I’m super-proud to be the co-founder and CTO (Chief Tasting Officer) of WineFriend, the best personalised wine delivery service this side of the black stump. We help our customers navigate the vast number of wines out there in the marketplace then we match them to wines that unique and awesomely tasty. Read more about WineFriend

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CHECK OUT THE LATEST REVIEWS

Keep up with the very latest below or browse for your favourite reviews

Squawking Magpie Daisy Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021

November 25, 2021

Squawking Magpie Daisy Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 $24 Crafted from syrah and merlot, this ripe and rumpty new rosé absolutely fangs with florals and bright berries from woah to go. Awash with plum and red apple flavours in the mid-palate, there’s a lacing of pink peppercorn and citrus on the finish, making it a deliciously … Read More

Waipara Hills Waipara Valley Pinot Noir Rosé 2021

November 24, 2021

Waipara Hills Waipara Valley Pinot Noir Rosé 2021 $15 If you’ve a hankering for a rich, ripe, berry-stacked rosé that will absolutely wow the crowds (or if you’re not one for sharing, satisfy you solo) then this is the business. Heaving with cherry, raspberry, watermelon, a lick of creaming soda and finishing with a flourish … Read More

Mud House The Narrows Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020

November 24, 2021

Mud House The Narrows Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 $21.99 The ‘Narrows’ has fast become one of my favourite, best-value pinot noirs in the country. Highly complex, deeply fruity, dark, fulsome and supremely elegant” noted Yvonne, while Cameron loved its injection of cranberry, pomegranate and vanilla across its firm tannins. Marty agreed, “intensely aromatic and loaded … Read More

Pegasus Bay Vergence Red MKI Pinot Noir 2018

November 22, 2021

Pegasus Bay Vergence Red MKI Pinot Noir 2018 $40 Waipara is Pegasus Bay’s home, but they’re fans of great fruit no matter where it comes from, so say hi to Central Otago! Vergence is all about pushing the oeno-envelope, so steady yourself for a 100% whole-cluster, carbonic and wild-fermented pinot.  Think whole bunches sealed in … Read More

Petane Late Harvest Gewürztraminer 2021

November 22, 2021

Petane Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2021 $ (tbc) Clearly, the weather gods found favour with Philip Barber and his tiny wee crop of gewürztraminer in the summer of 2021. They were kept clean and dry and managed to hang on the vine long enough to start gently raisining and increasing their natural sugars. They … Read More

Driven Snow Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020

November 19, 2021

Driven Snow Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $39.99 If you’re wondering why this wine is a touch cloudier than your normal, commercial-grade, supermarket pinot noir, fret not. In fact, be happy, because it’s evidence of a wine that’s been crafted without fining or filtration, processes that some winemakers believe scan strip some of the original … Read More

Petane Puriri Block Sfumato Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020

November 15, 2021

Petane Puriri Block Sfumato Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 ($70) Pronounced ‘ss-foo-mah-toh’, the name of this new wine from WineFriend favourites Petane Wines, is named after a painting technique describing softening the transition between colours. But you knew that right? Art nerds will also understand that it mimicks an area beyond what the human eye is … Read More

Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020

November 15, 2021

Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020 $24 Absolute classic Hawke’s Bay viognier here from a West Auckland icon. Bright apricot, orange zest and jasmine aromatics all saturate through to the palate and its solid acidity (hard to achieve in viognier) leaves an impressively zingy impression. Great stuff! Cellar door only 

Kelly Washington Marlborough Chardonnay 2020

November 14, 2021

Kelly Washington Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 $50 Organically grown in the Rapaura sub-region, and shepherded into the bottle by star winemaker Tamra Kelly, this chardonnay has a soft, nougat-like nose surrounded by peachy complexity, creamy, nutty notes, grapefruity goodness and fresh, feisty acidity. Kelly Washington Wines

Brightwater Vineyards Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2021

November 14, 2021

Brightwater Vineyards Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $20 Imagine flinging some basil, lime zest, peapods, passionfruit pulp, lemongrass and tomato leaves into the kitchen whizz, blitzing it all up and slathering it all over your visage like a citrusy, herbaceous beauty mask. It’ll lift the jowels, close the pores, tighten the cheeks, and elevate the eyebrows … Read More

Orlando Bungalow Lane Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

November 9, 2021

Orlando Bungalow Lane Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $40 Seven years on and this cabernet is maturing into a wine boasting layers of leather, prune and soft cocoa characters. The acidity is still fresh, yet there’s a suede-like mid-palate that’s laced with blueberry and coffee and the tannins are both stretchy and sandy and show … Read More

Orlando Printz Shed Northern Barossa Shiraz 2018

November 8, 2021

Orlando Printz Shed Northern Barossa Shiraz 2018 $40 Sourced from the legendary Greenock and Ebenezer blocks, this shiraz is clean, spice-soaked and boosted with blackcurrant characters. There are liquorice and pepper layers edged with vanilla and smoke. The tannins are muscular and lengthy and add great texture to the dry, fine-grained finish.

Thirsty Work is a television show that unearths some of the personalities behind New Zealand’s successful and innovative Wine and Beverage Industry. Broadcast on Food TV (SKY ch.9), 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.