I’m super-proud to be the co-founder and CTO (Chief Tasting Officer) of WineFriend, the greatest personalised wine delivery service in all the land. Founded in 2015, we match wine to people. We help our subscribers navigate the crazy-vast number of wines out there in the marketplace by pairing them with wines that only suit their individual tastes. Wines that are delicious, unique and definitely not seen in your average supermarket. Read more about WineFriend
Oraterra Martinborough Chardonnay 2023
Oraterra Martinborough Chardonnay 2023 $70 Labelled with an artwork by Leanne Williams “In The Presence” and crafted by a team which began life at Dry River wines, this chardonnay has impressive creamy complexity, aromas of baked stonefruit and fennel are licked with pineapple and butterscotch. All these elements osmose across the palate and are bolstered … Read More
Maison Noire Gabrielle’s Kiss 2023
Maison Noire Gabrielle’s Kiss Hawke’s Bay Red Blend 2023 $20 Hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, Guillaume Thomas at Maison Noire opted to get creative with their Cabernet Franc and Syrah grown high up on the Waimarama Road – and do some crafty blending. Highly floral, laced with bay, tobacco, green peppercorns, black … Read More
Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Riesling 2020
Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Riesling 2020 $22 Four and a bit years on from vintage, this riesling from one of Marlborough’s founding families has just been released and is showing delicious, maturing characters. Ultra-cleansing, lime-laced, and hosting a hint of weetbix, kero notes and Granny Smith tension on the nose and palate, it’s a an … Read More
Misty Cove 1203 Limited Release Marlborough Pinot Noir 2023
Misty Cove 1203 Limited Release Marlborough Pinot Noir 2023 $44.99 After years of building a reputation for turning out excellent-value wines, the Misty Cove kids have released their even excellent-er range called 1203. Made with grapes grown in their Fareham Lane vineyard, this wine is inspired by Mount Stokes, the highest point in the Marlborough … Read More
Misty Cove 1203 Limited Release Marlborough Chardonnay 2023
Misty Cove 1203 Limited Release Marlborough Chardonnay 2023 $44 Inspired by Mt Stokes, which towers 1203m above sea level over the Marlborough region, this wine is excellently energetic and aromatic, and wouldn’t we all like to be that? Well, chaps, each sip of this wine will help you get there, and with its gentle cashew … Read More
Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2021
Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2021 $29 Things I want: to be cosy at home but also socialise and travel. To buy everything I want but also save money and to get super fit, but also eat what I like and not exercise. That’s not too much to ask for, right? Things I … Read More
Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021
Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021 $28 From the ‘holy trinity’ of Hawke’s Bay vintages (2019, 2020, 2021) this Syrah is stacked with classic florals, violets, red roses, plum blossom and buckets of cracked pepper and smoky oak. Vibrant and energetic, it dunks your taste buds into dark berryfruit and then dusts them with … Read More
Mills Reef Elspeth Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2023
Mills Reef Elspeth Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2023 $39 The flagship chardonnay for Mills Reef is tightly coiled and ready to unleash its talents over the next ten years I feel. From a cooler vintage, Paul Dawick and his winemaking team have sourced some spectacular fruit to craft a chardonnay scented with grilled grapefruit, lemon pith, … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $20 – $25 Classic, ripe, robust Hawke’s Bay signatures sing in this wine, with pungent jalapeno, lime, passionfruit and bruised basil merging with red apple and clean capsicum characters. Zesty acidity is complimented by crushed shell minerality and a lacing of creamy complexity on the finish. It’s … Read More
Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2024
Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2024 $19.99 One sniff of this citrus oil-scented, jasmine-stacked, apricot-edged viognier and you’ll understand why it scooped a championship trophy at the NZ International Wine Show AND a double gold medal also. It’s exotically spiced, fresh and laced with creamy macadamia and roast peach complexity on the nose and palate. … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2024
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2024 $22 On your marks, get set, and GO directly to my pick for the BEST VALUE gewürztraminer for the summer. It’s Paddy Preston of Mills Reef started out making kiwifruit wine in Tauranga. He was darn good at it too. But a few years into it, back in … Read More
Little Big Wolf Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Little Big Wolf Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $32 So the messaging might be a teensy bit cryptic if you’re looking at the back label, and if you visit the website it’s a bit of a mission to find out exactly “who” is behind the brand. There are many mentions of ‘we’ and ‘our family’ and … Read More
Thirsty Work is a television show that unearths some of the personalities behind New Zealand’s successful and innovative Wine and Beverage Industry. Originally broadcast on Food TV (SKY ch.9) then on TV3 with subsequent eps on Amazon Prime, Thirsty Work soaks up New Zealand’s beverage landscape. Not just vineyards, but barrel halls, tank rooms, cellar doors, wine stores, supermarkets, breweries and backyard vignerons.
Missed Series 4 of Thirsty Work? Fret not, just click here to zoom directly to view on demand.
