Wine times

As you read this, a couple of significant events involving New Zealand pinot noir will now be in the rear-vision mirror.

Among the lineup of sav blancs today are a striking trio from Rapaura Springs sporting their brand new gold livery.

On a recent family holiday road trip I found myself drinking either white wine or beer: the reds just didn’t get a look in.

Even before I sat down to sample this selection with my tasting colleague Mr Collins, the aromas as I uncapped the bottles had me salivating and channelling a summer vibe.

Many of you will be reading this far from home; baching, visiting family, camping or on a road trip.

January is that time of year when a holiday break is on the agenda.

Bubbles are great at any time of the year of course, but there’s no doubt that the festive season ups the ante on this wine style!

Cask wines are making a comeback: in reality they never really went away.

A passion for Riesling shone in this lineup, through the lens of three Central producers and one from Waipara.

Summer! The barbecue comes out of hibernation and while warmer days trend towards white wines, there is a wonderful synergy between food fresh off the barbecue and Australian shiraz.

I think this happens to me every year: one minute it’s early spring, the next Christmas feels like it’s knocking on the door.

Tasting through this selection of pinot gris, I found myself thinking back to the early 2000s when I was involved with a wine business that worked with local restaurants on their wine lists.

The 22nd annual New World Wine Awards competition took place in Hawke’s Bay at the beginning of August.

A little while back I greatly enjoyed tasting my way through a raft of Central Otago chardonnays. Now we head to Waipara, Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay.

Depending on where you shop, there’s no doubt that there are a vast array of price points out there for Central Pinot Noir.

I’ve been in the midst of a veritable deluge of pinot noirs recently, which is actually quite a nice place to be.

For the curious, there are a handful of wine styles that sit outside the mainstream, offering flavour profiles and textures distinct from the classic wines we have all come to know.