Invivo Wines and Helm Bar Wine Nights Launch

Helm Bar launched its 5 weeks of ‘Wine Nights’ series with an evening of Invivo wines from New Zealand. Against the backdrop of Darling Harbour, Rob Cameron, Invivo winemaker, introduced his range to invited guests who tasted each of the wines paired with canapés from the bar’s kitchen.

Invivo Wine range

Invivo is a New Zealand winery founded six years ago by Rob Cameron and Tim Lightbourne, two school friends who combined their experiences in wine making and marketing after a sojourn in London.  The name, Invivo, takes its cue from the time they had spent working in Europe and it is about enjoying wine and having fun. The label with its star logo brings together wine and fashion with fashion house Zambesi commissioned to for the design which represents diverse wine regions within New Zealand that the wines come from.

Rob Cameron, Invivo Winemaker

Kicking off the evening is Bella, a low calorie Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough with only 9% alcohol. Crisp, fruity and light-bodied without compromising on flavour, Bella is a wine that is very easy to drink chilled on hot summer afternoons.

Invivo Sauvignon Blanc is a full-bodied wine that has won several awards including the ‘World’s Best’ in its category at the 2011 Cathay Pacific IWSC wine competition. This is a textural Sauvignon Blanc with dominant passionfruit and pineapple flavours and a fresh palate. The wine is matched with tempura prawns with soy and wasabi mayonnaise.

Full-bodied Invivo Pinot Gris from Marlborough aims to offer a balance between the sweetness and acidity of the fruit but ends up delivering more sugar on the palate. The wine suits white cheeses, salads and chicken dishes and is paired with Mini Goats Cheese and caramelised onion frittata.

Invivo Rosé which is made using the French saignée method. The fruit is picked at optimal ripeness, the grapes are crushed and soaked with their skins for a few days it is made into wine. This is a dry style rosé with strawberry and toasty characters, a soft mid palate that goes well with spicy food. Arguably the least favourite of the range, Invivo Rosé is matched with Sichuan salt and pepper calamari.

The last wine on taste is the Invivo Pinot Noir from Central Otago, an area known for producing good Pinot Noir due to its its geology and hot and very short summers. Handmade from five different vineyards with no pumping involved, the wine is aged in oak over spring and summer then bottled without any filtration. The wine has strong cherry notes, fruit and soft tannins which give it a long finish. This is a complex and earthy Pinot Noir which is a pleasure to drink now or cellar. Invivo Pinot Noir is perfectly matched with Peking duck pancakes.

Canapés (top L and clockwise):  tempura prawns, goats cheese and caramelised onion frittata, Peking duck pancakes, Sichuan salt and pepper calamari

The event also launched Helm Bar’s $5 Wine Nights Series beginning on February 16^th and running for five weeks. Every Thursday from 6pm, a different Invivo wine will be available for $5 a glass, starting week 1 with Pinot Gris, then Bella, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Invivo Wines
www.invivowines.com

Helm Bar
7 Aquarium Wharf, Wheat Road,
Darling Harbour (near Aquarium)
helmbar.com.au