Wine Showcase
Into The Fold
How To Convincingly Be A Wine Connoisseur
Ever wanted to feel like something other than a fraud when a sommelier shows you a bottle or gives you the opportunity to swirl the glass and give it a whiff? We’ve got you covered, welcome to the five-minute masterclass where we’ll show you how to not only act, but also BE a professional at […]
Asian Fusion Dinner Dishes and 9 Wines To Pair Them With
While we commonly associate wine pairings, there’s a wine for everything, and that includes Asian fusion food. M2 had the opportunity of talking to sommelier Anong Klinyoo, who founded A-LLURE, making it possible for Kiwis to have an authentic Thai wine experience. As an aside, Klinyoo shared with me nine Asian Fusion dishes and their pairings. […]
Why You Should Have A Wine Cellar
If you are worried that out of control global inflation might be eroding the value of cash and are looking at other investment options, now might be the time to stock up on some wine. Sure, people will bang on about gold, Bitcoin and property, but some wine investors are making a fortune from buying […]
The Culinary Experience – Under The Ocean
In the deep, dark depths of the southernmost point of the Norwegian coast you will find diverse marine life and wild fauna of the sea – and soon the world’s largest underwater restaurant, a building half-submerged into the waters off the coast of Båly, a town three hours from Kristiansand. Designed by Norwegian architecture firm […]
How To Host Like A King
Now that we’re starting to relax restrictions, it’s time to catch up with old friends over a bite to eat and a good bottle of wine. We assume you’ve got the mains sorted out, but it’s good to have some nibbles and a platter going to keep everyone occupied till the real event gets kicked […]
Proof That If You’re Ever In Doubt – You Must Press On
Sometimes you just know in your gut that you’re right – even when it seems like everyone around you refuses to be a believer. As William Goldman wrote for Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; ‘I got vision while the rest of the world wears bifocals!’ History is littered with such examples; […]
The Collection
5 Private Islands That Cost Less Than a House In Auckland
New Zealand’s property market is insane. In one study, Auckland was found to be the fourth most unaffordable city to buy a home in, with the median priced home being ten times the median income. Having been lucky enough to be invited into the home owning club myself, I’ll regularly see castles and mansions overseas […]
Here’s To A Super Safe Bet On A Wine
If you are new to wine, one of the most intimidating things you can do is walk into a wine shop or, more realistically in these days of snap Lockdowns, look online for something to go with dinner. The sheer array of similar-looking bottles with labels that look pretty sexy is overwhelming, but they all […]
So Aston Martin Makes Penthouses Now
The name Aston Martin is definitely embroidered on the world. The coolness of their designs, fluid lines, luxe finishes and style – how each model oozes sophistication with that connection to power. Aston Martin has recently revealed their next plans, but it’s not a new car. Located in the 66-storey, 244-metre 130 William building in […]
Seeking The Exceptional
George Begg: From The Deep South To The Very Top
There’s something about small town New Zealand that seems to breed world-class operators in the motor racing industry. Again and again we learn that some of our global household names in the exalted fields of V8 Supercars, Formula One, IndyCars and Superbikes got their start in rural New Zealand. Perhaps it’s those long straight – […]
Spotlighting Four Of The Finest Restaurants In The Otago Region
When it comes to the culinary arts, Otago is most synonymous with its vast collection of vineyards, which produce some of not just the nation’s, but the world’s most celebrated wines. But we all know that a great glass of wine is at its best when accompanied by an equally exceptional plate of food, and […]
Waitiri Creek: Not Your Usual Winery
It’s said that a business is always a reflection of its leadership. So, a CEO who has been given no mandate to grow his or her business from the shareholders will always cultivate a culture of conservatism within the company. On the other hand, a CEO who has been given a free hand is far […]
The Science, Tradition and Art of Winemaking
Creating an award winning product that goes out to the world is hard enough when you can control all of the elements, but winemaking is a world full of variables. Waitiri Creek Winemaker, Pip Battley has built a career crafting these uncertainties into critically-recognised successes. Pip’s work has taken her from Martinborough and Central Otago […]
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. […]
Here’s Everything To Do To Make The Most Of Your Queenstown Summer
It was a long, at times brutal, winter spent mostly indoors on our lonesome, but summer is finally here and domestic borders opening up all across the country. Queenstown remains one of the country’s most beloved domestic holiday spots and is never more appealing than in the shining summer months. If you’re making the journey […]
Cellar
Te Mata Estate Coleraine – So THIS Is What Perfection Tastes Like!
So how really do you define ‘perfection’? Well, it depends on what you’re looking at. In mathematics you can have a ‘perfect’ number which is a numeral equal to the sum of all its divisors (eg; 6=1+2+3), but in physics you might think you have a perfect sphere only to discover under the microscope lots […]
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 […]
It Was A Very Good Year
When I was 17, it was a very good year It was a very good year for small town girls And soft summer nights We’d hide from the lights On the village green When I was 17 So sung Frankie Sinatra back in… well, let’s just say it was a long time ago. In this […]
The Secret Everyone Now Knows
Have you tried the Alma or Estate Pinot Noirs from Te Mata? If you haven’t well, we’ll let you off with a warning – this time only – as they are relatively new to the market having only made their debut a couple of years ago before stunning the wine-drinking world with the sumptuous ’19 […]
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 Pinnacle Of Craft
The best in New Zealand; now that’s a lofty height. It’s a special zone with rarified air that only people like Sir Patrick Hogan, Lisa Carrington, Peter Beck, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Peter Jackson and Lydia Ko get to breathe. It’s also an amazing place where the All Blacks, Crusaders and Scott Robertson (and maybe Ian Foster […]
