Wine Showcase
Into The Fold
The Collection
Discovering The Heart of Wine Utopia
If you ever find yourself in Adelaide, consider taking the 56km drive northeast of the city to visit Barossa Valley. Nestled here you will find a veritable utopia of 13,000 hectares of vineyards occupying what is now considered the country’s oldest and most premier wine regions. Here you’ll find some of the countries best Shiraz, […]
The Legacy of Yalumba’s The Signature
It would have been quite a sight, a British migrant Samuel Smith, planting vines under the moonlight 175 years ago but it was that moment that set root for one of the world’s most iconic wine brands and one that is still family-owned six generations on. Derived from the indigenous Australian word meaning “all the […]
Elevate Your Gifting Game
You arrive at the festive gathering, clutching a sleek Montblanc box. Whispers of envy ripple through the room as you unveil the treasure, its unabashedly opulent design leaving everyone speechless. In that moment, you’ve transcended the ordinary and become the embodiment of unapologetically extravagant indulgence. Your gifting game is on point. Yes. This holiday […]
Seeking The Exceptional
Camper road trip – Have time, will travel
I’ve got nothing booked this weekend and it’s been a long time since I’ve been to the South Island of New Zealand. Nothing like a spot of last minute travel! I’ve always fancied a motorhome trip so I book a rather large one all for myself. Saturday The pick-up point is near Christchurch Airport, that’s […]
Some Very Good Names to Remember
What’s in a name? Well, considering many of our given or nicknames, they may seem pretty ordinary and, dare I say it, arbitrary. But there is much more to names than we give them credit for. Even ‘Davo’ from down at the pub has not just got a name, he’s got a great name as […]
The Transcendence Of Terroir
Recently I went to the Central Otago region for a new vehicle launch and a couple of my colleagues were very excited – and not just about driving the new car: ‘Oo, when we get some time off we should go and try some of the local Pinot Noir!’ Of course, I thought that was […]
Waitiri Creek: The Triumph of Man Vs Machine
Winemaking has been around for a very long time, as evidence has been discovered that it was being made in the Middle East about 8,000 years ago. That makes it one of the oldest skills we as humans have developed and, amazingly, it has changed little over all that time. Other ancient arts like construction […]
Waitiri Creek: Time To Check Out A Classic From The Library
If you are like me, a ‘library’ is a place where you cooled your heels after school until your parent(s) had finished work and could come and pick you up. I remember the library I used to wait in was full of these things called ‘books’ that were like movies but without the moving pictures. […]
Mastering Success
Becoming a Master Sommelier is an intense and exacting process that very few people achieve. Cameron Douglas is New Zealand’s first and only Master Sommelier, a dedicated professional wine and beverage expert. Cameron is well known and respected both here in Aotearoa and abroad. He has judged and presented in the UK, USA, Oceania and […]
Cellar
Three Very Good Reasons To Focus On Awatea
Ever since Time began, there’s always been something magical about the number 3. Stories have always had three phases with a beginning, middle and end; in mythology the hero always gets offered three wishes and the ancient king of the fable always had three strong sons or beautiful daughters. In more modern times, competitions of […]
Whatever You Like About Wine; This One Has It All
If the ‘Speed’ era Keanu Reeves came up to you right now and shouted in your face; ‘Pop Quiz; what is it that you like about wine?!’ What would you answer? Well, it probably might take you a few moments to recover from the shock of seeing Keanu so young again – and the fact […]
Experience The Jewels In The Crown Of NZ Reds
If you have something of great value you put it somewhere safe where it won’t get lost, and if you haven’t got an actual safe then you use a jewelbox. These can be ornate – even bejewelled themselves – but more importantly, they only contain items of very top quality. That is the philosophy behind […]
The One Coleraine You Simply Cannot Miss
We have spoken before in these august pages about ‘The One’; that freakishly good vintage that came around only because the weather conditions played out flawlessly throughout Hawkes Bay in 2021. There was the perfect amount of rain at exactly the right time with ideal temperatures and just the right amount of water stress to […]
A Flavour to Savour
There are two kinds of people in the world; those that like sweet, and those that like savoury. I definitely prefer to enjoy the umami delights that foods like mushrooms and game can deliver over the pleasures of chocolate every day of the week (and twice on Sundays!) Plus, if you are like me and […]
Get the Latest Coleraine Vintage Before It Sells Out
Te Mata Estate makes some fantastic vintages. Last year we recommended the Coleraine ’21, and it has since subsequently sold out (according to their site right now). Available March 1st is the Coleraine ’22, which according to early reviews maintains the prestige of its predecessor. Critic Huon Hooke of The Real Review, suggests that “Coleraine […]