Industry talent getting into it
The Mercurey Young Winemaker competition is open to under-30s working in all aspects of wine production. The Otago regional competition was held last week at Vinpro in Cromwell.
Food & Wine
Power to the pinot
Power to the pinot
As land planted to pinot noir in Central Otago has surged, the volumes of fruit and wine produced have led to a corresponding increase in lower-priced offerings.
Singularly different
Singularly different
As time goes along and vineyards, wine-makers and the industry mature, there is growing understanding and confidence as to what each vineyard will express.
Long, slow ripening helps to build up the flavours
Long, slow ripening helps to build up the flavours
There can be a perception that great vintages are always the hot, sun-kissed years but this isn't necessarily the case, particularly when it comes to pinot noir.
Archangel Wines sold to Australian group
Archangel Wines sold to Australian group
It can seem like the only constant in wine is change.
I see red, I see red, I see red
I see red, I see red, I see red
The changing of the seasons marks a changing of the guard for wines too, as reds overtake whites and roses in popularity.
No 1 in syrah aim shows how emphasis has shifted
No 1 in syrah aim shows how emphasis has shifted
Many years ago, I attended a trade tasting hosted by John Hancock, then chief winemaker for Trinity Hill in Hawke's Bay.
Embracing the blend
Embracing the blend
Today's assortment eschews the concept of single variety wines in favour of embracing the blend.
NZ's 'hero' variety
NZ's 'hero' variety
After a string of pinot noir tastings, the dynamic duo of Collins and McLaren sat down with me for a tasting of sauvignon blanc, highlighting a number of value offerings.
Sublime toast to oysters
Sublime toast to oysters
Some love their oysters cooked, others insist on them raw: whichever your preference, there are several sublime wine pairings to take the experience to another level.
Weather cuts crop levels markedly
Weather cuts crop levels markedly
The 2017 vintage reports I received from Misha's Vineyard, Grasshopper Rock and others provided sobering reading: a warm early spring shifted to a cold, wet December and very cool January,...
Sizing up Otago's 2017 pinot noirs
Sizing up Otago's 2017 pinot noirs
I've recently had the opportunity to taste my way through a swathe of 2017 pinot noirs from Otago.
Grape harvest a chance to deepen knowledge
Grape harvest a chance to deepen knowledge
Having some understanding of where and how a glass of wine is grown and made adds another layer of interest to the total experience, writes Mark Henderson.
Geology lesson reward for climb up to vineyard
Geology lesson reward for climb up to vineyard
During the recent grape harvest, a small window of opportunity allowed me to scamper up the hill to the Prophet's Rock Vineyard in Bendigo, where I met Paul Pujol and Francois Millet.
Singular selection
Singular selection
Regular readers will know I try to taste (and report back on) wines in flights of comparable wines.
'Vigilance' pays off
'Vigilance' pays off
The 2016 growing season in Hawke's Bay was cooler early, but a warmer January, February and March saw growing degree days catch up to the long-term average.
Selection worth the wait
Selection worth the wait
I'm often approached by people celebrating a significant event - a wedding, a birth, the founding of a new business - wishing to buy wines from that same year to open in the future.
The last of the summer wine
The last of the summer wine
For some obscure reason, Compo came into my mind the other day - not the ACC mind you, but the character in the TV series The Last of the Summer Wine, writes Mike Henderson.
Villa Maria ranked No 3 brand in world
Villa Maria ranked No 3 brand in world
Having made Drinks International's top 10 for the past four years, Villa Maria leapt into a podium spot, ranked No 3 in the world.
Pressing ahead with grape harvest preparations
Pressing ahead with grape harvest preparations
As you read this, preparations for harvest 2019 in Otago will be getting under way: machinery is checked and re-checked, tanks and barrels are cleaned, and wineries are generally made shipshape for...
