It’s Harvest Time in New Zealand and Spring Time in California! Celebrate both with the first Thirsty Girl #TGTaste Twitter Tasting of 2013 set for Wednesday March 27 at 5 pm PST  (8 pm EST). You’re invited!

To participate, pick up a bottle of  Villa Maria‘s 2012 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc and/or the 2011Private Bin Pinot Noir and join us on Twitter by tasting, tweeting and following along the hashtage #TGTaste. On twitter during the event will be Villa Maria Winery @villamaria_wine Alastair Maling MW, General Manager of Winemaking & Viticulture @alastairmaling, head Thirsty Girl Leslie Sbrocco at @lesliesbrocco plus @beathirstygirl.

Here at Wine Predator, I’ll have Annie AnyDay and Que Syrah Sue helping me taste and tweet and prepare treats!

To go with the sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, I’ve got goat cheese and rosemary crackers, plus some fresh basil to make pesto. We’ll get some oysters from Jolly Oyster and maybe we’ll make a caesar salad. For the pinot noir also from Marlborough, maybe we’ll grill some salmon, because I love pinot noir with salmon!

Please join us! And let us know what you like to pair with NZ sauvignon blanc and pinot noir! The wines for the event should be easy for you to find as they are widely available in the US:

2011 Villa Maria Estate Private Bin Pinot Noir – SRP $19.99
http://www.villamaria.co.nz/our-wines/red-wines/pinot-noir/private-bin-marlborough
Click here to download a PDF Info Sheet for this wine

2012 Villa Maria Estate Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc – SRP $15.99
http://www.villamaria.co.nz/our-wines/white-wines/sauvignon-blanc/private-bin-marlborough-1
Click here to download a PDF Info Sheet for this wine

In 1961, 21 year old George Fistonich started Villa Maria on five acres in Auckland NZ that he leased from his dad. Today, Villa Maria is still family owned  and they’re celebrating their 50th vintage! One of the larger operations in NZ, they pride themselves on their sustainable practices and by being an industry leader. They manage their vineyards organically and are in the process of getting all of their properties certified organic. Yay!

Learn more about Villa Maria in this short, two minute video recap of their 50th vintage in Auckland, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough:

Read my review of last year’s new release two Villa Maria Sauvignon Blancs.

Related articles

• Fine grapes and bungee ropes: the best of New Zealand wine (guardian.co.uk)
• Grey skies are going to clear up with some sunny spring wines (wineitudes.wordpress.com)