Alcohol free wine sales rise by 66%
August 1, 2023
Some may say that subtle aromas are exactly what's to be expected in a wine that has had its alcohol removed, but the quality of two such wines is so convincing that they have won awards at one of the world's biggest wine competitions. The judges at the 2023 International Wi...
Highs and lows of harvest 2023 in Marlborough
July 16, 2023
Vintage 2023 is a year to remember for many reasons, not least for New Zealand winemakers. Cyclones in the north and a lack of sun in the south were followed by rain, rain and more rain, which made the year a tricky one, but it is far from being an unmitigated disaster, as t...
Wine of the week... NZ's love affair with Pinot Noir
February 28, 2023
It's no secret that New Zealanders are in love with Pinot Noir, which is probably why 73% of the vineyard area dedicated to red grapes is planted with Pinot Noir. It's not a lot though, if you break it down because this country's total vineyard area is 41,603 hectares of gra...
Wine of the week... 23 January 2023 - Clayvin Pinot Noir
January 23, 2023
When is the best time to drink Pinot Noir - when it's young or when it's old?Like people, wines age in very different ways and there's no reliable barometer, but a five year old Pinot Noir from Marlborough makes a great case for waiting half a decade, especially seeing ...
Wines of the week... three top bubblies
December 14, 2022
It's called the silly season for a reason and here are three faves that stand the test of time. And, yes, all have been retasted this week, purely for verification purposes. Tough job and all that jazz.
18.5/20Hunter's Marlborough MiruMiru NV RRP $29 to $30
B...
Tasting notes... Astrolabe Pinot Gris
December 14, 2022
Two new Pinot Gris from an old Marlborough winery
17.5/202022 Astrolabe Sleepers Vineyard Kekerengu Coast Pinot Gris RRP $25.99
The Sleepers Vineyard at Kekerengu, on the coast south of Blenheim, is a beautiful site and Astrolabe is the only wine producer using grapes from here. Cool coastal breezes add vibrancy a...
Newly disgorged MiruMiru wine of the week
October 25, 2022
It's been a long time between drinks, if you'll excuse the cliché. Tastings have usurped writing time this month so now it's catch up time and the first wine to make it here is the biggest seller for Hunter's Wines in Marlborough - MiruMiru.
The word MiruMiru is Maori for b...
Bull Paddock wine of the week, 31 August 2022
August 31, 2022
It was originally home to bulls and now Bull Paddock Vineyard is full of Sauvignon Blanc grapes at Dillons Point in the lower Wairau Valley, Marlborough. Here's my top pick of a bunch of great whites tasted over the past seven days. Wine of the week19/20
2022 Rapaura Sp...
Friday drinks with Brent Marris of Marisco
August 9, 2022
Brent Marris established The Ned in 2006 in the Waihopai Valley in Marlborough on a site that he purchased and planted in 2004. His impressive career in wine continues the trajectory established by his father, who was one of the first to purchase vineyard land in Marlbo...
Five great whites for Easter
April 14, 2022
Surprising wines from New Zealand's three most popular grapes
Winery founder Rachael Carter of the glamorously named Soho brand featured as our Friday drinks interview last Friday and this week we moved south to North Canterbury over on this blog to meet Cameron Woodhouse, the new chef at Greystone.
In the meantime, with Easter a...
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