One of the first things Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas will tell you at Fisher & Paykel’s luxuriously appointed wine experience space is that wine inherently does not want to survive. “A wine collection is an investment that deserves specialised care — wine is organic, evolving as it ages, and it’s more fragile than you might think. When it comes to looking after wine — trust and integrity are everything.”
Douglas — an advisor to Fisher & Paykel on all things wine — knows what he’s talking about. Since 1969, when the first examination was first held at Vintners Hall, London, just over 280 people have earned the title Master Sommelier. Douglas is one of them — and New Zealand’s only Master Sommelier. He knows vintages and varieties, and he knows that if you cellar wine in the right climate, serve it at the right temperature, and pair it with the right food, you’ll maximise the enjoyment of every glass.
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Something that four lucky Denizens and their plus ones will have the opportunity to experience, indulging in a personalised Mastery of Temperature Wine Experience with food pairing at the solid tōtara and basalt-slab cellar and tasting space at Fisher & Paykel’s exquisite Auckland Experience Centre, led by Douglas himself.
This bespoke space was designed to showcase two things: the way seamlessly integrated Wine Column Cabinets elevate the architectural experience of wine in the home; and the way quality of care — constant, neutral climates, free from light strike and vibration — give your collection the best opportunity to age gracefully and build complexity over time.
As a wine advisor to Fisher & Paykel, Douglas has seen first-hand the brand’s obsession with detail and the way they bring craft and technology together to create the conditions for perfect cellaring and serving. Designed with ActiveSmart™ technology and Variable Temperature Zones, Column Wine Cabinets let you simply choose a mode — cellar, red, white and sparkling. Within each mode, you can further adjust the climate to suit the specifics of a wine.
For a Central Otago pinot noir, you might select at 14°C to reveal complex cherry, black plum and savoury notes. For a powerful Rhône blend or Amarone della Valpolicella, an extra degree or two can result in a better expression of flavour and rounded tannins. Similarly, the ideal serving temperature for champagne will vary depending on the specific wine’s age and type.
Douglas describes quality of care as measured in time, taste and enjoyment. “Ultimately, wine is made to be enjoyed. The care you take when selecting a special vintage or variety, and the commitment to careful cellaring, should culminate in a unique tasting experience. When it’s time to ease out a cork, or crack open a screw cap, the ability to adjust a zone within a cabinet to the optimal serving temperature heightens the quality of the experience. Maximising a bottle’s voice, its story and expressive qualities — and your own enjoyment.”
For those who, like us, take wine seriously, Fisher & Paykel’s wine care appliances are an essential addition to the home. From striking integrated Wine Columns that turn your collection into a beautiful design feature (while providing the best conditions for cellaring every vintage), to the new Under-Bench Wine Cabinets designed to pair perfectly with a full suite of kitchen appliances, Fisher & Paykel’s thoughtful, meticulously designed solutions revolutionise wine care.
