Monthly Archives: August 2018

Who's the BBQ Boss?

Posted by [email protected] on August 14, 2018

Father’s Day is just around the corner, (Sunday 1st September), and we have a special competition running to mark the occasion.

We're giving you the chance to win this fabulous Father's Day gift for the person you think is the Best Dad in the world!

The BBQ Boss Kit includes:

  • A No.1 Family Estate branded apron
  • A fine set of BBQ tools
  • A $50 New World Gift Voucher

All presented in a beautiful wooden gift box

To be in the draw you simply need to fill out a short form. Don't forget to share with your friends, because for every friend that enters from your unique referral code, you'll receive a bonus entry.

ENTER HERE

For a real celebration lunch add some fizz to your Father's Day BBQ.

If Dad has been fishing, choose the classic No.1 Cuvée to pair with fresh fish and seafood. But if duck or lamb is your preference, enjoy the seamless balance of subtle cherry and almond with No 1 Rosé.

Sometimes it's difficult to choose between the two! That's why we created Two for One, a bottle of No. 1 Cuvée and a bottle of No. 1 Rosé in an elegant presentation box. A perfect Father's Day Gift!

Buy Your Wine Here.

 

 

Who said romance is dead? We disagree!

Posted by [email protected] on August 13, 2018

At No.1 Family Estate we’re rather keen on a little romance… Give us hearts, flowers and a love story and there’s only one thing we’d add… Bubbles!

There has long been an association between sparkling wine and love and romance. So, as you can imagine we’re rather delighted that August is Romance Awareness Month!

To mark this auspicious month, we thought we would share three ways to relight your fire with fizz!

  • A night out – Date night is the perfect way to rekindle romance! Go old school with a movie and meal out… Check out this list to discover all the wonderful restaurants around New Zealand where you can treat your love with a glass (or two) of No.1 Family Estate bubbles. It goes without saying that all these marvellous eating establishments have been tried and tested by the team at No.1 and come highly recommended!
  • A night in – Same premise, different backdrop. Nothing says I love you more than preparing a romantic feast of favourite foods for your lover. Keep it simple… The best date night suppers are. You don’t want to be elbow deep in washing up bubbles when you could be sipping No.1 bubbles instead!
  • A surprise gift – Flowers are fancy, but certainly won’t last as long as your love. Chocolates are charming but choose carefully to be sure you select only favourites. Bubbles, however, are a brilliant choice! Something you can share together and create sparkling memories!

 

Buy yours HERE!

 

Your Cellar Door Questions Answered

Posted by [email protected] on August 02, 2018

Every year we enjoy welcoming hundreds of visitors to our cellar door. We love being able to share our wines with you, and we also enjoy being able to answer your questions.

Because we know that not all of our No.1 fans are able to visit the cellar door, we thought we'd share some of the questions we get asked most frequently, and, more importantly, the answers!

Your Cellar Door Questions Answered

In what environment should I store wine?
Most wines should be stored on their sides to keep the corks moist, thus fully swollen and airtight. This is because, in time, the cork in a bottle stored upright will end up shrunken and dried-out, exposing the wine to air. However, when it comes to sparkling wine, the humidity between the base of the cork and the wine provides more than sufficient humidity to keep the cork moist and swollen. It's, therefore, unnecessary to store the wine on its side. All wines are affected by light, with sparkling wine being particularly prone. So, your wine should be stored in the dark, preferably in any wrapping or even inside a box. The temperature should also remain constant.
 
At what temperature should I store wine?
While 11°C is supposed to be the perfect storage temperature, anything between 5°C and 18°C will suffice for most styles of wine, provided there is not great temperature variation over a relatively short period of time. However, sparkling wines are somewhat more sensitive to temperature than other wines. While it will be no problem keeping sparkling wine, for a year or two at a constant temperature between 12°C and 18°C, long-term storage does require a cooler environment, ideally between 9°C and 11°C.
 
How long can I keep a wine?
Generally speaking, a vintage wine will last longer than a non-vintage wine. A general rule is that a vintage wine will keep for anywhere from 5 to 10 years, whereas a non-vintage wine will keep for 3 to 4 years. There are also countless factors that affect the longevity of a wine, including the producer, the quality, the grape composition, but most importantly the temperature and the environment in which it is kept.
Our No.1 Cuvée and No.1 Rosé will continue to bottle age for another 8 to 10 years from date of purchase, however, No.1 Assemblé will age a lot faster due to the Pinot Meunier. The vintage wines will continue to age beautifully up to 18 to 20 years past their vintage dates. These estimates are based on correct storage conditions.
 
At what temperature should I serve my bubbles?
Anything between 4.5°C and 7°C is ideal for a slow release of the mousse.
 
What does Brut mean?
Brut is a term to indicate the sweetness level of a sparkling wine. Brut Nature  (0-2g/L sugar), Extra Brut (0-6g/L sugar), Brut (<12g/L sugar), Extra-Sec (12-17g/L sugar), Sec (17-32g/L sugar), Demi-Sec (33-50g/L sugar) and Doux (50  
What does Vintage and Non-Vintage mean?
Vintage is made from the harvest of a single year. Whereas non-vintage is a term used to refer to wines blended from multiple harvest years.
 
What does Cuvée mean?
Cuvée refers to the finest portion of the pressing, being the most acidic and highest quality juice. It is generally the first 2,050 litres from a 4,000 kilogram press.
 
Does a spoon in the bottle keep sparkling wine effervescent?
Many people have cited anecdotal evidence that a teaspoon, handle down, into the bottle’s mouth helps keep sparkling wines effervescent in the fridge for a day or more after opening. There’s just one problem. Belief in the spoon tactic, which is of uncertain origin but seems especially prevalent in Europe, appears to be misplaced. Much better to invest in a bottle stopper, or don't leave any wine in it... Enjoy with friends, instead!