1005 days ago

New Zealand Sommelier of the year - 2021

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

Congratulations to Andrea Martinisi as he is awarded New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2021.

Andrea Martinisi is presented with the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2021 trophy by Marek Przyborek (NZ Sommelier of the Year 2018) and chair of the Examination Committee with Celia Hay, chair of New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association. Andrea is General Manager and Head Sommelier of The Grove Restaurant, Auckland. Marek is head sommelier at Amisfield, Central Otago.

The day started with the Theory Assessment (60 minutest) and Blind Tasting of 2 wines. The white wine was Saint Clair Pioneer Block Gewurztraminer 2020 from Marlborough and from Spain, Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2016. The Practical included a restaurant scenario to decant a bottle of Te Mata Awatea 2018 and provide a food pairing. This was made a little tricky as we also had a bottle Te Mata Awatea 2019 on the sideboard... to check if the candidates were reading the label!

The Practical also featured a spirit tasting where candidates were asked to identify 4 spirits. This year the spirits were Bacardi, Tequila Blanco, Jack Daniels, Calvados.

More messages from your neighbours
5 hours ago

New Lottery, New Home

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1 day ago

The perfect treat this Mother's Day

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5 days ago

One Good Kiwi - Nuturing Families

Julia from Henderson

kia ora lovely neighbours

I finally worked out how One Good Kiwi works - onegoodkiwi.one.nz...

"We like to think of One Good Kiwi as a digital koha
that can only be spent on others"

similar to Z's 'good in the 'hood' - you get FREE tokens to donate to a charity of your choice ... FREE to sign up, FREE tokens - you get to choose what charity or charities you would like to support... a real win-win-win (win-win-win...)

me, I spent most of my FREE credits this month on Nurturing Families - a local charity - based in Henderson

Nurturing Families (re-branded from Mummies in Need in 2023) - set up by a lovely young woman (oh! when she was 12, wow -!) - that helps - well families in need

this is from their website: nurturingfamilies.nz...

"Nurturing Families acts as a crisis support agency to help with material aid when a child or baby is at risk or suffering. We primarily work through agency requests so you will need to get in touch with a/your midwife, Plunket nurse, support worker, social worker or case worker and ask them to email a referral after assessing your need."

"We work closely alongside organisations such as the NZ police, Work and Income, Family Success Matters, Family Start, Midwives, and many independent schools, midwives and social workers to provide those in hardship with the basic essentials."

westies making waves of positive change again - awesome !!!!

one of the options this month on One Good Kiwi - to donate FREE credits to them - ALL great charities

so you can HELP them that way

and/or...

if you have some spare time, even an hour or so a week, a fortnight - maybe consider giving them a hand - every time I drop some things off they are so so busy - they really could do with a few more volunteers

it's a handy location - 6/42 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson, only parking is tricky, advise parking on the street - Hours: 9-2 pm Monday-Thursday

and with the greatest of love & respect - SHOW up if you do want to lend a hand (that is my message, from me - I emailed them, no response - TOO BUSY to respond)

arohanui