Features

As last year, I’m at Kumeu River in late July, to taste the new release Estate and single Vineyard Chardonnays as part of their CRU initiative for keen supporters to …

Kumeu River 2020 Chardonnay releases Read More

On 17th June, I attended a presentation at Glengarry in Auckland – the subject being the Calvert Vineyard, where owner Owen Calvert was joined by Sarah Burton, who makes the …

Calvert Vineyard, Bannockburn Read More

I’d promised to return to Northland after a couple of sensational visits, to Marsden Estate and then The Landing last year. This time, I’ve been asked to sit down and …

A ‘Regional Tasting of Northland’ at Marsden Estate Read More

A welcome invitation, to an unconventional place. I had to smile when one co-attendee asked – ‘do you buy much Trinity Hill?’ It’s along the lines of another question you’ll …

An evening with Trinity Hill (and cars) Read More

Late afternoon, I drive down to the end of Dakins Road in Gladstone and spend an hour at the Cellar Door of Johner Estate. This was a place suggested to …

Johner Estate, Wairarapa Read More

In April 2020 I was booked on flights to Christchurch and plans to visit the North Canterbury region of Waipara on one of my “Field Trips”, before COVID-19 sent the …

Pegasus Bay, North Canterbury Read More

Soljans Estate Winery is one of those amazing local wineries that everyone you know has been to. And everyone’s got something good to say about it. Family-run, fifth generation – …

Soljans Estate Winery, Kumeu Read More

This is my second visit to Wet Jacket – a fairly new place that’s breathed life into the historic Bendemeer Woolshed on the main road out of Queenstown, and which …

Wet Jacket Wines, Central Otago Read More

Although I attended two of the Man O’ War ‘Kulta’ Tasting evenings in the last year – the Syrah ‘Totto’ was the one that I missed, being away in the …

Man O’ War Kulta Syrah Masterclass Read More