Hermit Ram Ground Bar Takeover
Get to know the characterful Hermit Ram range with Theo Coles at Ground Wine Bar
Drop in at Ground Wine Bar on the evening of 9th June, where they've opened up JUST for us! Theo Coles of Hermit Ram will be pouring a stellar lineup of their characterful, site-driven wines. Expect drops with personality, texture, and a strong sense of place.
Hosted by winemaker, Theo Coles and supported by our own Ethan Dawes, it's going to be a fascinating exploration in an unmatched atmosphere.
About Hermit Ram
“It all began in 2002 when I stumbled across an etching of a large gnarly looking ram standing in a field during my travels. He was defiant, a little sauvage, had an old world charm and was very New Zealand. I bought him, had him framed and hung him up in my lounge…”
10 years after finding his gnarly ram etching, winemaker Theo Coles met Gareth Renowden, the owner of the Limestone Hills vineyard in the Waipara Gorge. Gareth’s vineyard ticked all the boxes of what Theo looked for in an interesting site, being close planted, naturally farmed and small.
"I made the first vintage of Pinot Noir in 2012, all naturally, no additions and matured in neutral oak hogsheads. As the wine progressed through maturation it got better and better, and revealed its true vineyard character to me. It had an exciting mix of savoury fruit aromatics and salivating salty acidity. I had to bottle it.
I was sitting on my couch contemplating how I’d present the wine in bottle and I looked up. There staring me in the face was the framed etching of the Ram. It all made sense."
So ‘The Hermit Ram’ came into being. He summed up the ethos of working with tiny sites and ancient techniques applied to New Zealand flavours, that Theo really wanted to pursue.
Today, the range of wines has expanded. In general the fruit comes from tiny vineyards throughout the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Every wine has it’s own story to tell. The vines are naturally farmed and the wines made with the minimal amount of additions. Old techniques are employed. They are wines of depth, complexity, individuality and most importantly drinkability.”
Hermit Ram Masterclass
Get to know the characterful Hermit Ram range with Theo Coles at Gilt
Hermit Ram will be taking us and our guests through a curated lineup of their characterful, site-driven wines. Expect wines with personality, texture, and a strong sense of place.
Hosted by winemaker, Theo Coles and supported by our own Ethan Dawes, it's going to be a fascinating exploration.
About Hermit Ram
“It all began in 2002 when I stumbled across an etching of a large gnarly looking ram standing in a field during my travels. He was defiant, a little sauvage, had an old world charm and was very New Zealand. I bought him, had him framed and hung him up in my lounge…”
10 years after finding his gnarly ram etching, winemaker Theo Coles met Gareth Renowden, the owner of the Limestone Hills vineyard in the Waipara Gorge. Gareth’s vineyard ticked all the boxes of what Theo looked for in an interesting site, being close planted, naturally farmed and small.
"I made the first vintage of Pinot Noir in 2012, all naturally, no additions and matured in neutral oak hogsheads. As the wine progressed through maturation it got better and better, and revealed its true vineyard character to me. It had an exciting mix of savoury fruit aromatics and salivating salty acidity. I had to bottle it.
I was sitting on my couch contemplating how I’d present the wine in bottle and I looked up. There staring me in the face was the framed etching of the Ram. It all made sense."
So ‘The Hermit Ram’ came into being. He summed up the ethos of working with tiny sites and ancient techniques applied to New Zealand flavours, that Theo really wanted to pursue.
Today, the range of wines has expanded. In general the fruit comes from tiny vineyards throughout the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Every wine has it’s own story to tell. The vines are naturally farmed and the wines made with the minimal amount of additions. Old techniques are employed. They are wines of depth, complexity, individuality and most importantly drinkability.”
Hermit Ram x The Gatherings – Puffin Takeover
Puffin Wine Bar hands the keys over for one night only to two of the most exciting names in wine and food.
Hermit Ram will be taking over the bar, pouring a curated lineup of their characterful, site-driven wines including current releases, a new launch, and a few special bottles pulled from the cellar. Expect wines with personality, texture, and a strong sense of place.
In the kitchen, The Gatherings will be serving thoughtful, seasonal food designed to pair seamlessly with the wines. Simple, generous plates, bold flavours, and the kind of cooking that’s made to be shared over a glass (or three).
No formalities, no fuss, just great wine, great food, and a buzzing Puffin atmosphere. Come early, stay late, and settle in for a night that celebrates collaboration, craft, and good times.
About Hermit Ram
“It all began in 2002 when I stumbled across an etching of a large gnarly looking ram standing in a field during my travels. He was defiant, a little sauvage, had an old world charm and was very New Zealand. I bought him, had him framed and hung him up in my lounge…”
10 years after finding his gnarly ram etching, winemaker Theo Coles met Gareth Renowden, the owner of the Limestone Hills vineyard in the Waipara Gorge. Gareth’s vineyard ticked all the boxes of what Theo looked for in an interesting site, being close planted, naturally farmed and small.
"I made the first vintage of Pinot Noir in 2012, all naturally, no additions and matured in neutral oak hogsheads. As the wine progressed through maturation it got better and better, and revealed its true vineyard character to me. It had an exciting mix of savoury fruit aromatics and salivating salty acidity. I had to bottle it.
I was sitting on my couch contemplating how I’d present the wine in bottle and I looked up. There staring me in the face was the framed etching of the Ram. It all made sense."
So ‘The Hermit Ram’ came into being. He summed up the ethos of working with tiny sites and ancient techniques applied to New Zealand flavours, that Theo really wanted to pursue.
Today, the range of wines has expanded. In general the fruit comes from tiny vineyards throughout the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Every wine has it’s own story to tell. The vines are naturally farmed and the wines made with the minimal amount of additions. Old techniques are employed. They are wines of depth, complexity, individuality and most importantly drinkability.”
About The Gatherings
Led by Chef Alex Davies, The Gatherings translates place onto the plate.
The restaurant’s philosophy centres on respect — for the growers, producers, hunters, and fishers who shape the ingredients, and for the shared act of dining itself.
Guided by the seasons, the menu reflects Aotearoa through a focus on organic vegetables, wild meats, and sustainably sourced New Zealand kaimoana.
About Puffin Wine Bar
Locally owned and operated in Wellington, Puffin is a wine bar with a focus on organic and minimal intervention wines. And some food. Small plates, charcuterie, cheese. All the salty, tasty, umami, acid driven deliciousness you could want.
"It’s important to be open-minded here and in life generally - Our aim is everyone’s enjoyment, all the time."
Gallery: De La Terre Masterclasses with Tony Prichard
Gallery: De La Terre Masterclasses with Tony Prichard
Auckland Masterclass Tasting - 9 September 2025
Wellington Masterclass Tasting - 16 September 2025
Gallery: Team Tastings & Get Together
Twice a year, we try to get the whole team together. Not just to talk business (though there’s obviously a lot of that,) but to keep our skills sharp and our morale up! Particularly important once a few months of winter have seeped into our bones…
Dhall & Nash’s ‘hub’ with the most staff is in Auckland, but with reps all around the country it can be really good to touch base in person every now and then.
This time, for the educational part of our get-together, Brandon decided to stoke the fires of friendly competition with a blind tasting contest! Not just fun, but a great way for everyone to slow down, get thoughtful about the wines and nuances, and collaborate.
We thought it would be very interesting to let you know what our teams tasted and thought. If they thought something was a wine that you know you like, but it turned out to be different, then you might just have a new favourite to try…
So here’s how it went…
Brandon selected 8 current wines from our portfolio and had them secretly shipped to the office. (It was so secret we had some worries the morning of that perhaps they had never arrived!) He decanted them all shortly before the tasting into different shaped bottles (to make sure nothing could give it away,) and put each bottle into a brown paper bag.
He split the tasting teams up into three, and gave them each a sheet where they would record their answers, with columns for;
- Grape Variety (worth 3 points),
- Country (2 points),
- Region (2 points),
- Producer (2 points)
- Vintage (1 point)
…for a total of 10 possible points per wine.
Each team had 3 minutes to sniff, swirl, taste and discuss the wines with their teammates before presenting their thoughts.
The Teams
In Corner 1, we’ve got Team Margaux – Puneet & Alienor – the born-and-bred Bordeaux broad and the Bordeaux-expert bossman himself.
In Corner 2, the Power Palates – Sonja, Matt & Ethan – a formidable team with 2 expert sales guys who taste the portfolio frequently AND an ex-sommelier, phew!
And in Corner 3, we have Team OBO, short for Old, Blonde, Older: Nigel (Old,) Stephanie (Blonde,) and Jean-Jacques (Older,) – sales team extraordinaires drawing on both passion and experience (lots, according to them)!
The Wines
- Billecart-Salmon 2013 Vintage (Champagne, France)
- Sartori di Verona 2023 ‘Marani’ Bianco Veronese Garganega (Veneto, Italy)
- Alain Gras 2019 Saint-Romain (Burgundy, France)
- Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2018 ‘Karia’ Chardonnay (California, USA)
- Hawkshead 2022 Reserve Pinot Noir (Central Otago, New Zealand)
- Quinta do Crasto 2021 Crasto Superior Douro DOC (Duoro Valley, Portugal)
- Frank Cornelissen 2019 Munjebel Rosso (Sicily, Italy)
- Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rutherglen Classic Tawny Port (Victoria, Australia)
The Results
| The Wine | Team Margaux thought… | Power Palates thought… | Team OBO thought… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billecart-Salmon 2013 Vintage (Champagne, France) | André Clouet Grandé Réserve Blanc de Noirs NV (Champagne, France) | André Clouet Grandé Réserve Blanc de Noirs NV (Champagne, France) | Digby Fine English Brut NV (Sussex, UK) |
| Sartori di Verona ‘Marani’ Bianco Veronese Garganega 2023 (Veneto, Italy) | Sartori di Verona ‘Marani’ Bianco Veronese Garganega 2022 (Italy) | Sartori di Verona ‘Marani’ Bianco Veronese Garganega 2021 (Italy) | Domaine Mure Pinot Blanc 2023 (Alsace, France) |
| Alain Gras Saint-Romain 2019 (Burgundy, France) | Bogle Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2023 (California, USA) | De la Terre Barrique Ferment Chardonnay 2023 (Hawke’s Bay, NZ) | Paul Jaboulet Aîné VDF Viognier 2023 (Rhône Valley, France) |
| Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Karia’ Chardonnay 2018 (California, USA) | Bogle Family Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay 2022 (California, USA) | Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2022 (California, USA) | Vincent et Tania Câreme ‘Terre Brulee’ Chenin Blanc 2021 (Swartland, South Africa) |
| Hawkshead Reserve Pinot Noir 2022 (Central Otago, NZ) | Grasshopper Rock Pinot Noir 2022 (Central Otago, NZ) | Folium Pinot Noir 2020 (Marlborough, NZ) | Grasshopper Rock Pinot Noir 2022 (Central Otago, NZ) |
| Quinta do Crasto Crasto Superior Douro DOC 2021 (Douro Valley, Portugal)I | Paisley Wines Turntable Barossa GSM 2022 (Australia) | Knappstein Clare Valley Shiraz 2022 (Australia) | Knappstein Clare Valley Shiraz 2022 (Australia) |
| Frank Cornelissen Munjebel Rosso 2019 (Sicily, Italy) | Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (Tuscany, Italy) | Frank Cornelissen Munjebel Rosso Nerello 2021 (Mascalese, Sicily) | Marchesi di Barolo Nebbiolo 2021 (Barolo, Italy) |
| Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rutherglen Classic Tawny Port (Victoria, Australia) | Fernando de Castilla Pedro Ximenez Sherry NV (Jerez, Spain) | Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rutherglen Classic Tawny Port Touriga Nacional (Australia) | Fernando de Castilla Pedro Ximenez Sherry NV (Jerez, Spain) |
| Total points: 37/80 | Total points: 50/80 | Total points: 16/80 |
Team Blind Tasting - 18 August 2025
Gallery: Folium Vineyard Tastings with Takaki Okada
Gallery: Folium Vineyard Tastings with Takaki Okada
Auckland Masterclass Tasting (and Soirée Evening) - 12 August 2025
Tauranga Club's 'Meet the Maker': 144 Islands
Join us at the Tauranga Club for our ‘Meet the Maker’ series, featuring owner/winemaker Jake Dromgool from the esteemed 144 Islands, a boutique Bay of Islands winery producing wines with unique regional character.
For our members this price is $35 which also includes a small individual cheese plate.
- Date: Wednesday, 20 August, 2025
- Time: 6:30pm
- Location: The Tauranga Club
- Cost: $35 per person (members)
Carnival of Taste with 144 Islands
Join our own Stephanie alongside Jake from 144 Islands this November at Tauranga's Carnival of Taste, an evening of tantalizing tastings, live music, and cocktail classes. A trade show like no other! Indulge in fine wines, handcrafted cocktails, and craft beers.
The fantastic Jake Dromgool from Northland's 144 Islands will be teaming up with our Central North Island rep and all-round legend, Stephanie to serve up some goodies and soak up that Tauranga golden hour with you all. Don't miss it!
- Date: Saturday, 9th November 2024
- Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
- Location: The Cargo Shed, Tauranga
- Cost: $75 per person
Sip 'n' Savour - A Bogle Wine Dinner 15 Storeys Up
Join Harbour Society, Farro & Dhall & Nash for a journey to the sunny valleys of California, 15 floors above Auckland City with a wine dinner like no other at SO/ Auckland.
Enjoy a three-course dinner while you sip, swirl and savour handpicked wines by the Californian wine sensation - Bogle Family Vineyards. Jody Bogle - the sixth generation of the family working their land - will be joining via a live video feed to chat and answer any questions you may have about their wine, their history and their vineyards.
Bogle is a tried-and-true favourite in New Zealand, opening the eyes of many a kiwi to the delights of bold Caifornian Chardonnay, but this producer has more arrows in its quiver than just this liquid gold. Come along and try more from their impressive range (as well as their famous chardonnay!)
A table with sweeping views of Auckland city, fragrant food and delicious wine will set the scene among good company (and maybe even a few prizes).
- Date: Thursday, 21st November 2024
- Time: 6:00pm (doors open 5:30pm)
- Location: Harbour Society at SO/ Auckland
- Cost: $99.00 per person
Winery in the Sky - An Italian Wine Dinner 15 Storeys Up
Join Harbour Society and Dhall & Nash for a journey to Italy, 15 floors above Auckland City with a wine dinner like no other at SO/ Auckland.
Enjoy a two-course family-style sharing dinner while you sip, swirl and savour handpicked Italian wines by Mont’Albano. The plates will be a melody of woodfired food, straight from Harbour Society’s signature oven and will include meat and seasonal veggies.
Three wines from Mont’Albano will be the stars of the show, showcasing incredible varietals and styles to suit all palates. Mont’Albano was founded in 1985 in the heart of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, with wines from Verona, Abruzzo and Sicily. They are dedicated to creating niche wines that happen to be organic.
A table with sweeping views of Auckland city, fragrant food and delicious wine will set the scene among good company.
- Date: Thursday, 31 October 2024
- Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
- Location: Harbour Society at SO/ Auckland
- Cost: $89.10 per person