Canada makes some great wines these days. We have the major regions: Niagara and Prince Edward County in Ontario; Nova Scotia; and the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys in BC. But…
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2017: amazingly successful, but how good is it?
I’m in the Star Alliance lounge at LAX, having just showered, getting ready for another 12 h in the air. I check out the lounge wines. On offer, Meiomi Pinot…
The First Date natural wine bar pop-up at Cupple Coffee, Hastings, NZ
On Saturday night, travelling companions Mel Brown, David Brookes and I popped into a natural wine bar pop-up First Date at Cupple Coffee in Hastings, Hawkes Bay. This was billed…
Central Otago (9) Grasshopper Rock
It’s five years since I last visited Grasshopper Rock (see the full profile here), a small vineyard in the Alexandra district of Central Otago. Back in 2014 I commented that…
Central Otago (8) Chard Farm
With just a shade under 100 hectares of their own vineyards, Chard Farm are one of the larger players in the Central Otago region. Their beautifully situated home vineyard, at…
The New Zealand Wine Flight
Yesterday, Air New Zealand and New Zealand Wine Growers collaborated to put on a special wine flight over five of New Zealand’s wine regions. I captured the experience in a…
Central Otago (7) tasting verticals with Gibbston Valley
This was my third time visiting Gibbston Valley, one of Central Otago’s pioneering wineries. Back in 1981 Alan Brady, who had previously worked as a journalist in Northern Ireland, planted…
Central Otago (6) Providore
Pete Bartle is the winemaker at VinPro, which is one of the two most significant contract wineries in Central Otago. He currently makes some of the highest-rated wines in Central…
Central Otago (5) the beautiful naturally made wines of Aurum
Aurum is one of Central Otago’s hidden gems. They are known in the region, but they don’t export. But these wines are worth seeking out. Naturally and sensitively made, they…