Julianne Brogden is only 40, but she’s already been making wines for 23 years now. She’s Hawke’s Bay born and bred, and worked briefly in the region, before heading out…
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (3) Ash Ridge
In 2000, Chris Wilcock bought a peach orchard in the Bridge Pa district of Hawke’s Bay. At the time, he was working as a banker (he had spells in Switzerland,…
Hawke’s Bay New Zealand (2) Ant Mackenzie, Craft Farm
Ant Mackenzie has been a winemaker for other people for his whole career, but of late he’s begun making wines under his own name. His first winemaking job was at…
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (1) Tony Bish and the Urban Winery
Tony Bish made his reputation as winemaker for Sacred Hill in Hawke’s Bay. While he remains a consultant and a shareholder in the company, his interests have moved away from…
Greystone Vineyard Ferment Pinot Noir 2016 Waipara Valley, New Zealand
This is the first release of this new wine from Greystone: the vineyard ferment Pinot Noir. They have been talking about their vineyard fermentations for a while: keen to make…
Golden Bay: Pupu springs, the source of the Riwaka and the Wainui Falls
I just spent a weekend in Golden Bay, which is part of the Abel Tasman region at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. Here’s a short film of the…
New releases from Black Estate, North Canterbury, New Zealand
I’ve been following the wines of Black Estate for a while now, with interest. They farm organically and make wines in a lo-fi sort of way. This is interesting New…
Y2KX The Mystical Being 2017, a skin-contact Sauvignon from Marlborough
It was good to try this: a really characterful, interesting Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. It’s from Y2KX Collective, a virtual winery, who are specialising on making interesting wines. Alana Mcgettigan is…
In Marlborough, where big can be good: Rapaura Springs
Rapaura Springs is a somewhat surprising rising star in the Marlborough wine scene. They are owned by the Naylon family, and I tasted with Brendan Naylon and Sam Harrop who…