Sunscreen products from Bondi Sands, delicious Sideways Wines, Raglan Candles and the most delicious Flatto™ peaches have made this an interesting and exciting two weeks of sampling products.
Sideways Wines by Rex Pickett
Neighbouring colleagues are always delighted to get an invitation to sample any wines we receive. It’s all very sophisticated – wine glasses and snacks and a discussion about the different wines and we listen to everyone’s feedback.
No one had heard of Rex Pickett’s wine, Sideways. Very briefly, Rex is a two-time Oscar winner and the author of the novel Sideways – which went on to become a cult wine movie of the same title. Inspired by his travels across New Zealand, Rex has hand-picked each of the wines for their taste and quality.
The Sideways New Zealand range includes six sensational wines:
- Sideways Central Otago Pinot Gris 2019
- Sideways Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021
- Sideways Central Otago Rosé 2021
- Sideways Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
- Sideways Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2020
- Sideways Reserve Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2020
Our guests enjoyed the Chardonnay and Rosé wines – here’s some of the feedback:
“The Rosé is fairly dry but the fruity flavours are appealing.”
“The Rosé is fairly crisp and dry overall but the slightly fruity flavour does give it a smooth and delicious flavour.”
“The Chardonnay has quite a fruity aroma but it’s a lot drier than the Rosé.”
“I love a Chardonnay and was pleasantly surprised with this. I would definitely buy it for my personal use.”
Not unexpectedly, with the majority of our guests being women, the Rosé was the favourite with the ladies.
The wine experts describe the Rosé as having an aroma of wild strawberries and ripe raspberries and flavours reminiscent of juicy watermelon, strawberries and raspberries with a long creamy finish. It pairs beautifully with seafood, light salads, light pasta dishes.
The Sideways Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 has flavours of ripe melon, nectarine and peach with hints of oak and spice. This pairs well with a creamy chicken and pasta dish or slow-roasted pork.
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just someone who enjoys the odd glass of wine over the weekend, Sideways wines are ideal for any summer celebration, whether it’s gathering around the table with family for a formal feast, getting together with friends for a casual BBQ, or simply kicking back and enjoying a quiet evening at home after a busy work week
Sideways wines are available from Blackmarket.co.nz.
Flatto™ Heirloom Peaches – grown and packed by Clyde Orchards
ou’ve probably seen those unusually flattened five-piece packs of peaches at the supermarket. The first pick of the season are the Flatto™ Whites which have white flesh and are the first pick of the season. The Gold yellow flesh Flatto’s™ are picked a few weeks later and are relatively new to the market.
Because of their unusual shape, Flatto’s™ are perfect for children’s lunchboxes and offer a larger flesh to stone ratio. The stone is quite small and the flesh comes away from it easily. They have little to no fuzz and are gorgeously sweet with very low fruit acidity and can be enjoyed quite firm or left to ripen.
Dee: “I love the juicy sweetness of these scrumptious peaches. Definitely a favourite of mine!”
Both varieties can also be used in recipes such as in a peach salsa, added to salads or added as a topping to chia puddings. Even a slice in an ice cold glass of prosecco or sparkling water is delicious.
Try this delicious Flatto™ Peach, Tomato and Feta Salad
Distributed by the YUMMY™ Fruit Company and available nationwide over February and March.
Raglan Candles
Dee: “If you’re looking for a sugar fix without the calories then try Raglan Candles soy wax candle called TOFFEE – Caramel + Coffee + Vanilla! Honestly, if I owned a dessert business I would burn this candle 24/7 – everyone would be double ordering!”
We were also sent ROAD TRIP to Raglan which has a gorgeous fresh, citrusy aroma and comes in a small jar and would make a really great souvenir or gift. This candle is part of Raglan Candles new ‘travel’ edition which has double thick glass and an easy lid – perfect if you want to take your candle on holiday with you.
Vanessa, the founder and creator of Raglan Candles is originally from Peru, South America. One night whilst enjoying a candlelit dinner with her husband, Vanessa noticed that the candle was made from Paraffin wax – a petroleum by-product which releases toxins as it burns – and realised that creating beautiful candles in a sustainable, healthy and eco-friendly way would make for a great business.
After months of testing, studying and learning, Vanessa launched Raglan Candles in 2020 and they can now be found in florists, boutiques, online gift shops, country wide. They are also available on the Raglan Candles website.
The hand poured soy wax candles are available in tins, jars, and as tea lights. Raglan Candles also manufactures decorative candles, room sprays and offer accessories such as wick trimmers and macramé placemats too. The candles have non-toxic fragrances with natural cotton lead-free wicks.
Bondi Sands Fragrance Free collection
Sunny days may have been few and far between this summer but it’s still important to protect your skin. Bondi Sands are best known for their self-tanning products but also produce an amazing range of sunscreen products.
Two of their products include the tinted Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Face Lotion and the Daily Moisturising Face SPF 50+ sunscreen fluid. Both combine broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection with instant skin hydration.
The SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Face Fluid is an ultra-lightweight fluid and provides up to 72 hours of hydration, perfect for under makeup or alone for daily protection. The Tinted Face Lotion provides sheet coverage for dry skin and is suitable for sensitive skin. Both products are dermatologically tested and suitable for sensitive skins.
The Tinted Face Lotion provides up to 72hrs of hydration, is formulated non-greasy and contains a universal tint for sheer coverage, perfect for wear under makeup or alone for daily protection.
Shake well before applying liberally to your face and décolletage 15-20 minutes before exposure to the sun. If you’re not wearing makeup, reapply every 2 hours or more frequently when sweating, and after swimming, exercise or towel drying.
Available from all good department stores and pharmacies or online.
