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

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Martin Codax Mara Martin Monterrei DO Godello 2019

September 27, 2021

Martin Codax Mara Martin Monterrei DO Godello 2019 $25 How cool is the name ‘Codax’? It’s like something an evil villain in one of the Die Hard movies would be called. Or the name of a secret agent who also happens to be a highly intelligent German shepherd, deep undercover as the household pet of … Read More

Rapaura Springs Rohe Dillons Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021

September 26, 2021

Rapaura Springs Rohe Dillons Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $27.90 This bottle should carry a ‘Wear a Helmet’ warning because by jingoes, the second you unclick the cap and pour this wine into your glass, a passionfruit-pumped roundhouse kick of Kill Bill proportions will collide with your face. Big call, but I think this could … Read More

Greywacke Marlborough Wild Sauvignon 2018

September 26, 2021

Greywacke Marlborough Wild Sauvignon 2018 $39 If you’d like to sip more sauvignon, but don’t want to deal with all that grassiness and squinty acidity, then this is for you. Crafted by winemaking legend Kevin Judd, the ‘wild’ has an extra injection of toasty, slightly smoky, funky notes from fermentation with indigenous, or ‘wild’ yeasts … Read More

Nautilus Estate The Paper Nautilus Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020

September 26, 2021

Nautilus Estate The Paper Nautilus Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $35 Clive Jones (‘CJ’ to the cool kids) is the scarily talented winemaker behind the tanks and barrels at Nautilus, and to say he’s mildly obsessed with sauvignon blanc is like saying Adele is a half-decent singer. The Paper Nautilus is a limited-edition (300doz) sauvignon is … Read More

Giesen Reiler Goldlay Mosel Riesling 2018

September 26, 2021

Giesen Reiler Goldlay Mosel Riesling 2018 $22 After emigrating from Germany back in the 1980s and building a hugely successful wine business here in New Zealand, the three Giesen brothers doubled back and purchased a small, terraced vineyard in the village of Reil on the banks of Germany’s Mosel River, a place famous for turning … Read More

Carrick Organic Bannockburn Riesling 2019

September 25, 2021

Carrick Organic Bannockburn Riesling 2019 $28 Made by the supremely talented Rosie Menzies, this certified organic riesling hits all those good spots of green apple, mandarin, honeysuckle and lashings of lime. Very nicely balanced and showing great texture and tension in the mouth, it’s a perky pick-me-up for the palate that fits pretty much every … Read More

Carrick Josephine Organic Bannockburn Riesling 2020

September 25, 2021

Carrick Josephine Organic Bannockburn Riesling 2020 $34 Prepare for a lift of luscious lime, green apple and mandarin to wash across the palate and leave a comet tail of honeysuckle and homemade lemonade as it slides on down. At a positively demure 9% alc, it’s also the perfect lunchtime wine because it won’t send you … Read More

Astrolabe The Farm Marlborough Dry Riesling 2019

September 25, 2021

Astrolabe The Farm Marlborough Dry Riesling 2019 $26 With classic green apple, yellow plum and lime zest characters washing across the nose and palate, it’s an attractive style that has chalky intensity and impressive length of flavour. Grown in their Grovetown vineyard, it’s a riesling with buckets of texture, so make sure you chill it … Read More

The Better Half Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021

September 24, 2021

The Better Half Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ($tbc) This lipsmacking little lovely from Marlborough is crammed full of tropical, passionfruity punch, peachy layers and loads of lime and lemon. I like that on the website it says “designed to be enjoyed right now – not left to collect dust in your wine rack”, because that’s … Read More

Dune McLaren Vale Tirari 2020

September 24, 2021

Dune McLaren Vale Tirari 2020 $26.99 With Coriole Vineyard family pedigree behind them, brothers Peter and Duncan Lloyd, this Blewitt Springs-grown blend of mourvèdre, negroamaro, grenache, touriga and a little bit of shiraz is all sorts of sippable. Smooth, spicy and berry-saturated, here’s a wine with real personality and charm and a long, plummy finish. … Read More

Doctors Flat Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018

September 24, 2021

Doctors Flat Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 $51.50 Roaring with tamarillo, rhubarb and wild cherry on the nose and palate, followed by a whack of dark cocoa and roasted spices, makes this an exciting wine for fans of Central Otago pinot noir for sure. It’s got character, style and charm. Brisk acidity and sandy, chewy … Read More

Matahiwi Holly South Series Wairarapa Chardonnay 2020

September 24, 2021

Matahiwi Holly South Series Wairarapa Chardonnay 2020 $30 Crafted from the southern Chardonnay vines growing in the Matahiwi home vineyard, this is the fourth vintage after it was planted back in 2013. If aromas of ultra-toasty oak, grilled grapefruit and peach are your thing, then you’ll be a happy camper. Combine them with frisky acidity … 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. 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.