contango_Roasters

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ISSUE 24

SPRING 2015

Mention the code: CONTANGOSPRING and receive 10% OFF your bill.

To place your order simply complete the attached Order Form or follow the links to our Online Shop

Spring Specials 1

Spring Mixed Dozen

SAVE

$ 84.50 + free freight

Inclusive of 3 bottles of each of the below: 2014 Limited Release Wrattonbully Chardonnay 2015 Limited Release Orange Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Limited Release Orange Rosé 2010 ’14 Shores’ Single Vineyard Wrattonbully Merlot *Tasting Notes included

Wine Club Members Case Special

$256.00

2

+ Free

Freight

(RRP $340.50)

James Halliday 5 Star Pack

SAVE

$103.00 + free freight

Inclusive of 3 bottles of each of the below: 2014 ‘Polly Fumé’ Limited Release Hunter Valley & Orange Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014 ‘Venus Block’ Single Vineyard Orange Chardonnay 2013 ‘Classics’ Limited Release Wrattonbully Cabernet Merlot 2013 ‘Tallavera’ Limited Release Hunter Valley Shiraz *Tasting Notes included

Wine Club Members Case Special

$ 308.00 7

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ISSUE 24

SPRING 2015

+ Free

Freight

(RRP $411.00)

5

minutes with...

Gypsy

ONLY

39.95

$

We are delighted to introduce you to one of our valued Pet Club members – Gypsy.

Gypsy chilling by the pool

Age: 18 months Breed: Irish Wolf Hound Cross Favourite Food: Chicken wings, Schmackos, biscuits.

Favourite Toy: Rubber ball and Kong.

Pet Hate: Loud noises.

Gypsy hard at work in the office

A day in the life of Gypsy: 7.30am walk down beside the beach, home for sleep, then occasionally hops in the back of the truck for a drive or backyard play.

Around 3.30pm walk to beach for a swim, then home for wash and towel then dinner.

Other info about Gypsy: She loves the water and is keen on jumping into the surf and running around with the other dogs on the beach and chasing her ball. (A REAL SURFER DOG).

One day she got out down the back fence and went around the block and came back and knocked on the front door.

She is a very friendly and intelligent dog and loves playing with the bigger dogs like Border Collies and Labradors.

Being a family owned business, we understand the importance of including the entire family into the Wine Club, hence why we have extended our membership to include your canine friend.

One off Joining fee of $39.95 Receive a Pepper Tree Pet Lead (Members Price $18.00) Treat for your furry friend in your Wine Club commitment case Membership Certificate Complimentary bowl of water and treat upon their visit to the winery 1 bottle of Pepper Tree Varietal Range wine

86 Halls Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320 AUSTRALIA P 02 4909 7100

F 02 4998 7746

Freecall 1800 655 965

E ptwclub@peppertreewines.com.au

www.peppertreewines.com.au

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