Affinity Lunch

A great event was held at the award-winning Roots Restaurant in Lyttelton on November 26, for a select group of 12 guests, together with Whistling Buoy's Neil Pattinson and his winemaker son Chris.

The format was simply for the lunch to be fun and maybe a little informative. Each course was preceded with a brief background on the food together with the matching Whistling Buoy wines, then it was down to the eating and tasting. What followed was an enthusiastic discussion on the considered merits of the respective wine matches, which resulted in some interesting observations.

Giulio and the team did the diners proud, as did Manuel who provided amazing service and attention.

The menu

Canape of Pan de Yuca (Cheese Bread made from two-year aged Cheddar cheese from Barry's Bay).

Vegetarian Course of Artichoke cream with fresh artichokes, semi-dried tomatoes, radish, black garlic, nasturtium – This was paired with 2011 Half Acre Pinot Noir and 2014 Kokolo vineyard pinot noir.

Panned dish of Groper matched with 2014 and 2015 vintages of Whistling Buoy Chardonnay.

A main course of venison in hazelnut milk, charred onion cups, kale, and toasted grains. This was paired with Pinot Noir from the Kokolo site and the Half Acre home site. In addition, a library stock bottle of 2006 Half Acre Pinot Noir was added to the mix and it was heavenly.

Dessert of rhubarb sorbet, rhubarb granite, house-made creme fraiche, unripe and ripe strawberries, elderflowers, matched with 2015 and 2016 vintages of Whistling Buoy Rose.