Claire Rogers All about wine www.sunlive.co.nz

Congratulations to Steve Bird on another wine being selected to be served by Air New Zealand Business Class during the Rugby World Cup. Lucky travellers get to sample the 2009 Big Barrel Pinot Noir, the flag ship wine for Steve Bird Winery and Vineyard.

This lovely wine was awarded pure gold at the 2010 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

Steve says Pinot Noir is his baby and requires a lot of effort (the heartbreak variety for New Zealand wine makers).
Steve says he is very pleased with this vintage. The wine is 100 per cent barrel fermented. A lovely elegant style, with ripe fresh fruit.

It will go particularly well with the duck breasts I still have in my freezer too. Enjoy!

Enter a competition to win a bottle of 2009 Big Barrel Pinot Noir here.