Impressive variety of styles among recent sauvignon blancs
Exciting for me in the latest collection to taste my very first wine from the 2021 vintage, from the Jules Taylor stable.
Wine times
A grape by any other name
A grape by any other name
In life you might question someone who goes by an alias, but in the world of grape varieties this is all very commonplace.
Piquette, blends, ambers next trends
Piquette, blends, ambers next trends
Once just a light, lunchtime quaffer for French farm workers, piquette is undergoing a resurgence.
Time for luscious beauties
Time for luscious beauties
Fortified wines in all their guises, which may seem just a bit too full on in the heat of summer, truly come into their own as the temperature falls.
Taking one’s tastebuds on a tour of Central Otago
Taking one’s tastebuds on a tour of Central Otago
One of my regular tasting colleagues was in Central Otago recently and, as one does, managed to fit in a few pleasurable cellar door visits.
Unsung hero living in pinot noir’s shadow
Unsung hero living in pinot noir’s shadow
Today's line-up allowed me to compare a quartet of Central Otago chardonnays with a Hawke’s Bay pairing.
Never too cold for a rose
Never too cold for a rose
Today's collection covers a couple of bases with a trio of rose taking the lead.
Vintage highlights longevity
Vintage highlights longevity
A press release from Pegasus Bay arrived in my inbox recently, celebrating their 30th vintage.
Distillery shows spirited innovation
Distillery shows spirited innovation
Many wine enthusiasts enjoy a wide range of flavour experiences, and boutique spirits fit that bill.
Get ready for a celebration
Get ready for a celebration
For all its many devotees, every day can be a sauvignon blanc day given its accessibility, affordability and sheer all-around drinkability.
Shift from duty free to retail
Shift from duty free to retail
As our quarantine-free air corridors to Australia open, money will be spent on goods and services in both countries: a lifeline for a number of businesses.
Riesling rewards attention
Riesling rewards attention
Like a lot of people involved in the wine industry, I love riesling, and have also sometimes pondered whether it might be riesling’s moment to shine in the sun.
Pinot noir from further north
Pinot noir from further north
Today's clutch of wines hail from Marlborough and North Canterbury.
Arrivals from 2019 welcome
Arrivals from 2019 welcome
While release dates for individual wineries can vary (with a number of 2017s and 2018s still current), more and more of the 2019s are coming to market. It's a vintage that many NZ regions are delighted with.
A new vintage is born
A new vintage is born
From a religious perspective, Easter is a celebration of rebirth, and there are parallels across Otago wineries in the birth of the new 2021 vintage, writes Mark Henderson.
Harvest time looms in Central
Harvest time looms in Central
It's that time of year again when harvest will be in the offing in Central Otago; it’s slightly later in the Waitaki, writes Mark Henderson.
Fruity, salty rose refreshing
Fruity, salty rose refreshing
As rose becomes more about its own identity and style, we are seeing less mention of the grape variety/ies that produce it.
Depth, potential and interest
Depth, potential and interest
I’ve had a soft spot for Hawke’s Bay syrah since stumbling upon the Stonecroft cellar door some 30 years ago.
Changing times at wineries
Changing times at wineries
Karen and Murray Turner at River-T Wines in the Waitaki have sold "lock, stock and barrel", while there are new owners also for Carrick Wines in Bannockburn.
Something for the barbecue
Something for the barbecue
Recent long, warm evenings are crying out for a bit more barbecue action and Mark Henderson shares some Kiwi wines to enjoy.