Back in the 1980s when the writer was a teenager, Gimblett Gravels vineyard was just gravel.
My sister sent me a text the other day: "Do you have any 1980s dress-up gear?"
"Nope," I replied.
"Whatever. I bet you have a secret drawer full of legwarmers and things with shoulder-pads," she countered.
Now I know I'm not the most fashionable fish in the tank, but that was confusing. Yes, the 80s were the golden years for power suits with enormous shoulder pads, stonewash denim, sparkly, fingerless gloves, knickerbockers, kung fu shoes and commando Ms, blouses with frilly collars, fluoros, bad fringes and skinny ties - but to assume I have a drawer full of that stuff was a bit deflating. Is that what's expected from "women of a certain age"?
To have collections of things from their past? Gen Xers like me have a fondness for nostalgia, the technology, toys, television and bad fashion in the days before cycle helmets, cellphones and the internet, but I'm not the type to collect and cling to things. So my sister was just going to have to go to the op shop like everyone else.
Her request got me thinking, however, about whether I had any "wine memories" from the 1980s. I couldn't really claim any because I was only 15 when that decade ended, but I do remember my parents always having a cask of Blenheimer in the fridge.
The cool girls at school talked about taking pink chardon, marque vue and Miami Wine Cooler to parties, and I might have be allowed a tiny glass of White Cloud or Blue Nun at Christmas Day lunch.
I also remember driving down State Highway 50 west of Hastings with my dad - I think we were taking a load of rubbish to the dump at Fernhill, now long gone - when he said: "Some buggers are thinking of putting bloody grapes in there," pointing at some bald, stony paddocks full of skinny sheep. "Madness."
In 2001 the area was officially dubbed the Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district. Contained within this 800ha patch of ancient riverbed is some of the most sought after vineyard land in the Southern Hemisphere, with dozens of New Zealand's most famous wines being crafted from fruit grown within its boundaries.
So you don't need to be a rocket scientist to grasp how important it is to the producers who invested in that special piece of ground that the brand Gimblett Gravels is protected to make sure any old sausage can't put those words on their wine label and profit from it if the wine inside isn't genuinely from that place or the genuine article.
These producers will be welcoming the news that the Government will implement the Geographical Indications Registration (or GIR) Act.
Geographical indications will identify wines as originating in a region or locality, says Philip Gregan, chief executive of New Zealand Winegrowers. The act will set up a registration system similar to the trademark registration system.
"It will equip the wine industry with the tools to protect its premium brands from misappropriation or misuse, as well as help secure market access in some regions," Gregan says. "It's a big step forward for the industry."
SIPS OF THE WEEK
Selaks Founders Limited Edition Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2013, $39
This range came out late last year to celebrate the first vintage of Marino Selak in 1934. This merlot is a muscular, spice-driven wine loaded with berryfruit, cocoa and liquorice notes. It's still just a puppy. I can hardly wait to see how it develops over the next year or two.
Sacred Hill Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2014, $24
Enticing aromas of white peach, summer flowers, almond meal and soft lemon notes are upfront. A seam of creaminess cloaks the sweet stonefruit flavours in the mid-palate, yet it's light on the finish. A nicely balanced chardonnay with a squeak of toasty oak which adds to the complexity.
Mount Riley Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2014, $15
If you like your gewurztraminer packed with rose petals, sweet, punchy tropical fruit and musky spices then this snappy, succulent autumn-friendly white is just the business. It's not a complicated wine, rather it's an instant aromatic hit, followed by vibrant, clean fruit, lip-smacking acidity and freshness on the finish. Yum.
Mac's Cloudy Apple Cider 568ml,$6
Yes it's a supermarket brand and yes it's cheap, but this new cider is anything but nasty. Be prepared for a burst of crisp, tangy, pure apple flavours that are ripe and on the crunchy side. There's good depth of flavour on the finish too and it's perfect for late autumn afternoon sipping.