We were lucky enough to have Margaret and Mike Hanson from Blue Earth olives and The Elder wines to come and talk to us and let us sample their three different blends of olive oils and taste examples of their rose, pinot gris and pinot noir. You may have seen them recently on Country Calendar. In case you missed it a little bit of history to follow.
As a teenager Margaret went on an AFS exchange to Minnesota in the USA. While at Blue Earth High School she met her future husband, Mike. When she returned to New Zealand he followed within a year and they established a life in Dunedin, and then Wellington. Mike came from a farming family in the states and made lots of trips to the Wairarapa which he loved. Eventually they bought a thirty-acre property. In 1998 they decided to plant olives and now have seven acres of them. This was followed by a vineyard in 1999.
They make a Classic blend from mainly Barnea with some Frantoio and Leccino. This was awarded silver in the NZ olive oil awards 2022.
They make an Intense blend from Manzillo and Koroneiki this won a gold award in New York in the International 2022 olive oil competition. This won a silver in the NZ olive oil awards 2022.
The Tuscan blend of Frantoio and Leccino was awarded gold in the NZ olive oil awards 2022, the judges describing it as: “Vibrant aromas of black pepper almond and rocket that transfer well to the palate with a long lingering finish.” One of the great things about olive oil is that it enhances the flavours of good food to make them taste great with an amazing intensity of flavour.
The Hanson’s started their own wine label in 2010 in partnership with Nigel and Bridget Elder. The label is called The Elder, the winemaker is Paul Mason. The production is very small around five to six hundred cases a year, this allows them to have firm control over producing a quality product in both the vineyard and the winery.
Our entry wine was the Elder Rose 2022. It was a bright pale pink with aromas of strawberries on the nose. The palate is dry with layers of red fruit and creamy notes. This is a moderately full bodied, elegant and complex style of rose with soft velvety acidity.
This was followed by the Elder Pinot Gris we had a glass each of the 2013, 2015 and 2021.
This is a serious style of Pinot Gris, the mouth feel is dry and weighty with fine textured tannins characterised by ripe stone fruits, to be enjoyed now or cellared for up to five years.
We then tasted The Elder Pinot Noir from the 2013, 2015 and 2018. The pinots are all made as wines to accompany food and cellar. On the nose they are softly elegant and aromatic, the palate is of dark red berry fruits with hints of spice. All the wines have velvety soft tannins and are well balanced. They have just released their 2018 wine which is expected to cellar well for at least ten years.
We thank them again for a very interesting evening, if you want to know more their web address is www.blueeartholiveoil.com
On their web page it says “we love sharing this special place with others so please contact us if you would like to visit the olive grove or vineyard.” hanson@actrix.gen.nz or call us on 027-485-5068
