David Walker Bell
I’ve been known to be called a ‘teller of stories’ – hopefully in a good way… I’ve worked in publishing my whole career – in the UK I penned restaurant reviews (sometimes fondly regarded as the ‘best job in journalism’); and since moving to New Zealand in 2003, my day job is tourism publishing.
Having been reminded by friends and family that as my passion is New Zealand wine, and that I should be devoting more time to writing about, and promoting the amazing wines and wineries we have to offer here… I am.
Not just what is in the bottle, but the stories behind those wines, and the sensational experience that can be had through visiting the vineyards and cellar doors… more often that not, in some of New Zealand’s most gorgeous locations.
In the last couple of years, I’ve tasted many of what I would regard as New Zealand’s GREAT wines. I’m slowly working my way around every Cellar Door in the country, and I was an Associate Judge at the 2021 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards. I was also recently, part of a team that came last in an ‘Options’ competition! haha.
WineFolio is intended to grow into being the best online resource for New Zealand wine. I start with the place, the vineyard, the people. So there will be features, interviews, maps, tips and info for any trip you could want to make out to the places where our wines come from.
Then I’ll be doing tastings, reviews and news – so you’re getting the lowdown on the wines in your glass as well. Our regular ‘Top 10 Tastings’ are an independent view on separate varietals and will feature the very best of New Zealand wines – often tasting wines that don’t get entered into any other show or tastings. The Top Tasting of Syrah was “a landmark tasting” according to one reader.