On Friday night I went to a strange but enjoyable concert. Neudorf Vineyards in Nelson were hosting a gig by the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra. There were quite a few…
In Martinborough, with Palliser, Ata Rangi and Craggy Range
Three visits in Martinborough, on a Sunday where I could have been playing cricket. An English touring side with connections to the wine trade were playing a Kiwi side, and…
Making sense of Matt Kramer, Pinot Noir 2013 keynote
Pinot Noir kicked off with two contrasting keynote speeches, the first of which was delivered by Matt Kramer of the US publication The Wine Spectator, and author of a string…
More Pinot Noir 2013 people
Pinot Noir 2013 has finished, and I’m exhausted. It was amazing, and I’ll write a lot more about it. For now, some more pictures of the pinot people. Sherwyn Veldhuizen,…
Some Pinot Noir 2013 people
Some snaps from this brilliant Pinot Noir conference in Wellington. Marquis Sauvage of Burn Cottage, and below the Burn Cottage tattoo on his leg, which took 4 h and was…
In Gisborne with Millton
Annie Millton was honest enough to admit that she’d read the diary wrong and that her and James weren’t expecting me, when she picked me up from Gisborne airport. Despite…
In Marlborough, and four good visits
I’m beginning to get to know my way around Marlborough now. It’s a region with an incredible story, springing up from nowhere in the 1970s to its current position as…
Jasper, Rudi and Nick, and the 7 metre Wellington dive!
Wellington is a cool city. On the waterfront there’s a 7 m diving platform that’s very popular on a hot day like today. Jasper Morris, Nick Mills (Rippon) and Rudi…
New Zealand, day 3, in Nelson with Neudorf
I worked out that since November 2008, my first visit to New Zealand, I have visited five times in five years. That’s a significant accrual of air miles. But over…