Wellington is where it’s at if you are a craft beer fanatic, but it’s not a bad place to be this Thursday 23 March, if you’re into wine too, because we are tasting a big ripple of the new wave of Kiwi vino.

The “we” in question is the Regional Wines & Spirits team, which I am working on the tasting programme for.

This tasting is our first warehouse wine tasting and promises to be relaxed, informal and informative; all in the best ways possible.

Wines we will look at – with our eyes and mouths are:

2015 Aronui Albarino from Nelson

2015 Tono Albarino from Hawke’s Bay

2015 Libiamo White Field Blend from Gisborne

2016 Te Whare Ra Toru from Marlborough

2012 Villa Maria Verdelho

2012 Colere Pinot Blanc from Marlborough

2014 Astrolabe Chenin Blanc from Marlborough

2013 Esk Valley Chenin Blanc from Hawke’s Bay

And… the brand spanking new…

2016 Maxim Chenin Blanc from Hawke’s Bay

The two reds are…

2013 Redbarrel Syrah from Hawke’s Bay

2013 Elephant Hill Airavata Syrah from Hawke’s Bay

This is a fantastic line up and the Chenin Blancs taste particularly exciting – nervy, edgy, funky whites have never been so good from this forgotten white grape, which has sadly declined in number over the past decade in New Zealand from about 50 hectares to less than half that today. But the good news is: the Chenin Blanc that is around is the best it’s ever been in quality terms…

So, come along and check out these outstanding wines from a wide range of this country’s top winemakers.

Book to come to the warehouse tasting here… https://regionalwines.co.nz/events?event_id=127