This Week at the Market

This Week at the Market

25th July 2019

Hi there

It was so good to hear the rain on the roof last weekend and know that it was a good, long, penetrating rain that would go some way towards mitigating the extreme dry of June and July. Heat waves in Europe and spring like temperatures here, climate change is turning the seasons on their heads! I have crocuses flowering in the garden, at least one month early, probably more. What does this all mean for food production? It is probably too early to really know and there may well never be a new norm. Weather waffle abounds but these are some significant, long terms changes we are and will continue experiencing.

I had the pleasure of visting Brendan Seal at his urban winery, Urbn Vino recently.

On Saturday afternoons you can find Brendan hosting tastings and talking about the winemaking process in his city winery. It is located in the Terminus Building at the edge of the historic warehouse precinct that has fast become the hip, urban hub of Dunedin’s food and beverage artisans.

Urbn Vino is where he takes the best Pinot Noir grapes from Central Otago vineyards and transforms them into delicious, rich, complex Pinot Noir. By visiting the urban winery members of the public can find out in detail how the magic happens and taste the results.

Urban wineries are not new to the rest of the world but here in New Zealand Urbn Vino was one of the first. Central Otago Pinot Noir and Dunedin are two of Brendan’s favourite things so bringing them together just made sense.

Brendan came to winemaking through a slightly circuitous route. He studied history at university in Dunedin and wrote an Honours thesis on the pioneers of the Central Otago wine industry. This sparked a passion for the industry so he rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in. One harvest led to another, and another, until he was irretrievably hooked. Since 1999 he has held various winemaking roles for Mt Difficulty, Chard Farm and Mt Edward, with overseas harvests in Cyprus, the USA, France and the UK in between. He also sandwiched in a Masters thesis on the very early years of winemaking in New Zealand between 1895 and 1919. A stint buying and selling wine in the UK rounded out his skills.

Brendan has a passion for passionate people, whether they grow grapes, roast coffee beans or brew beer. Connections, narratives, provenance... all are very important to him and he enjoys sharing the building with like-minded businesses. Synergy between artisans, along with increasing foot traffic contributes to a self-sustaining model over time.

Be sure to book a tour or pop in one Saturday afternoon to the Terminus Building for a tasting and purchase a bottle to take home. Look out for pop up events as well. Otherwise check him out on Saturday mornings up on the platform at the market.

Urbn Vino has an attractive market site with wines available for tasting . The Writers Block is produced from various single vineyards and incorporates the UNESCO City of Literature logo, whereas Urbn Vino Pinot Noir is a blend of several exceptional vineyards (as are many of his 500ml refillable bottle options).

Best Regards

Kate

This Week in the kitchen

All this rain over the weekend, finally! But that can only be a good thing for our delicious, fresh, juicy produce this week. Our farmers & growers are happy & Jamalia is back in market kitchen again finding creative, healthy ways to use up all of her produce, nose to tail so to speak with her vegetarian carrot soup & then the carrot tops for a great pesto, waste not, want not people!

Carrot Soup with Carrot-Top Pesto

Produce from Caithness Farm Ltd

View Recipe

Broccoli, Brie and Balsamic Onion Tart

Produce from Oamaru Organics Evansdale Cheese

View Recipe

Chai Spiced Green Apple Fritters

Produce from Willowbrook Orchard

View Recipe

Raw Snickers Slice

Produce from BAY Rd Peanut Butter

View Recipe

Ettrick Gardens This Week

Spinach, Brightlights Silverbeet,

Yams, Potatoes, Celery, Leeks, Celeriac,

Coloured Carrots, Daikon, Garlic, Parsnips,

Carrots, Shallots, Onions, Green Cabbage, Artichokes

Kale, Cavolo Nero, Red Cabbage, Spring Onions

3 Types Beetroot, Elephant Garlic

Silverbeet, Walnuts & Grey Pumpkin.

Check out our “bring your bag” to “bag your own” section.

Coloured Carrots, Parsnips, beetroot (3 types),

Washed Agria & Red Fantasy Potatoes.

Crunchy Royal Gala, Golden Delicious,

Crunchy Eve, Pacific Beauty, Fuji & Pacific Rose,

Braeburn & Huaguan, Granny Smith, Sturmer

Pink lady & Ballerat Cooking Apples

Taylors Gold, Beurre Bosc, Winter Nelis,

Doyenne du Comice, Ice Cream Pears,

Frozen Raspberries, Boysenberries, Blackberries,

Tayberries, Blueberries and Mixed Berries

Check out our range of reusable bags!!

Super Special’s this Week

Drum & Savoy Cabbage only $2 each

Pumpkin & Free flow Boysenberries

Ettrick Gardens

On your right at the main gate, or

Rapid 5104, State Highway 8, Ettrick.

Central Otago. 03 446 6863

Community Stall This Week

The A Badminton Team at Bayfield High School will be fundraising this weekend to get 5 of their girls to the school badminton tournament in spring. They will be selling delicious fudge & coconut ice!