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.
Wine times
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.
A tasty look at sav blancs
A tasty look at sav blancs
Mid-January. Depending on where you are as you read this, you may be basking in the glow of summer and dreaming of a cool sav blanc.
Enchanted by pinot noir selection
Enchanted by pinot noir selection
Sometimes, I sit down with my regular tasting buddies, Collins and McLaren, and it just feels like the stars align.
Regaining favour
Regaining favour
The red grape malbec is a native of France, where it is best known as one of the "so-called" Bordeaux varieties.
Camp fare combos
Camp fare combos
This year will go down in history as a year without precedent - an annus horribilus for many. Mark Henderson recommends some wines to enjoy at the campsite this Christmas.
A Central Otago winner
A Central Otago winner
The Tonnellerie de Mercurey New Zealand Young Winemaker 2020 final was recently held at EIT in Hawke’s Bay and congratulations to Ben Toombs - assistant winemaker at Peregrine Wines - who in...
Tickle the urge with chilled rose
Tickle the urge with chilled rose
Warmth, fresh air and the sun caressing the hilltops in a cloudless sky at the end of a busy day begins to tickle the Mark Henderson's urge for a glass of chilled rose.
Liqueur Muscats sweet and sticky
Liqueur Muscats sweet and sticky
The Muscat grape comes in many guises, possibly best known here in a number of fizzy, Asti Spumante-style wines from Italy and similar still and fizzy wines from Australia.
Port complex on the palate
Port complex on the palate
Port is a fortified wine from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. Its history dates back more than 300 years to the wars between the English and the French, which curtailed the supply of wine from France.
On the trail of tribidrag
On the trail of tribidrag
Mentioning the Croatian red grape tribidrag will likely result in blank looks. Its claim to fame, however, is that it was the end point of a great deal of research and DNA profiling centred around...
Pinot noirs on parade
Pinot noirs on parade
Often when I’m deciding on what I’m going to taste for this column, I endeavour to maintain a bit of variety.
A show of diversity
A show of diversity
After making my way through today’s selection, I was left thinking that things are very positive in the world of New Zealand sauvignon blanc.
Experiments give taste buds a romp
Experiments give taste buds a romp
The old adage "variety is the spice of life" is never truer than with today’s selection of New Zealand white wines that include a few lesser-known grape varieties.
Patience brings its rewards
Patience brings its rewards
The stresses and strains of 2020 have led many to rediscover the joys in simpler pleasures. Among a number of wine-loving friends and contacts a common thread has been opening “special” bottles of wine.
Good things take time
Good things take time
Mark Henderson samples some fine chardonnay.
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...
A wine for everyone
A wine for everyone
Today's assortment is a trio of terrifically tasty twosomes.