This is turning into a very good trip. Day three began with two visits. The first was at Grasshopper Rock, with Phil Handford. Phil lives in Hamilton, and has a background…
In New Zealand, day 2, Central Otago
An early start, time for a 7 am run around the lake in Queenstown, through the botanic gardens. You can just keep on going for as far as you want, and…
In New Zealand, day 1, Queenstown, Gibbston Valley and Chard Farm
I arrived in Queenstown late Tuesday morning, and I wasn’t feeling too bad. The flight down from Auckland was a beautiful one: you need to get a window seat on…
On my way to New Zealand, some random observations from LAX
So I am on my way to New Zealand. Almost half way there, actually, sitting at the gate in LAX after 10 hours in the air, about to board the…
Seven great affordable Austrian wines
A selfie wine tasting of seven good value Austrian wines. This tasting reminded me how much I really like Austrian wine.
Quinta do Judeu red and white from Portugal’s Douro
As you all know by now, I am a big fan of Portuguese wines, and particularly of the Douro region. It is such a cool place. Of late, I have…
My New Zealand Pinot Noir e-book is now released
I love New Zealand Pinot Noir. When I was beginning my journey into wine, back in the early 1990s, it was a Kiwi Pinot that first switched me on to…
Zorah Karasi, a remarkable Armenian wine
One of the most interesting encounters I had at today’s Liberty Wine tasting was with Armenia, the land-locked country hemmed in by Georgia, Ajerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. This broader area…
Some highlights from the New Zealand Annual Trade Tasting
I’m off to New Zealand on Sunday. But first, to whet my appetite, today’s New Zealand Annual trade tasting, held at the Lindley Hall near Victoria, with its fabulous natural…