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YVONNE LORKINA fan of all things fermented...Get in touchscroll down to read my latest reviews -
Co-Founder & Chief Tasting Officer WineFriend Owner/Executive Producer Thirsty Media Ltdscroll down to read my latest reviews
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Wine Writer NZ Herald CANVASscroll down to read my latest reviewsWine & Beverages WriterdishMagazine
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
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Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2024
7 December 2025Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2024 $29 Macadamia magic in terms of the toasty, creamy, nutty niceness going on in this Chardonnay. Ultra-golden and definitely swaggering on the savoury, mineral and smoky, buttery side of the street, this wine is less of a fruit bomb and more of a thinker’s sip. Hints of butterscotch and … Read More
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Prima Donna Waipara Pinot Noir 2015
3 December 2025Pegasus Bay Aged Release Prima Donna Waipara Pinot Noir 2015 $130 How is it that 2015 was ten years ago already? I’m sorry but that just cannot be true. One way to inject some joy into a rather jarring fact is to sip this incredible aged-release version of Pegasus Bay’s flagship Pinot Noir. Only crafted … Read More
Villa Maria Gimblett Gravels Ngakirikiri Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
1 December 2025Villa Maria Gimblett Gravels Ngakirikiri Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 $145 From one of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of vintages (2019, 2020, 2021) comes a Cabernet Sauvignon for the ages. Erupting with bay leaf intensity, dark cocoa, dried herbs and deep, brooding tobacco-laced layers wrapping themselves around black fruits and seasoned leather. The tannins have chew and grip … Read More
Home Fields Single Vineyard Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2023
1 December 2025Home Fields Single Vineyard Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2023 $47 New from a tiny, lesser-known Wairarapa producer, comes a Pinot Noir that slinks down the lighter side of the street. Colour-wise it’s leaning into the earthy, raspberry cola colour spectrum and in addition to its ultra-light hue, its aroma layers lean toward the savoury, leafy, dried … Read More
Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Chardonnay 2022
30 November 2025Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Chardonnay 2022 $45 Impressively glossy and golden in the glass and for a Chardonnay, it’s a serious supermodel. Roaring with grilled grapefruit, baked nectarine, toasted almonds and lemon pith, it only gets better as the slippery, silky textures kick in. Hints of struck match, smoked walnutty complexity and a brisk, yet … Read More
Akitu Central Otago Pinot Noir Blanc 2024
30 November 2025Akitu Central Otago Pinot Noir Blanc 2024 $45 This wine is a white wine crafted from Pinot Noir — and it’s an absolute banger, bursting with baked apple, yellow plum, soft apricot, and gentle citrus layers. Refreshing, zesty, laced with tree-fruits and rich complexity to finish. Dangerously drinkable. Akitu
Linden Estate Destination Series Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021
28 November 2025Linden Estate Destination Series Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021 $64 From one of the recent holy trinity of vintages (2019, 2020, 2021), this syrah has deliciously gentle ripeness, fragrant florals and fresh peppercorn characters, and a lick of bitter chocolate, blackcurrant, blueberry and leather on the nose and palate. It’s warming, soothing and terrifically textural, with … Read More
Brave Roots Marlborough Gruner Veltliner 2024
24 November 2025Brave Roots Marlborough Gruner Veltliner 2024 $35 Crafted using fruit sourced in Marlborough’s Southern Valley’s, this little bit of Austria in the Antipodes is roaring with lemon zest, Summer florals, zesty minerality, oyster shell salinity, grapefruit pith and fresh almond notes. Textural complexity comes from a 7-month sleep on its lees, with a soft, creamy, … Read More
Brave Roots Marlborough Viognier 2024 $55
24 November 2025Brave Roots Marlborough Viognier 2024 $55 If your experiences with Viognier have only ever been along the bold, blousy and broadly fruity side of the spectrum, then prepare to be impressed by this deliciously dry example from young Ukrainian winemakers Alina Tenetka and Masha Skorchenko. Displaying classic apricot kernel, jasmine, honeysuckle and citrus oil characters … Read More
Brave Roots Marlborough Albarino 2025
24 November 2025Brave Roots Marlborough Albarino 2025 $45 Reaching for the Albarino stars via fermentation in older, seasoned French oak and aged on fine lees for 5 months, this wine shows delicious complexity, apple-centric aromatics, lemon blossom, snappy grapefruit notes and a superb, softly saline minerality in the mid-palate and finish. Sourced from fruit grown at Seaview … Read More
Mount Four The Siblings Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024
24 November 2025Mount Four The Siblings Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $28 Made in a unique style by French winemaker Marie Navailles, this Marlborough Sauvignon roars with elderflower and lemon blossom, soft basil and lemonade layers. It’s gently textural with a mineral-laced finish, creamy length of flavour and a style and personality all its own. Very different to … Read More
Linden Estate Destination Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021
17 November 2025Linden Estate Destination Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 $64 If you’re a fan of classically rich Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay, you have skipped into the right cul-de-sac, my friend. Crafted by Alex Hendry and from one of the ‘holy trinity’ vintages of 2019, 2020 & 2021, this Chardonnay roars with scorched peach, grilled grapefruit, toasted almond … 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.
