Seasoned News from Pepper Tree - The Grind, Winter 2011

ISSUE 7 - WINTER 2011

"2011 CELLAR DOOR OF THE YEAR"

Jim's 2011 Vintage Update

RESTAURANT REVIEW; Muse

Upcoming Functions

WINE REVIEWS New Releases Exclusive Offers

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Welcome

As we lead into the cooler months of winter, the vineyard lies dormant awaiting the pruning season, the winery guys are keeping busy preparing the 2011 Vintage whites for bottling and adding the final touches to the reds before they are transferred into barrel. On the news front, the Pepper Tree team are all high with excitement after taking out the ‘2011 Cellar Door of the Year’ award, at the recent Hunter Valley Legends and Wine Awards held at the end of May! This award recognises a Cellar Door with outstanding public relations, sales technique, presentation, knowledge and attitude. It is such a great honour and achievement to have received this award and moral is very high for all the staff here at Pepper Tree.

We were able to celebrate our success at the recent Harvest Luncheon over the weekend, marking the occasion extremely well! Due to popular demand, we hosted two Harvest Luncheons for members and guests this year on consecutive Saturdays. We were fortunate to choose two of the best days to host the luncheons, providing members with sparkling wine, freshly shucked oysters out in the sun on the picturesque lawns of Pepper Tree before moving to Roberts Restaurant for a 5 course degustation menu!

The team are busy preparing for lots of members event and festivals for the second half of the year, such as the Manly Food & Wine Festival (4th & 5th June)! Be sure to get out and visit us and sample some of the new releases available! Take a look on page 8 for our events calendar - if you would like to attend any events, please let us know ASAP as tickets do sell out fast!

Cheers, The Pepper Tree Team

Cellar Door Update

Billich Gallery Anniversary

Craig Stephenson - Cellar Door Manager

Pepper Tree Wines sponsored the Billich Gallery 25th Anniversary celebrations on Wednesday 18th May. Pepper Tree was proud to be named the ‘Gallery’s Wine of Choice’. The gallery, housed in the historic ‘Sailors Home’ was alight with an interesting and eclectic stream of guests flowing through the doors and into the remarkable gallery space. The wines were enjoyed by the likes of Barry Humphries and Bessie Bardot.

A focal point of the celebrations was Charles Billich, an internationally acclaimed artist, proving his talent by sketching 3 drawings of life models with the utmost speed and skill drawing awe from his surrounding audience.

Within the grandeur of the Billich Gallery, Pepper Tree Wines looks forward to hosting a Members Event in the not too distant future we will keep you updated!

We look forward to forging a long and successful partnership with Charles & Christa Billich. Pepper Tree Wines will be showcased in the Billich Gallery at The Rocks in Sydney.

With the fireplace lit, the Cellar Door is ready for the cooler days of winter! The guys in the winery have been busy carefully crafting some amazing reds and fortified wines to keep you warm over the cooler months.

We have just recently experienced the highest level of traffic through the doors here at the Cellar Door! The concert season, along with Easter, brought many visitors into the Valley and to Pepper Tree, the traffic continues as we move into Hunter Valley Wine and Food Month! Throughout the month of June we will be offering a 'Sweets and Treats Tasting Experience' in the Members Tasting Lounge. This is a great opportunity to look at a very carefully selected collection of Pepper Tree Wines matched with a tasting plate of delectable delights. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to make a booking!

The team at Pepper Tree are extremely excited to announce that we have been awarded ‘2011 Cellar Door of the Year’ at the annual Hunter Valley Legends and Wine Industry Awards. To be recognised for this great achievement by our peers and the industry is such an honour and we are very proud of the Cellar Door team for achieving this.

Just on a personal note, I'd like to welcome Mark Coster (Assistant Cellar Door Manager) back to the Cellar Door. Mark has just completed his first vintage in the winery getting his hands dirty with Jim and the boys. He has come back with an enhanced understanding and passion for wine. More importantly he now shares my enthusiasm for Chardonnay, I never thought I would hear these words quoted by Mark "I have a new found appreciation for the grape variety”.

The Cellar Door team have been busy keeping the Cellar Door looking fresh and inviting for members and visitors as well as creating a new VIP tasting area down stairs for guests to enjoy. We are all very excited about some of the wines that are due for release in the next few months, so be sure to drop by and check out what we have available.

Don’t forget to make your booking for the Members Tasting Lounge!

See you soon!

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IN THE WINERY WITH JIM CHATTO

VINTAGE IS OVER! This year we started Harvest on the 27th January and pressed the last reds on the 5th May. Vintage is the most exciting time of the year between tasting and sampling in the vineyard, to late nights and an early rise for morning red pump overs*. With 3 months of no weekends and limited sleep, we would not miss it for the world. The whole crew is running on a mix of adrenaline and passion a pretty powerful combo.

The star of the 2011 Vintage is the mighty Hunter, in which we managed to escape the cool and wet weather that the rest of the country suffered.

In the Winery Right now the winery team is busy fine tuning the 2011 whites before they go to bottle, working out final allocations and blends. We are also bottling a new single vineyard Semillon from the ‘Tallawanta Vineyard’ (where the Coquun Shiraz comes from) - it’s looking great in the tank! The Tallawanta Vineyard further highlights the great diversity of style and flavour in Hunter Semillon. This Limited Release ‘Tallawanta’ Semillon is limited in quantity as the name states and will be positioned between the 2011 Reserve ‘Alluvius’ Semillon and our 2011 Limited Release tiered Semillon.

We are also starting to blend up the first of the 2010 reds, namely the Hunter Shiraz’s

and the Limited Release Tempranillo, at this stage these varieties are looking pretty special

roast or a richly flavoured casserole.

- keep your eye out for the 2010 Coquun Shiraz!

*Pump over - The process by which we gently extract the optimum colour, tannins and flavour from our reds. Once fermentation starts and CO2 is produced, the skins float to the top of the tank forming a dense cap.

In wine grapes most of the flavour, tannins and the entire colour is located in the skins.

In fact, in most red grape varieties the juice has no red colour at all. So by pumping the juice or wine from underneath the cap back over the top of the cap, we effectively move the colour, tannins and flavour to the wine.

This process has to be carefully monitored so we don’t extract too much from the skins rendering the wine astringent and bitter.

Winter Gastronomy It’s getting cold pretty quick now, for me, that means richer foods and fuller bodied wines to match.There’s nothing better for the soul, when the chill sets in, than slow braised lamb shanks and a hearty Shiraz. It is time to pull out those roasting pans and casserole pots and crack open some of our bigger reds.

Two favourites of mine right now are the 2007 Reserve ‘Elderslee Road’ Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Reserve ‘The Gravels’ Wrattonbully Shiraz Viognier.

Both are up to the challenge of a succulent

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Cheers, Jim

WINE REVIEW

New Releases Exclusive to Club Members Limited Release 2010 Wrattonbully Chardonnay The 2010 vintage sees the first release of a small batch of Chardonnay made from the iconic French ‘Bernard Clones’. Bernard Clones are renowned for producing fruit of great complexity and perfume at much lower ripeness levels.

Aromas reminiscent of a Burgundian Chardonnay, with a complex mix of hazelnut, fig and spicy florals. The palate has great drive and thrust, whilst maintaining elegance and grace.

Click Here for Detailed Tasting Notes

Click on wines to purchase

Cellar Door Bottle $22

Club Bottle $19.00

Grand Reserve 2007 'Strandlines' Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz The name Strandlines comes from the ancient shorelines or dunes that mark the retreating ocean from what is now the Naracoorte Range in Wrattonbully. These ancient dunes harbour the famed red ‘Terra Rossa’ topsoil over Gambier limestone. The secret of these soils lies in the near perfect drainage they provide, leading to small crops of wonderfully concentrated fruit.

An intensely concentrated nose of dark berry fruits, chocolate and spicy oak complexity. A serious full bodied blend of Cabernet and Shiraz, displaying ripe Cabernet flavours of Cassis and Blackberry integrated well with exotic spice and sweet mid palate fruit of Shiraz. This wine shows great depth, structure and texture providing an intense long finish and guaranteed longevity.

Gold (Class 19) 2009 New Zealand International Wine Show

Click Here for Detailed Tasting Notes

Cellar Door Bottle $55

Club Bottle $46.50

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WINE REVIEW Reserve 2009 ‘14 Shores’ Coonawarra Merlot There are fourteen ancient shorelines that mark the retreating ocean from what is now the Naracoorte Range in Wrattonbully. These shorelines, now hills, harbour the famed red ‘Terra Rossa’ topsoil over free draining Gambier Limestone.

These tough well drained soils provide tiny crops of intensely flavoured Merlot.

Concentrated flavours of black and red berry fruits highlighted with subtle French oak.

Classically medium bodied Merlot, fruit driven with fine tannins and great texture providing a seamless finish.

Click Here for Detailed Tasting Notes

Cellar Door Bottle $35

Club Bottle $29.50

If you are not sure if you are a member or you would like to enquire about membership click here

Winter Warmers Premium Cellar Reserve 6 Pack Including Timber Display Case Our Chief Winemaker, Jim Chatto has selected the below wines to feature in our Premium Cellar Reserve 6 Pack to keep you warm over the cooler months. These wines are drinking well now however have the potential to cellar for 10-15 years+.

Reserve 2009 ‘14 Shores’ Wrattonbully Merlot Reserve 2008 ‘The Gravels’ Wrattonbully Shiraz Viognier Reserve 2008 ‘Calcare’ Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007 ‘Elderslee Road’ Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009 ‘Coquun’ Hunter Valley Shiraz Grand Reserve 2006 ‘Strandlines’ Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz

$240.00 $50 SAVING Retail $290

Fireside Special 3 x Limited Release 2009 Wrattonbully ‘Classics’ Cabernet Merlot 3 x Limited Release 2009 Hunter Valley Merlot 3 x Limited Release 2009 Orange Cabernet Sauvignon 3 x Limited Release 2009 Hunter Valley Shiraz

$260.00 $70 SAVING Retail $330

To place your order, simply complete the attached order form, or click here to email through your order to the Pepper Tree Wine Club.

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Staff Profile;

Kirby Grey Kirby is our Wine Club Assistant and has been at Pepper Tree for 1.5 years!

Kirby is a vital member of our team – looking after all of our valued Wine Club Member’s needs!

What do you like most about working at Pepper Tree Wines?

I enjoy working with a great bunch of people in a beautiful location.

What do you believe Pepper Tree’s greatest strength is?

The great wines and friendly and approachable staff.

What is the strangest comment that someone has said to you?

People always ask if Leonne (Cellar Door staff member) is my mother… we tend to play along with it at times!

What is your favourite Pepper Tree Wine currently available?

2010 Limited Release Hunter Valley Semillon.

Which upcoming wine are you most looking forward to trying?

I am looking forward to trying the 2011 Semillons and comparing them to previous vintages.

What has been your favourite Members Event that you have attended?

I love the Harvest Luncheons. A fun day of great food and wine, what more do you need?

Which event are you looking for to next?

I am really looking forward to the Queensland Members Dinner; it’s always fun having a weekend away with the Pepper Tree crew and meeting our Northern members.

What is the funniest moment that you have experienced while working at Pepper Tree?

Where do I start?.......Our 2010 staff Christmas party, wearing a sumo suit and wrestling Club Co-ordinator Kate DixonHughes; behind the scenes when no one was watching I took the winners title, but when the party began, in full view of everyone, Kate absolutely thrashed me!

If you could have dinner with 3 people of your choice who would it be?

Jack Johnson, Colin Farrell & Jessica Alba.

Colin Farrell will make the room look good, Jack would sing and keep us all entertained and Jessica would keep the B/F happy!

PEPPER TREE PET CLUB CORNER

Pet of the Month

'STELLA'

Our resident winery ambassador and rising star - Kimba, would like to introduce you to our first Pepper Tree Pet Club Member, 'Stella'. Stella’s is a 5 year old Labrador whose owners have been valued members of the Pepper Tree Wine Club since 2009 - we are delighted to welcome Stella to the Pepper Tree family!

Get to know Stella: Pet hate: Bindis!!

Obsession: Peanut butter, chasing her tail and fetching the paper Favourite food: Liver treats Favourite toy or past time: Chewing up and destroying anything cardboard as quickly as possible!

Join the Club for $39.95, including: • Wine Dogs Australia - Wine Dogs Australia is a photographic journal of stunning pictures and great stories - created all for the love of dogs and wine! RRP $35 (available to the first 20 members) • Pepper Tree Wines dog lead RRP $18.50

Click to Join Pepper Tree Pet Club or Phone 1800 655 965 • Winemakers dog postcard - Kimba • Membership Certificate • 1 bottle of wine RRP $18.00 • Treat for your furry friend in your Wine Club committed cases • Plus complementary bowl of water and treats upon their visit to the winery

Dr Katrina Warren’s Pet Travel Tips On the Road with Your Four-Legged Friend It is well known that Australia is a nation of pet lovers with about 64% of Aussie households owning a pet. These days most of us consider our pets to be members of the family and include them in activities such as birthday and Christmas celebrations. So, it makes sense that Australians are increasingly taking their four legged friends with them wherever they go, holidays included.

The latest research from the Petcare Information and Advisory Service shows that in 2010, 47% of dog owners living on their own took their dog with them when they went out for the day and 37% took their dogs on holidays. This compares with just 14% of dog owners who always took their pets away on holidays in 2000. Careful preparation is the key to ensuring the whole family has a safe and enjoyable time.

Travel Tips: • Always have an ID tag with a contact number of where you are staying. Remember, you may be out of mobile range at your destination • When you arrive at your destination keep your dog confined indoors or on a leash whenever you are outdoors.

• Find a vet in the area you are visiting in advance to avoid any last minute panic if you do need veterinary care. Ask about dangers in the area such as paralysis ticks and snakes.

• Pack your pets usual food - you can never rely on being able to buy it at you holiday destination and you don’t want unnecessary tummy upsets.

• If you are flying with your pet, make sure you - prebook him or her. You will need to buy or hire a crate and will need to check your pet in at least an hour before the scheduled departure time.

• A visit to the vet prior to departure is recommended to make sure your pet is up to date with worming and vaccinations and discuss tick prevention if necessary.

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RESTARANT REVIEW Muse Restaurant & Cafe In March 2009, Megan and Troy Rhoades-Brown opened Muse Restaurant and Cafe with the aim of evolving their establishment into one of Australia's finest regional restaurants.

Muse prides itself in providing superior contemporary Australian cuisine and professional and friendly service in a world class setting.

At Muse, it's not about dinner - it's about dining.

1 Broke Road Pokolbin NSW P 02 4998 6777 E muse@musedining.com.au www.musedining.com.au

Perfectly Matched With Reserve 2009 ‘14 Shores’ Coonawarra Merlot

SPINACH PASTA WITH SWISS BROWN MUSHROOMS & GOATS CHEESE “Goats cheese. Creamy yet tart, savoury but sweet. This silky wonderful cheese is so versatile it finds itself anywhere from a simple salad or pasta to a ashed blueberry cheesecake at the world renowned Pier Restaurant in Rose Bay. The most common form of goats cheese is chevre which is made by curdling the goats milk, straining and salting it. This is a creamy cheese with a gamey edge and just loves to be matched with big earthy flavours like beetroot, mushrooms, nuts and red meat.

At Muse we serve a local ashed goat’s chese with a salad of baby beetroots, beans, pumpkin and dry spice crusted venison.

"My tip for trying goats cheese at home would be to crumble it over this fantastic easy pasta dish.” Troy Rhodes-Brown, Head Chef.

250g of spinach fettuccini 2 tablespoon of olive oil 3 cloves of garlic chopped finely 1 onion chopped finely 150g of Swiss Brown mushrooms, quartered 75g of goats cheese A generous pinch of black pepper A generous pinch of sea salt Bring a large pot of water to the boil and add the pasta. While the pasta is cooking prepare the garlic and onion.

In a large frying pan heat the oil, add the garlic and onion and fry gently until softened and browned. Then add the mushrooms and cook until soft. When the pasta is cooked drain in a colander and put back in the pot.

Drizzle with a little extra olive oil and add the mushrooms, garlic and onion. Crumble in the goats cheese, add the salt and pepper and stir together until everything is combined evenly.

Serve straight away.

I also recommend serving a small dish of chopped anchovy fillets in olive oil.

(Russino or Ortiz are great brands to look out for.)

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WHERE TO FIND OUR WINES QLD Omeros Brothers Seafood Restaurant, Main Beach Gerties Bar & Lounge, Brisbane NSW Green Groper Restaurant, Narrabeen, Sydney Rengaya Japanese Restaurant, North Sydney

VIC Lamaro’s, South Melbourne Fog Bar & Restaurant, Prahran

FUNCTIONS CALENDAR

FUNCTION REVIEW

JUNE

Due to popular demand and the continued support of our loyal members’, the Pepper Tree team recently had the pleasure of hosting two Harvest Luncheons to celebrate the 2011 Vintage! We received beautiful autumn weather on both days, allowing guest’s to relax in the Pepper Tree grounds to enjoy a glass or two of our Sparkling Silenus, accompanied with some freshly shucked oysters. Guests were treated by Executive Chef, Daniel Hunt and his team at Roberts Restaurant to an exquisite 5 course degustation menu, perfectly matched to Pepper Tree’s new and pre-release wines from the cellar. As a token of appreciation Members’ and guests were presented with the 4th edition of the annual Harvest Luncheon collector’s plate series - a big thank you to local artist Danielle McManus, who provided yet again another masterpiece. Thank you to all those who attended and assisted to create two very memorable events!

Manly Food & Wine Festival Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th June, 2011 The Corso, Manly NSW 11:30am - 5:00pm daily Long Lunch at Silo Restaurant Saturday 18th June, 2011 18/1 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle NSW Midday to 4pm $90 pp To book phone: 02 4926 2828

2011 Annual Harvest Luncheon Saturday 21st & Saturday 28th May, 2011

JULY Brisbane Members’ Dinner Friday 8th July, 2011 Era Bistro, Cnr Melbourne & Merivale St, South Brisbane QLD $115 pp

AUGU S T Canberra Members’ Dinner Friday 12th August, 2011 Pelagic Bar & Dining Baileys Arcade, Canberra City ACT $98 per person

SEPT EM BE R Central Coast Member’s Dinner Friday 9th September, 2011 Cowrie Restaurant, 109 Scenic Highway, Terrigal NSW $100 pp Budburst Luncheon N O V E MBER Sydney Harbour Cruises Friday 11th November, 2011 Saturday 12th November, 2011 Sydney Harbour $98 pp QLD Showcase Members’ Dinner Friday 18th November, 2011 Fix Restaurant & Wine Bar, Port Office Hotel, Cnr Edward & Margaret Sts Brisbane, QLD $100 pp

Winemakers Long Lunch Join Pepper Tree’s Winemaker Luke Watson and discover the wonders of winemaking and food matching! Head Chef Mark Slater of Silo Restaurant, has matched a superb six course degustation menu boasting the finest in Modern Australian Cuisine to a selection of Pepper Tree’s award winning wines.

10% discount for Silo Restaurant & Lounge Social Club and Pepper Tree Wine Club Members.

If you are interested in attending any of the above functions we recommend booking ASAP as they do sell out fast!

Saturday 18th June, Midday - 4pm $90 pp (Bookings Essential) Email: mark@silolounge.com.au

To book or enquire about any of the above events please CLICK HERE to e-mail or FREECALL 1800 655 965

18/1 Honeysuckle Drive Newcastle NSW P 02 4926 2828 www.silolounge.com.au

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TO ORDER : phone 1800 655965 or print page, complete & fax to 1800 247 746 or click here to download interactive order form

VARIETAL

REGION

VINTAGE

RRP

CLUB BTL

BTL QTY

CLUB CASE

CASE QTY

TOTAL

WINTER WARMER Premium Cellar Reserve Pack

-

-

290.00

-

-

240.00

Fireside Special

-

-

330.00

-

-

260.00

'Strandlines' Cabernet Shiraz

Wrattonbully

2007

55.00

46.50

279.00

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wrattonbully

2004

55.00

46.50

279.50

Orange

2009

30.00

26.00

312.00

Coonawarra

2009

35.00

29.50

354.00

6 PACK

GRAND RESERVE RANGE

12 PACK

RESERVE RANGE 'Venus Block' Chardonnay '14 Shores' Merlot 'The Gravels' Shiraz Viognier

Wrattonbully

2009

35.00

29.50

354.00

'Elderslee Road' Cabernet Sauv

Wrattonbully

2007

35.00

29.50

354.00

'Calcare' Cabernet Sauvignon

Coonawarra

2008

35.00

29.50

354.00 12 PACK

LIMITED RELEASE RANGE Silenus Sparkling

Orange

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

2005

31.00

28.00

336.00

Hunter Valley

2010

22.00

19.00

228.00

Orange

2010

22.00

19.00

228.00

Verdelho

Hunter Valley

2011

22.00

19.00

228.00

Pinot Gris

Wrattonbully

2011

22.00

19.00

228.00

Viognier

Wrattonbully

2010

22.00

19.00

228.00

Chardonnay

Wrattonbully

2010

22.00

19.00

228.00

Chardonnay

Hunter Valley

2010

22.00

19.00

228.00

Merlot

Hunter Valley

2009

25.00

21.00

252.00

'Classics' Cabernet Merlot

Wrattonbully

2009

25.00

21.00

252.00

'The Pebbles' Shiraz Viognier

Wrattonbully

2009

25.00

21.00

252.00

Orange

2009

25.00

21.00

252.00

Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz

Hunter Valley

2009

35.00

29.50

354.00

Tannat

Wrattonbully

2009

25.00

21.00

252.00

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Varietal

2010

18.00

15.00

180.00

Verdelho

Varietal

2011

18.00

15.00

180.00

12 PACK

VARIETAL RANGE

Pinot Gris

Varietal

2010

18.00

15.00

180.00

Unwooded Chardonnay

Varietal

2010

18.00

15.00

180.00

Chardonnay

Varietal

2010

18.00

15.00

180.00

Merlot

Varietal

2009

18.00

15.00

180.00

Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal

2009

18.00

15.00

180.00

Shiraz

Varietal

2009

18.00

15.00

180.00 12 PACK

DESSERT & FORTIFIED WINES Botrytis Semillon

Hunter Valley

Vin De Vie

2010

25.00

21.00

252.00

NV

35.00

30.00

360.00 FREIGHT $11 PER CASE TOTAL $

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