Zero to Hero – Zero Alcohol Wines by Stone Pony & Fourth Wave

November 8, 2022By Yvonne

The great thing about reviewing zero alcohol wines is I don’t have to spit them out – yay!! It’s also handy to remember that de-alcoholised wines can be very floral and fruity and enjoyable, they will have a taste and texture that’s slightly different to full-strength wines. Yet the quality of zero-alc wines is improving … Read More

Baybuzz Magazine Profile – Monowai Estate

October 22, 2022By Yvonne

Monowai Estate Published September 20th 2022 BayBuzz Magazine Monowai rocks! by Yvonne LorkinSeptember 20, 2022 Photo: Tom Allan Things don’t happen slow with Emma Lowe. “I said to Marcelo, if you come to New Zealand and decide you like it and want to stay, then we’re going to have to get married,” she shrugs. “So he … Read More

Canvas Magazine Matches Saturday 29th May 2021

May 30, 2021By Yvonne

Drinks matches for Canvas Annabel L Sat 29th May 2021 Nutty cumin Dukkah Wow. wow and triple whammy wow. The Smith & Sheth Cru Heretaunga Syrah 2018 ($40) was chosen as one of just 12 wines to feature in the exclusive, Gimblett Gravels Vintage Selection for 2018 from a tonne of contenders. It’s ultra-elegant and … Read More

Yakutin Family Wines Matakana

May 28, 2021By Yvonne

From Kazakhstan with Love… Oleg Yakutin, owner of Yakutin Family Wines (a 1 hectare vineyard, marked by an ancient brick chimney on Matakana Road, Warkworth), is the first Kazakhstani winemaker in New Zealand. A corporate marketing career in a past life fed his love for fine food and wine, so when the time came for … Read More

Canvas Magazine Matches May 22 2021

May 26, 2021By Yvonne

Matches for Annabel May 23 2021 Canvas   Wild pork( or duck) rillettes Misty Cove Wines ‘Waihopai’ Limited Release Marlborough White Blend 2020 ($29) Well, I’ll be hogtied and hornswoggled and all sorts of other ‘h’ words — this blend of gewürztraminer, grüner veltliner, and riesling is what I’ve been searching for ALL year! This … Read More

CONGRATULATIONS RHYS HALL! 2020 CORTEVA NZ YOUNG VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR

October 9, 2020By Yvonne

Rhys Hall announced as 2020 Corteva NZ Young Viticulturist of the Year Congratulations to Rhys Hall who became the 2020 Corteva NZ Young Viticulturist of the Year on 8th October.  Hall was representing Marlborough and is Assistant Vineyard Manager at Indevin’s Bankhouse. Congratulations also to Sam Bain from Constellation Brands who came second and George … Read More

Yvonne Lorkin WineFriend podcast for Entrepreneurial Women With Purpose

June 30, 2020By Yvonne

I was fortunate to be invited to record a podcast with the dynamo that is Catherine van der Meulen for her organisation Entrepreneurial Women With Purpose.  We talked about the foundation of WineFriend and the things that drive our small business forward and also what gives me purpose and direction in my working life.  It … Read More

The Hedonist McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018

February 15, 2020By Yvonne

The Hedonist McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018 $30 I loved the 2016 vintage of this organically produced, biodynamically-grown wine, so I’ve been chomping and stomping to try the new release.  Made by winemakers Kimberly and James Cooter, this is a shiraz that is the opposite of those sweet, jammy, cheek-punchers on the supermarket shelves.  It’s the … Read More

Hawke’s Bay Regional Tasting Oct 2019

October 16, 2019By Yvonne

Presented by Amy Hopkinson-Styles of Halcyon Wines on 16th October 2019. Four chardonnay’s selected by the committee: Te Awanga Estate Quarter Acre Chardonnay 2017 $30 Aromas of cleansing stonefruit, lemon, pineapple, grilled grapefruit, solid acidity yet an underlying creamy macadamia-like mid-palate.  Very pretty and fine. Smith & Sheth CRU Mangatahi Chardonnay 2015 $40 Showing that … Read More