** Win A Trip to Margaret River **

Win a trip for two people to Western Australia to visit the famous Margaret River wine region

The prize consists of

• Return economy airline tickets from Auckland to Perth and return
• 5 nights accommodation
• Rental car
• Selected VIP winery visits - Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle, etc (over 100 wineries in the region)

Each spend of $100 at First Glass gives you one entry and the prize will be drawn on July 1st, on stage at the First Glass Wine Options (see below) - you do not need to be present to win. Should the lucky winner choose not to go to Perth, then they can visit Adelaide or the Barossa if preferred. All instore purchases as well as email and phone orders qualify for entries. The winner will have 12 months to choose travel dates.

** Wine Options is back - but for the very last time  **

First Glass Wine Options 2012
1pm, Sunday 1st July at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Albert St, Auckland

The Wine Options competition is back again for the 30th consecutive year but with Chairman Kingsley Wood is calling an end to wine options on this scale, this year's competition is the last as we know it. Unquestionably one of the great wine days each year, the final wine options is already attracting interest from past competitors from around the country wanting to get their crew back together and compete one last time.

Limited to just 60 teams, teams of 4 persons can now enter – wineries, restaurants, corporates or wine enthusiasts. Cost $240 per team.

Download the  Options Entry Form and the Competition Rules - documents are in Acrobat PDF format.

Practice packs ($180 to $200) are available from First Glass.

FInal Practice Night: Monday 18th June at First Glass
7pm start, $20 per person, reservations essential.

  The WineJobsOnline.com Trophy
This is a competition within a competition for wine trade teams representing a winery or distributor, who have at least three people in the team who work for or are closely associated with the company they are representing. As well as the obvious prestige of winning the magnificent WineJobsOnline.com Trophy, there will be a magnum of fabulous Louis Roederer Champagne for each member of the team.

** Recent Fine Wine Wednesday Tasting Highlights **

** 16th May: Class of 2009
Quail's Run Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009
A lovely smooth, ripe, creamy wine with a fragrant nutty bouquet, and rich ripe, juicy flavours - there's cashews, oatmeal, peaches, a touch of citrus, and a spicy, toasty finish. A super starter wine with a silky, seamless flow - just perfect for 5 o'clock drinks. 5 star value.
Our Price: $12.99 special.

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet 2009
Deep dark red with a crimson glow. Smoky sweet oak and redcurrant aromas and juicy plum and red berry flavours with vanillin oak, chocolate, cigar box and boot leather lie on a bed of thick-set tannins. Once the tannins dissolve the mouthfeel becomes velvety smooth succulence and the ripe, bright finish has a flourish of pepper and cake spice. A blend of 56% Merlot, 42% Cabernet and 2% Malbec. Elite Gold AirNZ, Gold Easter Show. 5 star quality. 5 star value. Star buy.
Our Price: $15.99 special.

** 9th May: New Zealand v Australia
Muddy Water James Hardwick Riesling 2009
This gorgeous, refreshing, juicy Riesling is the perfect aperitif or pre-taster. It's lemon citrine in colour, smelling fresh and floral and tasting so tantalising fresh and juicy with lime sherbet and zesty tangelo brightness with perfectly balanced acidity to balance the medium sweetness and if you want, just a smidgen of kero creeping in. Star Buy.
Our Price: $12.99 special. Limited Stock.

Wirra Wirra Church Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2009
Deep crimson red. Quite sumptuous smelling with creamy vanillin oak and blackberry scents then smoky and savoury in the palate with concentrated blackcurrant and raspberry fruit, cigar box, a touch of leather, dry tannins, a touch of chicory and some underlying acid in there to balance the fruity sweetness. The finish is bright and long. 50/30/20 blend.
Our Price: $19.99 special.

Click here to check out all the  tasting notes.
Click here to check out the Fine Wine Wednesday tasting schedule. Our Wednesday tastings are consistently the best value in New Zealand.

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