I arrived in Queenstown to a good English winter: rain showers, low cloud, and a temperature of 8 C. There was snow on top of the hills. This is summer…
The stunning Te Mata Peak
On Saturday morning, Craggy Range’s Brand Manager Hannah Burns took me up Te Mata Peak. It was supposed to be a run, but this is incredibly steep, so we walked…
Tasting the range at Craggy Range
For the last couple of days I’ve been hanging out at Craggy Range, in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. I was last at Craggy in 2007, on my first visit to…
On dentists and teeth
I had a problem. I woke up on Saturday with a nagging ache in my mouth, towards the back, at the left. It wasn’t the sharp pain you’d normally associate…
Four affordable Kiwi Pinot Noirs
As I write, I’m at the departure gate waiting to embark on a rather long journey to Kiwi land. So a chance to write up four affordable New Zealand Pinot…
Two affordable Grüner Veltliners
I’m a big fan of Grüner Veltliner, Austria’s specialist grape variety. Here are two easily available, affordable examples that deliver some of the personality of this grape. Domaine Wachau Weissenkirchen…
Wines of the year (9) the rest
So, my final round-up of wines of the year, 2016. So many good bottles, of which this long series has highlighted just a few. Contino Gran Reserva 2009 Rioja, Spain…
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Marlborough
Off to New Zealand on Wednesday, so in preparation I thought it would be good to drink some Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. 2016 was a good vintage in the region, with…
Interesting wines from Argentina: Malbec
This is the third post from a tasting of interesting Argentine wines in Mendoza last month. It’s Argentina’s most famous variety, Malbec. ‘Everyone is talking more and more about regions,’…