Depth and character
Depth and character
Wine lovers of a certain age will remember references to a characteristic called "Kiwi green".
Mark Henderson
Good things take time
Good things take time
Mark Henderson samples some fine chardonnay.
Ageworthy wines near peak drinkability
Ageworthy wines near peak drinkability
I recently caught up with the M&Ms (Murray and Matt) of Marlborough’s Dog Point Vineyard as they traversed the South Island in a rental camper van, doing their version of the 2020 Kiwi road trip.
A nod to Burgundy
A nod to Burgundy
The majority of grape varieties that we grow in New Zealand, and certainly our most popular, emanate from France. Over centuries, particular grape varieties became most favoured in each region due...
Class borne out in the glass
Class borne out in the glass
Expectations are a funny thing. Naturally, I try to avoid them when I’m tasting, as they could cloud one’s judgement and impartiality.
Delightful drops from hot season
Delightful drops from hot season
The majority of Central pinot noirs on the shelves at the moment are from the 2018 vintage. This was an exceptionally hot season from December through until the beginning of March, when cooler,...
A wine for everyone
A wine for everyone
Today's assortment is a trio of terrifically tasty twosomes.
Chardonnay makes a comeback
Chardonnay makes a comeback
One of the great pleasures of my job is the diversity of wines that cross my path, writes Mark Henderson. They may be from tiny boutique, or large-scale producers, local and international with price points that span the gamut.
Good value from the Hawkes Bay
Good value from the Hawkes Bay
I get frequent comments from fellow Dunedinites who enjoy reading the column each week, which is always heartening to hear.
Rieslings not just sweet
Rieslings not just sweet
It's a common misconception that all rieslings are just sweet, writes Mark Henderson.
‘Rogue vines’ obvious
‘Rogue vines’ obvious
Very many years ago, I helped friends plant out their vineyard.
Embracing freedom
Embracing freedom
With international tourism on hold due to Covid-19 domestic tourism is going to be a make or break for many businesses.
A tasting of two halves
A tasting of two halves
After many weeks of tasting alone during lockdown, the shift to Level 2 allowed my old tasting compatriots Messrs Collins and McLaren to sit in once again.
Raising a glass to diversity
Raising a glass to diversity
Diversity is a word oft heard nowadays, yet a cursory glance at NZ Winegrowers stats could make you think otherwise.
Easy to overlook northern offerings
Easy to overlook northern offerings
Living in Otago, we are blessed with easy access to a wealth of great pinot noir and, from speaking to wine shop owners over the years, it is clear that our local customer base enjoys ‘‘drinking...
Isolation heightens focus
Isolation heightens focus
Like many of you, I took part in a number of Zoom meetings during lockdown, including wine tastings.
Chardonnay a true peach of a grape
Chardonnay a true peach of a grape
This collection of chardonnays covers the gamut of pricing from widely available value-for-money offerings through to scarce, limited-release bottlings.
Sunshine in a glass
Sunshine in a glass
I was talking to a friend in Central Otago recently, who said that the trees had dropped their leaves and, with their bare branches reaching for the sky, that there was a feeling of the plant world...
Now for something very different
Now for something very different
While unlikely to be found on the shelves of your local super, there's a relatively new category of wine beginning to gain traction in the marketplace. These are ‘‘Orange’’ wines, also known as amber, skin contact or skin fermented wines.
Aromas leap from glass
Aromas leap from glass
After feeling a little autumnal a few weeks back, and dipping my toes into some Hawke’s Bay reds, a glimmer of an Indian summer has sent me back towards the white wines.