{"id":15460,"date":"2026-08-27T06:12:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T18:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460"},"modified":"2026-08-27T06:19:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T18:19:32","slug":"trr-taste-the-top-wineries-a-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460","title":{"rendered":"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries &#8211; a review"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"15460\" class=\"elementor elementor-15460\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-20e9c1a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"20e9c1a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b662cf1\" data-id=\"b662cf1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3831164 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3831164\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At the tasting session for The Real Review last week &#8211; in true WineFolio fashion, I failed to even make it to everyone to say Hello (which I do apologise for). I\u2019ve been a bit under the weather for a week or two, and on a warm Winter\u2019s afternoon, I just wilted in the heat of The Glasshouse venue.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>I do manage to do one of my now-preferred options when faced with a field of tasting stations, and it is something I\u2019d definitely recommend &#8211; spend time just doing a handful of the producers offerings really well. Go through the entire range of what\u2019s on offer and ask questions. Trying to get a real understanding of a couple of the labels, rather than flying past everyone and it is \u201cHi\u2026Bye.\u201d I get more out of the afternoon than if I\u2019d tried to look at everything.<\/p><p>This is, therefore, a very specific review of what was a pretty comprehensive array of labels. Some highlights of course &#8211; but you\u2019d have to say that the standard was very high. As I would expect for something labelled \u201cThe Top Wineries of New Zealand.\u201d Even though there is some gloom around the wine industry of late &#8211; with news that half of Gisborne\u2019s vines are now being pulled out &#8211; you\u2019d have to say that a snapshot of winemakers such as are here today, leaves an impression that if we can focus on quality (the like of which was in the glass) then things aren\u2019t all bad.<\/p><p>There\u2019s a wide range of vino in the show. Of the 23 labels, there are three very high quality sparkling specialist producers &#8211; Esses, No.1 and Vilaura -which I think reflects \u00a0sparkling wine winning more of the top awards at shows. Bigger labels rub shoulders with definitely boutique-sized ones. Some are here to show their new release, a crowd favourite, or icon wines; and some to bring along something brand new (or left field).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8fa2c83 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8fa2c83\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-342d143\" data-id=\"342d143\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c05673 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1c05673\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Huia-bottles-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-15467\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Huia-bottles-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Huia-bottles-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Huia-bottles.jpg 950w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-84ec10d\" data-id=\"84ec10d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83c27b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"83c27b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_vert_26-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-15464\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_vert_26-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_vert_26-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_vert_26.jpg 950w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bfeffbd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bfeffbd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ab3d4ae\" data-id=\"ab3d4ae\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cadfffa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cadfffa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As I said, I can\u2019t offer a comprehensive rundown on all the wines, but here are my thoughts on the handful of labels whose wines I did a deep dive into:<\/p><p><b>Huia<\/b> had a new version of their \u2018Tangle\u2019 white blend. It is a wine that seems to have a different set of components every time I try it, and today is no exception. The 2024 version is a twist on a \u2018PGR\u2019 blend &#8211; using Pinot Gris, Viognier and Riesling rather than the Gew\u00fcrztraminer. A wine that manages to seem both simple and complex at the same time. The 2025 blend is more confusing &#8211; but delicious. I guess at Gr\u00fcner Veltliner in the mix, but it is the Pinot Noir inclusion in this white wine that really stumped me when owner Tom Hegler poured me a glass. A lovely balance between fresh fruitiness, structure and texture.<\/p><p>Round at <b>Bell Hill<\/b>, Sherwyn had a new range of wines to show from the 2023 vintage &#8211; labelled \u2018Beyond by Bell Hill\u2019. She explained that the idea was to begin sourcing organically grown fruit from outside their home estate\u2014specifically regions like Marlborough and Central Otago\u2014to create new wines that expand their portfolio past their 3.2-hectare property in the Weka Pass. 2023 was a tricky vintage in North Canterbury and taking grapes from elsewhere offers wine lovers a more accessible extension of the \u2018Bell Hill philosophy\u2019.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>I particularly liked the Bendigo Pinot Noir and Clayvin Chardonnay. I see the Bell Hill signature, but it was really interesting to see a very different fruit profile inside the glass. The Chardonnay with more weight and density; and the tannin grip of the Pinot being quite notably different from what I know\/expect from something out of a Bell Hill bottle.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-214b24a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"214b24a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6bebe58\" data-id=\"6bebe58\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed7c788 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ed7c788\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bell-Hill-Beyond-bottles-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-15465\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bell-Hill-Beyond-bottles-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bell-Hill-Beyond-bottles-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bell-Hill-Beyond-bottles.jpg 950w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d9dda2\" data-id=\"6d9dda2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08444ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"08444ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Wild-Irishman-TLW-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-15463\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Wild-Irishman-TLW-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Wild-Irishman-TLW-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Wild-Irishman-TLW.jpg 950w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6612d69 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6612d69\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-73b2c6a\" data-id=\"73b2c6a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b17eb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6b17eb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Alan Brady was flitting around his stall, where winemaker Brian Shaw was showing the latest <b>Wild Irishman<\/b> offerings and telling us about the new winery home in Alexandra. They are another label that shows the sub-regional story that is the key message as Central Otago grows up. Gibbston &#8211; obviously, given Alan Brady\u2019s story &#8211; provides three, and are joined by a couple from Alexandra, and now a Doctors Flat Vineyard Pinot from Bannockburn. A new wine to me was \u2018The Light Within\u2019 Pinot Noir 2024 from Gibbston. Young and slightly chaotic &#8211; needing time to resolve and knit together, but this had plenty of promise, and should develop to rival the \u2018Macushla Pinot Noir\u2019 from their range that has usually been my favourite.<\/p><p>Simon and Lauren from <b>A Thousand Gods<\/b> have what is probably my favourite white wine of the afternoon &#8211; using organic fruit from the excellent Churton vineyard to make their \u2018Blanc\u2019. The grape varietal is muted &#8211; the intention to produce a textural white wine trumps any varietal nuances. Aromatic and zesty with the skin-ferment winemaking offering plenty of texture as well. Fruit tannin offers a prickle across the tongue \u2013 it is a not a wine that lacks personality.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1e34392 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1e34392\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-66aecba\" data-id=\"66aecba\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a56f05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a56f05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Next to them were <b>Tantalus<\/b> and I hadn\u2019t bumped into Alex Perez since I was over doing an interview and trip around the winery back in 2022. Their top tier Reserve wines &#8211; Cachette Chardonnay, \u00c9cluse and \u00c9voque red blends and the Voil\u00e9 Syrah are all excellent examples of their style, balancing power and unctuousness with well-articulated structure. They should be drinking well for a decade or more &#8211; even the Chardonnay. On a side note, I\u2019m not surprised that the restaurant got one star in the new Michelin ratings &#8211; I\u2019ll be back in the summer.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2de2bad\" data-id=\"2de2bad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c90a24c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c90a24c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Cachette-24-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-15462\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Cachette-24-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Cachette-24-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Cachette-24.jpg 950w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-22d0852 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"22d0852\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d9dbbc6\" data-id=\"d9dbbc6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4370649 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4370649\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I was delighted to see young gun Anika Willner, the winemaker at <b>Coal Pit<\/b>, was at the event, so that I could pass on my congratulations at her promotion to General Manager of the Estate. Coal Pit are a fully organic, single-site estate in Gibbston and whilst the focus is on some delightful Pinot Noir (the standard seems to rise every year), they also make a Sauvignon Blanc and Ros\u00e9 &#8211; both of which are quite complex and energetic. The Tiwha Pinot Noir is arguably their most important wine &#8211; being a Gibbston wine, using a touch of whole bunch to elevate that mesmerising perfume; but they\u2019re making sub-regional wines from Bendigo as well.<\/p><p>Again, apologies to acquaintances that I didn\u2019t get around to\u2026 and labels where I did try some excellent wines. It is a commendable tasting and one I\u2019m happy to endorse (eagle eyes will have seen the advert on the site promoting it).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the tasting session for The Real Review last week &#8211; in true WineFolio fashion, I failed to even make it to everyone to say Hello (which I do apologise &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15466,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing-about-wine"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>TRR: Taste the Top Wineries - a review - WineFolio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries - a review - WineFolio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At the tasting session for The Real Review last week &#8211; in true WineFolio fashion, I failed to even make it to everyone to say Hello (which I do apologise &hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WineFolio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-26T18:12:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-26T18:19:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_main_h1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1031\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Walker Bell\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"David Walker Bell\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"David Walker Bell\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f\"},\"headline\":\"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries &#8211; a review\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-26T18:12:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-26T18:19:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460\"},\"wordCount\":1103,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Room_main_h1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Features\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460\",\"name\":\"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries - a review - WineFolio\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Room_main_h1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-26T18:12:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-26T18:19:32+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Room_main_h1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Room_main_h1.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1031},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=15460#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries &#8211; a review\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\",\"name\":\"WineFolio\",\"description\":\"A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"WineFolio\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/WF_final_black.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/WF_final_black.png\",\"width\":999,\"height\":389,\"caption\":\"WineFolio\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/wine.folio.1\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/winefolio\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f\",\"name\":\"David Walker Bell\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"David Walker Bell\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries - a review - WineFolio","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries - a review - WineFolio","og_description":"At the tasting session for The Real Review last week &#8211; in true WineFolio fashion, I failed to even make it to everyone to say Hello (which I do apologise &hellip;","og_url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460","og_site_name":"WineFolio","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1","article_published_time":"2026-08-26T18:12:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-26T18:19:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":1031,"url":"http:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_main_h1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"David Walker Bell","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"David Walker Bell","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460"},"author":{"name":"David Walker Bell","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/person\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f"},"headline":"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries &#8211; a review","datePublished":"2026-08-26T18:12:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-26T18:19:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460"},"wordCount":1103,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_main_h1.jpg","articleSection":["Features"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460","name":"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries - a review - WineFolio","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_main_h1.jpg","datePublished":"2026-08-26T18:12:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-26T18:19:32+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_main_h1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_main_h1.jpg","width":1600,"height":1031},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=15460#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"TRR: Taste the Top Wineries &#8211; a review"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#website","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/","name":"WineFolio","description":"A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization","name":"WineFolio","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/WF_final_black.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/WF_final_black.png","width":999,"height":389,"caption":"WineFolio"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/winefolio\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/person\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f","name":"David Walker Bell","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"David Walker Bell"}}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Room_main_h1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15460"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15504,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15460\/revisions\/15504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}