SUBSCRIBER
Enthusiasm offers hope
It seems that everywhere I turn recently, news about the wine industry is full of doom and gloom.
Mark Henderson
SUBSCRIBER
A bit of a mishmash, but all have great flavour, merit
SUBSCRIBER
A bit of a mishmash, but all have great flavour, merit
As many readers know I regularly have reviews for wines that through no fault of their own, I just quite simply run out of room for when I first taste them.
SUBSCRIBER
The appeal of Pinots from less appreciated parts
SUBSCRIBER
The appeal of Pinots from less appreciated parts
I have been tasting quite a lot of Central Otago Pinot Noir recently, so it was nice with this flight of wines to point the proverbial bonnet northwards and explore North Canterbury and Marlborough...
SUBSCRIBER
A selection of Pinot Gris smashes it out of the park
SUBSCRIBER
A selection of Pinot Gris smashes it out of the park
I really don’t know what was in the water on the particular Monday that I tasted a raft of these Pinot Gris but it seemed like every wine was on song.
SUBSCRIBER
Central Otago forges organic farming path
SUBSCRIBER
Central Otago forges organic farming path
Back in 2009 Central Otago Winegrowers Association (COWA) set the goal of having 20% of the Central Otago vineyard area farmed organically by 2020, a goal they surpassed when they hit 23%.
SUBSCRIBER
Rising to the challenge when tasting Riesling
SUBSCRIBER
Rising to the challenge when tasting Riesling
Riesling tastings can be a challenge.
SUBSCRIBER
All things NZ pinot noir, Central Otago wine celebrated
SUBSCRIBER
All things NZ pinot noir, Central Otago wine celebrated
As you read this, a couple of significant events involving New Zealand pinot noir will now be in the rear-vision mirror.
SUBSCRIBER
Flavour-filled sav blancs with a golden touch
SUBSCRIBER
Flavour-filled sav blancs with a golden touch
Among the lineup of sav blancs today are a striking trio from Rapaura Springs sporting their brand new gold livery.
SUBSCRIBER
Refreshing whites ticking the box
SUBSCRIBER
Refreshing whites ticking the box
On a recent family holiday road trip I found myself drinking either white wine or beer: the reds just didn’t get a look in.
SUBSCRIBER
Channelling that summer vibe
SUBSCRIBER
Channelling that summer vibe
Even before I sat down to sample this selection with my tasting colleague Mr Collins, the aromas as I uncapped the bottles had me salivating and channelling a summer vibe.
SUBSCRIBER
Pinots from Central for some summer sipping
SUBSCRIBER
Pinots from Central for some summer sipping
Many of you will be reading this far from home; baching, visiting family, camping or on a road trip.
SUBSCRIBER
Wine tasting will top a holiday
SUBSCRIBER
Wine tasting will top a holiday
January is that time of year when a holiday break is on the agenda.
SUBSCRIBER
Finding the fizz for a fabulous festive season
SUBSCRIBER
Finding the fizz for a fabulous festive season
Bubbles are great at any time of the year of course, but there’s no doubt that the festive season ups the ante on this wine style!
SUBSCRIBER
Cask wines gaining fans through quality, affordability
SUBSCRIBER
Cask wines gaining fans through quality, affordability
Cask wines are making a comeback: in reality they never really went away.
SUBSCRIBER
Patience richly rewarded
SUBSCRIBER
Patience richly rewarded
A passion for Riesling shone in this lineup, through the lens of three Central producers and one from Waipara.
SUBSCRIBER
Pizazz of shiraz suits sizzle
SUBSCRIBER
Pizazz of shiraz suits sizzle
Summer! The barbecue comes out of hibernation and while warmer days trend towards white wines, there is a wonderful synergy between food fresh off the barbecue and Australian shiraz.
SUBSCRIBER
Showcasing the diversity of Waitaki Valley wines
SUBSCRIBER
Showcasing the diversity of Waitaki Valley wines
I think this happens to me every year: one minute it’s early spring, the next Christmas feels like it’s knocking on the door.
SUBSCRIBER
Pinot gris busy making its mark
SUBSCRIBER
Pinot gris busy making its mark
Tasting through this selection of pinot gris, I found myself thinking back to the early 2000s when I was involved with a wine business that worked with local restaurants on their wine lists.
SUBSCRIBER
Contest tests mettle
SUBSCRIBER
Contest tests mettle
In early October, 14 local (one even drove from Bannockburn for the event) wine enthusiasts gathered at the home of last year’s winner, David Tasker, for the annual, hotly contested, Blind Chicken wine options contest.
SUBSCRIBER
Wine awards inspire a bit of thinking pink
SUBSCRIBER
Wine awards inspire a bit of thinking pink
The 22nd annual New World Wine Awards competition took place in Hawke’s Bay at the beginning of August.