First Glass Wine Options

2009 Wine Options Winners Congratulations to "Barrique Obama - Leader of the Wine House" who took out the First Glass Wines Options National Final held in Auckland on Sunday 21st June 2009.
Niv Findlay, Steve Macfarlane, Julie Macfarlane and Malcom Meads (pictured right) had a winning score of 160 points, two points ahead of last year's regining champions, to take out the Trophies and first prize of a bottle of Penfolds Grange each. Julie and Steve, who had travelled from Brisbane for the event, and their team mates, were placed third last year after a tie-breaker taste-off to determine second and third places. This year, no tie breaker was needed.

Forty-eight teams contested the 2009 competition.

In second place, with 158 points, was "Magnum Men", each team member winning a bottle of Pol Roger Champagne and Riedel glasses.

In third place, on 155 points, was "The Back Row". Their prize included a bottle of Piper Heidsieck Champagne each accompanied by either Elderton Command Shiraz or Glaetzer Godolphin Shiraz Cabernet.

The top trade team and winners of the Louis Roederer Trophy and bottles of Louis Roederer Champagne, was the "The Hidden Beaune in My Big Undies" representing Delegats.

Second Place Winners:
It's not the drinking ....
Curt Thomas, John Ingle, Gabor Sareczky and Bruce Thomason

Third Place Winners
The Back Row
Bryan Kelly, David Corkill, Roger Potter and Michael Tangney

This was the 27th consecutive year of Wine Options, "as we know it" and was again a great day with once again some super costumes with at least 1/3 of the teams dressed up. The Best and Worst Team Name and Best Costume were decided by popular vote, which turned out to be resoundingly in favour of those who received the awards.

Best Costume: Mardi Gras at Rioja de Janiero

Best Team Name: The Fine Line Slithery Company

Worst Team Name: "I said I shot the Prick"

Winners of the Boot (for coming last): Bamboozled

Best Costume Winners:
Mardi Gras at Rioja de Janeiro
Martin Pickering, Robyn Jones, James Porter and Nick Jones from Mudbrick Vineyard

Best Name Winners:
Fine Line Slithery Company
Chris Carrad, James Rowan, Rebecca Rowan and Cameron Douglas

Winners of the Louis Roeder trophy for Best Trade Team:
Mac Collis, Austin Black, Brent Park and Sean Beer from Delegats

More photos, courtesy of Mark Whatmough, can be viewed on Flickr - click here.

Wines Served -

Church Road Reserve Chardonnay 2006 (Hawkes Bay)

Albert Mann Grand Cru Furstenheim Gewurztraminer 2007 (Alsace)

Mount Difficulty Long Gully Riesling 2008 (Central Otago)

Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 2005 (Bordeaux)

Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2005 (South Australia)

Olssen's Jackson Barry Pinot Noir 2007 (Central Otago)

Craggy Range Sophia Merlot Cabernet Franc 2007 (Hawkes Bay)

Cullen Dianna Madeline Cabernet Merlot 2005 (Western Australia)

Team Scores -

Place

Team Number

Team Name

Score

1	33	Barrique Obama – Leader of The Wine House	160
2	35	Magnum Men	158
3	29	The Back Row	155
4	26	Pensionfundfolds – Bin Rich 2008, Bin Broke 2009	154
5	43	Fine Line Slithery Company	149
6	17	The Rhone Stone Cowboys	142
7=	22	We Will Try Not to Make an Alsace of Ourselves	138
7=	25	Thanks for the Mamres	138
9=	14	Sauvy Young Blokes	134
9=	28	Gone Blanc – Lets Guigal It.	134
9=	40	The Hidden Beaune in My Big Undies	134
12=	9	Gone by Lunchtime	133
12=	13	Fritzell Cellars	133
14	20	Mardi Gris at Rioja de Janero	132
15=	8	Blind Drunk	131
15=	39	Kingsley gives us Gigondas Beauners	131
17=	3	The Wine Fed Ups	130
17=	30	Recession, Depression, Blah Blah – Drink Your Cellar	130
17=	41	"I said I shot the Prick"	130
20	24	The Desperate Housewines	129
21=	2	The Grog Fathers	128
21=	5	Get Your Cotes on the is a Fiasco	128
21=	27	We are all About Vinous Promiscuity	128
24=	6	Ready to Suffer Rieslings and Yarras of Outrageous Fortune	127
24=	10	Take my Sauv and Squeal Boy, Squeal Like a Press	127
24=	47	The Wine Guys	127
27	46	Holy Smoky Barrels Batman it’s the New Wine Thief	126
28=	19	Alice in Liquorland	125
28=	48	Loosen your Clos, the temperature' s Riesling	125
30=	16	Awatea Yet?	123
30=	34	Crouch, Touch, Pours, Engage	123
32	18	Syrahs in their Eyes	120
33	4	Rotten Nobels	118
34	21	Overdressed Underachievers	115
35	23	Half Cut Cases	113
36	12	Not a very Sauvy Bunch	111
36	36	The Swino’s	111
38=	7	The Elderones	110
38=	45	Innocent Killer Cabernets	110
40	11	The 4 Muscateers	105
41	44	St. George & The Dragons	102
42	32	Coalition of the Swilling	100
43	1	Porno Noir	97
43	42	Man O’ Warlords	97
45	15	Weeny Whiney Weiners	95
46	38	Wineflu – Sore head without the Cough	87
47	31	The Clean Skins	68
48	37	Bamboozeled	61