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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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Latour-Martillac Lacroix-Martillac AOC Pessac-Léognan 2018
29 January 2026Latour-Matillac Lacroix-Martillac AOC Pessac-Léognan 2018 $56 Who says you need to pay hundreds of dollars for good Bordeaux? Not me! Definitely not after tasting this cocoa-dusted, tobacco-crammed blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 60% Merlot. Grown in a vineyard located on the plateau above the village of Martillac, it’s stacked with dark fruit, layers of liquorice, … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2023
27 January 2026Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $20 Deliciously rich and softly smoky, this is an ultra-ripe style, typical of Hawke’s Bay’s warmer, Northern climate. Bursting with peach, lemon zest, bruised basil and lime notes laced with a hint of marzipan typical of a splash of barrel fermentation. Delicious. Mills Reef
Misty Cove Tamāhine Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024
20 January 2026Misty Cove Tamāhine Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $35 Named after the first ferry connecting New Zealand’s North and South Island, this is a stylishly crafted fumé blanc, where beautifully balanced French oak fermentation cloaks fresh apple, watercress, peach and passionfruit plushness. Soft white pepper, marzipan, pollen and bruised basil add extra layers of complexity to … Read More
Misty Cove Landmark Gisborne Albarino 2025
20 January 2026Misty Cove Landmark Gisborne Albarino 2025 $25 If you’re a fan of green apple intensity, lime zest, elderflower and hints of honeysuckle, then you’ve skated into the right cul-de-sac with this shiny new Albarino. Grown in New Zealand’s birthplace of Albarino, Gisborne turns out some of the best examples in the country – and that’s … Read More
Misty Cove Rock Daisy Marlborough Pinot Noir 2025
16 January 2026Misty Cove Rock Daisy Marlborough Pinot Noir 2025 $25 Designed with Summer in mind, this is a bright, light, juicy Pinot Noir that’s perky and punchy when popped in the fridge and serve chilled. Named after the native flower clinging to the cliffs of the Marlborough Sounds, it’s crafted in a vibrant Nouveau style and … Read More
Rock Ferry Trig Hill Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
2 January 2026Rock Ferry Trig Hill Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $45 Tom and Fiona Hutchison are the talented twosome behind the certified organic, biodynamically-farmed Rock Ferry vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago, and their wine director, Allan McWilliams, has been making wine for Tom Hutchinson and Fiona Harvey at Rock Ferry since they began in the mid-2000s. … Read More
Rock Ferry Trig Hill Central Otago Tempranillo 2022
2 January 2026Rock Ferry Trig Hill Central Otago Tempranillo 2022 $50 Fiona and Tom Hutchison created Rock Ferry back in 2005 and developed the organic, Central Otago-based Trig Hill vineyard at the same time. It’s beyond a stretch for most to attempt growing this Spanish staple in the southernmost wine region of the world — but shiver … Read More
Two Rivers Clos Des Pierres Marlborough Chardonnay 2024
1 January 2026Two Rivers Clos Des Pierres Marlborough Chardonnay 2024 $27-$32 Crafted from some of the oldest Mendoza-clone vines in Marlborough, this new Chardonnay is deliciously toasty, roasty, packed with golden, ripe peach and edged with fragrant grapefruit and creamy, brulee and oatmeal characters. It’s a Chardonnay that winemaker Dave Clouston can be rightly proud of. Sophisticated, … Read More
Rua Central Otago Pinot Noir 2024
31 December 2025Rua Central Otago Pinot Noir 2024 $28 Prepare for the subtle scent of baked cherries and the aroma of thyme, rubbed between your palms. The scent of wild rhubarb, baking spices and raspberry. They merge into a flavour spectrum of redcurrant, black tea, and exotic spices, with textures that are fleshy and lithe, and a … Read More
Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz 2022
30 December 2025Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz 2022 $24.99 If you don’t want to feel ancient, never use the phrase ‘burn CDs’ in front of anyone under 25. The baffled, slightly pitying look they’ll give you will crush your soul. Happily, you can turn to this bright-as-a-button wine to cheer yourself up. Ultra-attractive, it bursts with blackcurrant, fruitcake … Read More
Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2022
18 December 2025Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2022 $36 Meeting Alex Hendry, Linden’s winemaker, is like meeting an elf-warrior who also happens to be a Mohican punk god that can conjure up magical Merlot-based blends that’ll drag you into his very tasty cult before you can scream “God Save The Queen!” Google him, click ‘images’ … Read More
Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah Blanc de Noir 2023
15 December 2025Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah Blanc de Noir 2023 $32 It’s not everyday you see syrah made in the style of a white wine, right? But in a year when most of his vineyards were obliterated by Cyclone Gabrielle, winemaker Alex Hendry felt it couldn’t hurt to experiment. What did he have to lose? Well, … 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.
