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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. 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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The Landing Boathouse Bay of Islands Rosé 2023
8 December 2024The Landing Boathouse Bay of Islands Rosé 2023 $29.99 Crafted from Syrah grown by Northland-born Ben Byrne, this redcurrant, melon and spiced creaming soda-scented sensation merges with bright minerality, apple, pink peppercorn and crisp citrus on the palate. Stylish, dry, sophisticated and definitely something you want in your fridge at all times. The Landing
Oblix Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021
7 December 2024Oblix Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 $18 Crafted by Michelle Richardson from fruit grown in Sir George Fistonich’s family vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels, this is a fresh, nectarine-stacked chardonnay with a core of zesty green apple and zingy acidity and lemony layers. Vibrant and faintly toasty and showing superb length of flavour. … Read More
Brightwater Lord Rutherford Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2023
27 November 2024Brightwater Lord Rutherford Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $29 Whenever Gary and Valley Neale release a wine under their Lord Rutherford brand, you know it will be something different. Winemaker Steve Gill shepherds the fruit through the winery and into the bottle, introducing layers of lemongrass, lemon verbena, lemon zest, in fact all the lemony-est things … Read More
Zaria Wines Sparkling Rosé 2024
14 November 2024Zaria Wines Hawke’s Bay Sparkling Rosé 2024 $28 Chilled down, this new release sparkling rosé presents in a rather cool, calm and collected style with berry brioche and soft, Shrewsbury biscuit characters. Crafted from merlot grown in the iron-rich soils of the Bridge Pa wine region, it delivers a fresh, softly fleshy, cherry-plumped style with … Read More
Dandelion Vineyards Wonderland of the Eden Valley Riesling 2024
6 November 2024Dandelion Vineyards Wonderland of the Eden Valley Riesling 2024 $tbc Bright and energetic, this riesling has that classic Eden Valley minerality which wraps around a core of green apple and lime. Lean, focused and precise, this riesling boasts a lovely linear structure and a finely tuned finish. Dandelion Vineyards
Te Mania Organic Nelson Chardonnay 2023
5 November 2024Te Mania Organic Nelson Chardonnay 2023 $27 Here’s a chardonnay travelling down the citrus side of the street and is laced with spicy oak, almond meal complexity and edged with grilled stonefruit on the finish. Slightly short, but a good wine for a large crowd. Te Mania
Te Mania Nelson Riesling 2023
5 November 2024Te Mania Nelson Riesling 2023 $22 Scented with crushed shells, lime zest and freshly-sliced Granny Smith apples, this Nelsonian riesling has squint-factor fifty when it comes to zesty acidity and that roars through to the citrus-stacked finish. Te Mania
Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2023
30 October 2024Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2023 $42 One of my favourite chardonnay releases of the year, the Omaka Reserve is fermented entirely in American Oak and held on lees for at least 9 months to inject maximum creamy character into a bold and expressive wine. The grilled grapefruit and roasted peach notes really roar … Read More
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Marlborough Pinot Blanc 2020
9 October 2024Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Marlborough Pinot Blanc 2020 $30 Sourced from fruit grown at the confluence of the Wairau and Waihopai Rivers in a spot named after its use as a Royal New Zealand Air Force camp in the Second World War, comes a bright, vibrantly floral, apple and lemon blossom stacked … Read More
Maison Noire Single Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2023
8 October 2024Maison Noire Single Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2023 $29 Grown high up on the Waimarama Road in the deep limestone clays of the Tukituki Valley, in a tiny vineyard tended by French winemaker Guillaume Thomas, this cabernet franc is deeply savoury, laced with brick dust and smoked blueberry and has gently drying tannins, fresh … Read More
Hawkesridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2023
3 October 2024Hawkesridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2023 $25 (not rated) While on the nose this wine has some apricot and jasmine promise, sadly the palate is out of balance, with a sweet-sour note and it finishes short. Not great. But 2023 was a very difficult cyclone vintage, so that could have been an issue.
Heaphy Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2023
3 October 2024Heaphy Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $19 The pale, white-gold colour might lead you to assume this is going to be a light, frilly style, yet as soon as you sip you’ll be sucked deep into herbaceous depths of smoked red capsicum, bruised lemongrass, fresh basil and tomato stalk notes. It’s a complex and generous style … 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.
