Three Fates wine by Yvonne LorkinApril 1, 2025 From left: Holly Girven-Russell, Casey Motley, Hester Nesbitt. Photo: Florence Charvin When it comes to wine stories fitting the cultural zeitgeist, it doesn’t get more current than three, young Hawke’s Bay women stalking each other on social media before opting to leap into business together with the … Read More
Current Columns
Chateau Garage runs on Powrie Power
Garage Days Revisited by Yvonne LorkinAugust 1, 2023 Photo: Florence Charvin [As published in July/August BayBuzz magazine.] “Bruno, our schnauzer, may greet you with a bark,” was the text from Ollie Powrie a few minutes before I pulled up for our interview. So I was prepared, as I noodled up the driveway of his 1920s … Read More
Loss, Learning and Looking Ahead – A post-cyclone wine capital
Loss, Learning and Looking Ahead by Yvonne LorkinMay 16, 2023 Photo: Florence Charvin [As published in May/June BayBuzz magazine.] It’s a generalisation, but even before Cyclone Gabrielle hit Hawke’s Bay, things out in the vineyards weren’t fabulous. The 2022 harvest was hobbled by Spring frosts and unsettled weather through flowering and fruit set, followed by a … Read More
Saved by the Decibel
Saved by the Decibel by Yvonne LorkinMarch 31, 2023 Daniel Brennan. Photo: Florence Charvin [As published in March/April BayBuzz magazine.] Daniel Brennan was born in New York and grew up in a part of Philadelphia known as Southern New Jersey, or as the locals say, South Jersey. He’d been living in the city, right near the … Read More
Historic vertical tasting of Esk Valley ‘The Terraces’ 1991-2021
This week, on November 22nd some of the rarest bottles of Esk Valley The Terraces will come up for auction at Webb’s in Mt Eden as part of a two-day fine wine and whisky event. Last Wednesday I was extremely fortunate to attend a once-in-a-lifetime Esk Valley ‘The Terraces’ tasting at Webb’s for a small … Read More
Zero to Hero – Zero Alcohol Wines by Stone Pony & Fourth Wave
The great thing about reviewing zero alcohol wines is I don’t have to spit them out – yay!! It’s also handy to remember that de-alcoholised wines can be very floral and fruity and enjoyable, they will have a taste and texture that’s slightly different to full-strength wines. Yet the quality of zero-alc wines is improving … Read More
Baybuzz Magazine Profile – Monowai Estate
Monowai Estate Published September 20th 2022 BayBuzz Magazine Monowai rocks! by Yvonne LorkinSeptember 20, 2022 Photo: Tom Allan Things don’t happen slow with Emma Lowe. “I said to Marcelo, if you come to New Zealand and decide you like it and want to stay, then we’re going to have to get married,” she shrugs. “So he … Read More
Canvas Drinks matches Sept 11th 2021
Canvas Drinks matches Sept 11th 2021 Frittata muffins Now I know Annabel says these frittata muffins are a great way to get veg into kids, but they’re also a great way to get the Hunting Lodge Expressions Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 ($23.99) into grownups. The sweetness of the kumara, cheesiness of the cheese and … Read More
Canvas Drinks Matches Saturday 10th July 2021
Yvonne’s picks … (Tuna Nicoise sandwich) Pinot noir and tuna are like love and marriage even when they’re in a sandwich. So treat yourself to a large goblet of Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 ($48) to celebrate its spectacular compatibility with salty, oily, Nicoise niceness. Slippery-smooth, spice-saturated and wildly aromatic, Kevin Judd’s new pinot noir is stacked … Read More
Canvas Drinks Matches Saturday 17th July 2021
Yvonne’s picks … (Seafood Sambal) As a child, I was certain that quicksand was going to be a bigger issue in my life than it actually is. Who’d have thought that the thing that’d save me from many a sludgy situation would be gewurztraminer? I’m loving the Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2020 ($20) because it’s one … Read More