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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Hungarian Wine Tasting June 2025

5 July 2025

Csányi Teleki Válogatás Villány Olaszrizling 2024 One of Hungary’s most popular wine grape varieties, Olaszrizling is responsible for producing loads of different styles, mostly on the light, zesty, citrus-forward spectrum. Known internationally as Welschriesling, and despite its name’s reference to Riesling, it’s not related to Riesling. I know. Confusing much? “Olasz” translates to “Italian” in … Read More

Le Grá Cut Cane Wairarapa Merlot 2023

3 July 2025

Le Grá Cut Cane Wairarapa Merlot 2023 $67 Crafted in an experimental ‘Amarone’ style, the team at Le Grá have cut the grapevine canes, which denies the ripe berries access to water and nutrition, so they naturally begin to shrivel, concentrating the sugars and creating a really unusual style of merlot. Aromatically it’s a different … Read More

Lateral Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir 2022

3 July 2025

Lateral Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir 2022 $40 Crafted by Austin Black and Pip Battley are the talented twosome behind this punchy, plucky pinot noir. Slightly unusual in that it comes in a Bordeaux bottle, but nothing unusual about its classic Gibbston Valley vavoom. Stacked with ripe rhubarb, dark cherry, bright berries, black tea and complex … Read More

Le Grá Wairarapa Sparkling Cuvée 2024

3 July 2025

Le Grá Wairarapa Sparkling Cuvée 2024 $47 Brian and Nicky Geary have blended a parcel of their Sauvignon Blanc with a hefty splash of skin-fermented Pinot Gris and put the wine through a method traditionnelle fermentation to create a uniquely herbaceous, citrus-stacked style of sparkler that’ll get any party started. Le Grá

Alta Alella Privat Brut Nature Organic Cava Rosé 2021

1 July 2025

Alta Alella Privat Brut Nature Organic Cava Rosé 2021 $40 Entering its mature phase, this wine is organically certified and crafted from monastrell (or mataro) grapes grown in sauló (sandy-granitic) soils in Catalonia, just south of Barcelona. In fact, Alta Alella is the closest winery to the city. It’s an attractively dry, minerally, spicy, chalky … Read More

Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021

30 June 2025

Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 $65 Named after the western boundary of the vineyard, which happens to be an orchard of cider apple trees and the most sheltered spot on the vineyard site. It’s a super-stylish example and more intensely aromatic and textural than the previous vintage. An extended 18-month maturation … Read More

Four Daughters Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024

26 June 2025

Four Daughters Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 Lemongrass and bruised basil merge with classic cut grass and white pepper characters on the nose. Fresh and yet showing a smoky undertone on the nose and palate and finishing with a ripe lemon and passionfruit punchiness. Uncomplicated and fruity.

Schubert Martinborough Rose 2023

24 June 2025

Schubert Martinborough Rose 2023 $39 Crafted from 100% Pinot Noir grown in Kai Schubert’s tiny wee vineyard in central Martinborough, this limited edition rosé is the cutest colour of freshly filleted trout and has lifted aromatics of pink peppercorn, white strawberry, quince, quartzy minerality and redcurrant and soft raspberry. All those delicious things osmose across … Read More

Soljans Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024

23 June 2025

Soljans Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $25 Erupting with bright passionfruit, lemonade, lime zest, bright peach and buckets of fresh green herbs and plucky peapod notes, this Sauvignon Blanc is classic sunshine in a bottle stuff. Gentle, juicy, cleansing and citrus-stacked, it’s tropic-tastic to sip.   Soljans Estate

Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Gris 2023

23 June 2025

Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Gris 2023 $25 Deliciously dry yet erupting with punchy pear, fresh quince and nashi notes laced with white pepper, spiced peach and gentle acidity make this a fresh, approachable and cleansing sip. Whitehaven

Whitehaven Marlborough Chardonnay 2023

23 June 2025

Whitehaven Marlborough Chardonnay 2023 $25 Bright, vibrant, roast nectarine and grilled grapefruit characters on the nose and palate, interlaced with crisp acidity, beautifully balanced oak treatment, creamy stonefruit, almond meal and soft, buttery, caramelised characters to finish. Whitehaven  

Spoke Resolute Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023

23 June 2025

Spoke Resolute Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 I love that winemaker Ben Glover has used the words ‘feral fermentation’ on the back label of this wine because that’s exactly what’s happened to create this fabulously funky, moody, broody style. Wild yeasts, a long, slow ferment, and extended time being matured on its lees has created a … 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.