A week of tastings, events and very long lunch!
For us, being part of the Negociants portfolio really feels like being part of a great family of wine with whom we share a common set of values. Joining the Negociants portfolio in late 2009 with the launch of the Misha’s Vineyard brand, we embarked on our first New Zealand tour in 2010 with just four wines. This year marks our 13th year being part of this wonderful portfolio with a range that now extends to 10 wines.
Commencing the tour in Auckland, after a morning business update from the Negociants team, we manned our stands on the main floor of the Royal Yacht Squadron – home to the America’s Cup Trophy! It’s a fantastic venue that we’ve used for a number of years as it’s an ideal space for this tasting extravaganza! During the four-hour afternoon trade tasting welcomed literally hundreds of guests. With a short break to re-set, another large group of consumers converged for an evening tasting. All the wineries regrouped for a late night dinner with the ‘sensible’ ones returning to their hotel around 11pm. Up early in the morning for shuttles to the airport and a flight to the next city, Wellington, and we were all ready to do it all again!
We added another layer of complexity to this year’s tour, partnering with Langmeil winery from the Barossa for a series of wine events that ‘top and tailed’ the tour. Our relationship with Langmeil is a result of many years of being positioned next to Langmeil on the Negociants tour i.e. L comes before M and the wineries are always positioned around the room in alphabetical order for tastings!
Finally after a couple of years of COVID interruptions, the collaborations happened! On the Saturday prior to the Fine Wine Tour, Leigh flew into Auckland from the Barossa and we flew up from Queenstown. That evening we hosted a fabulous Degustation Dinner for 60 people at Harbourside Bar & Grill.
Exhausted but exhilarated was the only way to describe how we all felt after the week! Not only was the Negociants tour a wonderful success but the Langmeil & Misha’s Vineyard collaboration dinners (and lunch) were incredibly well received. So if you ever come to a Negociants Fine Wine tour, feel free to ask us about Langmeil and the Barossa – or ask Leigh about Misha’s Vineyard and Central Otago – we’ve both become even better acquainted with each other’s wines and stories.