The House of Castarède, founded in 1832, is the oldest of all Armagnac trading houses.
Its prestige is based on its exceptional collection of vintage Armagnacs, which contains more than forty authenticated vintages - the oldest dating back from 1881 - crafted from the best products of the Bas Armagnac region and matured in cellars more than a hundred years old.
Today, Florence Castarède is responsible for this family heritage, combining ancient know-how acquired over six generations with new policy initiatives.
Traditional VSOP Armagnac has to be at least 5 years old, however, the Castarède VSOP is a blend of at least 10 years. The resulting Armagnac has an amber topaz colour with touches of bronze. The nose is mellow with aromas of walnut, warm spices, cocoa and prune. The palate is unctuous and warm and echoes the nose.
Whitehaven wines was formed in 1993 by Greg and Sue White, and winemaker, Simon Waghorn. Their aim was to establish a winery in Marlborough producing premium quality varietal wines. To achieve this they have brought together a leading New Zealand winemaker, a dedicated group of growers, and a small modern winery facility where top quality fruit can receive the 'hands-on' treatment that i
