WINE REVIEWS: Red wines
WINE REVIEWS: Red wines
A couple of years' bottle age makes a difference to the pleasure many reds afford, as age allows the acids and tannins to mellow and soften, eliminating the rough, raw edge some young wines show.
Charmian Smith
Mature Central Otago pinot noir delivers developed terroir
Mature Central Otago pinot noir delivers developed terroir
The evolution of Central Otago pinot noir over the past two and a-half decades has been a rapid journey from grudging recognition from Northerners that wine could actually be grown and made here, through developing a reputation for distinctive pinot noir, to international recognition as one of the country's major wine regions.
Spreading the word on Central's pinot noir
Spreading the word on Central's pinot noir
At the other end of the scale from many of the single-vineyard wines at the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration are the Central pinots of varying quality made outside the region by multinational and other big producers, such as Matua Valley, Kim Crawford, Cloudy Bay, Yealands, Villa Maria, Brancott and Allan Scott, Mud House and Rock Ferry, as well a overseas dealers, including buyers' own brands for supermarkets, which can be as far flung as Germany, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Not too much of a good thing
Not too much of a good thing
Late last year, New Zealand Wine Growers announced a research programme into high quality, lower calorie and lower alcohol ''lifestyle'' wines facilitated by a new Primary Growth Partnership between the wine industry and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Market's Ms Mushroom
Market's Ms Mushroom
A fascination with growing unusual things has led Kate Wendelgelst to growing mushrooms. Charmian Smith reports.
The raw with the smooth
The raw with the smooth
There's no point in having healthy food if it's not delicious, according to Nicola Brown. Charmian Smith talks to her about her raw ''cooking'' classes.
WINE REVIEWS: Gewurztraminer and sauvignon blanc
WINE REVIEWS: Gewurztraminer and sauvignon blanc
Sometimes you come across wines that are quite different from the run of the mill and this line-up includes an unusual variety, an unusual treatment for gewurztraminer and an unusual but delicious and versatile late harvest sauvignon blanc.
Good companion to Asian cuisine
Good companion to Asian cuisine
It is often difficult to match wine with Asian foods, but recently a few wines have appeared, such as Spice Trail, which are blended specially to complement these cuisines that are often not wine-friendly.
WINE REVIEWS: Pinot Gris
WINE REVIEWS: Pinot Gris
Pinot gris comes in several styles, from lush, oily wines with firm structure to new, lighter, lower-alcohol, crisp versions ideal for summer lunches. An extra year's bottle age has benefited some of these wines.
Hall draws on those around him
Hall draws on those around him
The Fortune Theatre opens its 40th anniversary season on Saturday with a new play by Roger Hall. Charmian Smith talks to New Zealand's best-known playwright about his new play and his long association with the theatre.
Helping healthy choices
Helping healthy choices
It's often difficult to tell which packaged food is the healthiest.
Much thought and skill in beef and lamb dishes
Much thought and skill in beef and lamb dishes
Five courses of beef or lamb make for a long lunch, but when they are cooked by Beef and Lamb ambassadors, they are intricate, innovative and interesting.
Author searches Asia and Europe for origin of noodle
Author searches Asia and Europe for origin of noodle
Pasta, noodles, dumplings, wontons, ravioli, whatever you call them, dough strips filled or plain, boiled, steamed or fried and often served with a sauce, are eaten from China and Japan to Turkey and Italy.
Sheltering in the cellars
Sheltering in the cellars
While passing through Central over the Christmas and New Year break, I retreated to a few cellar doors to escape the wet and windy weather.
Cook books
Cook books
New Holland's little ''500'' series of cookbooks are good value at about $25.
Arts aplenty in busy year
Arts aplenty in busy year
Next year will again be busy in the Dunedin art scene, with at least three arts festivals as well as local companies and visiting groups performing in the city. Charmian Smith looks ahead to what's in store for 2014.
WINE REVIEWS: Sauvignon Blanc
WINE REVIEWS: Sauvignon Blanc
Ideal summer drinking, the best Marlborough sauvignon blanc is intensely flavoured, but even styles lighter in flavour or alcohol can be attractive refreshers if well balanced and not too aggressively acidic.
'Light' wines make progress
'Light' wines make progress
You may notice a number of ''light'' wines appearing on shelves and in cafes.
Making space for art
Making space for art
A new gallery, a collaboration between a father and son, has opened in Dowling St, Dunedin which is fast becoming an arts precinct. Charmian Smith reports.
WINE REVIEWS: Sparkling wine
WINE REVIEWS: Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine ranges from sweet and fruity such as the Yealands pinot gris blush to elegant and dry with great finesse such as the Deutz wines in this tasting.