A summer-bright collection for festive tables, long lunches, and generous giving
As summer stretches out before us and the festive season gathers pace, this catalogue has been shaped with one purpose in mind. To help you entertain with confidence, gift with style, and enjoy the kind of fine wine that turns everyday occasions into stories worth telling. Absentee bidding is open now, with the live auction commencing at 6pm on 02 December, streamed directly from our Eden Terrace saleroom. You’re warmly invited to join us in person, or settle in online and enjoy the theatre from wherever you find yourself.
New Zealand sets the tone with a commanding line-up. Te Mata Coleraine appears in a generous run of vintages, each bottle carrying the quiet authority that has made it a benchmark for decades. Pinot Noir lovers will be spoiled for choice, with Felton Road (Blocks 3, 5, and various Rieslings too), Bell Hill, Burn Cottage, Valli, Craggy Range, Kusuda, Pegasus Bay Prima Donna, Gibbston Valley and Ata Rangi all taking their place. Chardonnay shows real pedigree from Bell Hill, Kumeu River and others. There are also radiant Rieslings, aromatic whites, and a few sweet styles built for warm evenings and stone-fruit desserts. It’s a beautifully rounded expression of our own landscape.
Across the Tasman, Australia weighs in with its own festive generosity. Penfolds Grange stands tall, supported by a suite of Cabernet, Shiraz, and blends from Mornington to Barossa. You’ll find McLaren Vale structure, Barossa plushness, and a good spread of modern, polished styles that suit barbecue feasts as naturally as they suit the cellar.
Other New World regions provide a lively contrast. There are elegant American selections, South African curiosities, and a handful of South American bottles that bring freshness and character. Germany follows with poised Riesling that offers clarity and lift, ideal for seafood and summer heat. Italy brings confident reds from Tuscany where Spain offers Rioja warmth that pairs easily with festive food.
Then we arrive in France, beginning where any celebration should. Champagne is a star of this sale, headlined by a trio of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs (2004, 2006, and 2008). These are wines that define the season: luminous, graceful, and capable of bringing a little ceremony to both Christmas morning and New Year’s Eve. Beyond Champagne, France stretches into Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône, and the Loire, with producers such as Cathiard, Duhart Milon, Léoville Poyferré, and other classic names carrying the flag. Whether you’re building a cellar or shaping a summer table, these wines bring depth, pedigree, and a sense of occasion.
There is thoughtful variety across sherry and whisky too, from Lustau and Gonzalez Byass through to notable drams ready for late-evening conversation.
This auction is deliberately timed so your holiday hospitality can be sorted well before the rush begins. And for the impossible-to-buy-for person in your world, our old-school gift certificates make an effortless, quietly charming solution. Simply email us and we'll get that sorted for you.
A gentle seasonal reminder. As temperatures rise, your wine appreciates a little care. Long-term integrity is anchored in proper storage. Climate-controlled cellaring preserves structure, protects value, and honours the craftsmanship inside every bottle. If your growing collection deserves a more secure home, we’d be delighted to help you explore options at the end of the catalogue.
So pour yourself something refreshing, take a leisurely browse, and enjoy the bright, generous promise of this December sale. We look forward to sharing the excitement with you on 02 December, whether from our Eden Terrace saleroom or your favourite summer spot.
