Well, this is truly the end of an era. Michael, thank you. For the last 30 years I’ve been poring over your annual Buyer’s Guides. They’ve formed an enormous part of my wine education and appreciation journey and I was crestfallen when they moved from print to online. Now I’m feeling that way again. I remember vividly meeting you for the first time back in 2009 in the Tom MacDonald Cellar at Church Road while you were on tour and I wrote about you releasing your World Atlas of Wine NZ 2nd Ed.
I will absolutely keep reading your Listener Magazine wine reviews and I’m very very much looking forward to learning more about your new book project. Exciting times!
A Statement from Michael Cooper MA ONZM 
They say, “all good things must come to an end.” After 32 years of publication – in print and online – from March 10 new reviews will no longer be added to New Zealand Wines – Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide.
Invitations will no longer be sent for Fast Access or monthly theme tastings, but the website will be accessible until May 31. Here, I would like to acknowledge the critical support of Upstart Press, publisher of the Buyer’s Guide for the past decade.
So, what’s going on? In terms of workload, I’m trying to ‘taper’ (in other words, not work all the time), while keeping other existing commitments and embarking on a new project.
Please keep sending samples for my weekly wine columns and monthly wine features in the NZ Listener (with 240,000 readers, the Listener is New Zealand’s leading current affairs, arts, and lifestyle magazine. Its readers are a discerning audience, 42 per cent more likely than the average Kiwi to buy premium quality wines. Some of those wine columns and features are also published on the website of the New Zealand Herald.)
More good news. If you send samples of your latest releases, within one month I will email you free reviews of all wines I rate as being of four stars (excellent) quality or above. I will also email you free reviews of wines I believe offer above-average value (such as a sub-$20, 3 ½ stars Sauvignon Blanc, or a sub-$25, 3 ½ stars Pinot Noir.)
Please send samples (two bottles of each wine are required) to: Michael Cooper, 28 Park Avenue, Birkenhead, Auckland 0626. My email address is: michaelcooper.wine@outlook.com
At the same time, I’m starting work on a totally new wine book, aimed at an international readership. More about that later!
Many thanks for your support.
All the best.
Regards
Michael
Michael Cooper MA ONZM
28 Park Avenue
Birkenhead
AUCKLAND 0626
P. (09) 480 9473
E. michaelcooper.wine@outlook.com
