Published NZ Herald Sat 12 Mar 2016 I’ve always been big on pairing wine with TV. These glorious drops got me through a Netflix binge of the pantswettingly funny ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’. They’re great sips for sore ribs. Santagostino Nero D’Avola Syrah 2011 $30 The groovy, gothic-style circular design on the label comes … Read More
Current Columns
Italian Invasion
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 8 Mar 2016 I’m hugely fortunate to be the wine writer for Dish, an absolutely fantastic food and wine magazine that launched back in 2004. A new issue hits the stands every two months and the April-May issue is traditionally when we focus on all things Italian. This will … Read More
A wine pick for Madonna
Published NZ Herald Sat 5 Mar 2016 Tonight, after a 32 year wait, I finally get to see Madonna perform live. Madonna. Fizzing doesn’t begin to describe the feeling. How does that relate to my wine picks this week? Well I suppose one of them also happens to be white and Italian… Cento … Read More
We’ve got Wine Sustainability…
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 1 Mar 2016 You’d be hard pressed these days to pick up a bottle of New Zealand wine and not see a ‘Sustainable New Zealand Winegrowing’ emblem on the back label. It began when NZ Winegrowers launched the ambitious initiative back in 2007 after years of research into holistic … Read More
Three from the length of the country
Published NZ Herald Sat 27 Feb 2016 From the tropical far north, to the dry, dusty heat of Hawke’s Bay, to the coolness of Canterbury and beyond, the vines are thriving under our summer sun with bunches fit to burst come harvest time… Butterfish Bay Pinot Gris 2015 $20 ★★★½ Pinot gris is … Read More
Cheers to not poisoning you, my friend
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 22 Feb 2016 If you’re sitting at home or at the café or the hairdressers or possibly on a plane or a bus or at your computer reading this newspaper, then you’re possibly feeling that it’s all very well being kept up to date with the current affairs of … Read More
Three to satisfy urges
Published NZ Herald Sat 20 Feb 2016 If you feel the urge to adopt an organic edge, embrace the ANZAC spirit or immerse yourself in something unusual from Italy, I think I’ve got just what you’re looking for this week… Richmond Plains Nelson Pinot Noir 2014 $27.99 Don’t be expecting to see a neatly … Read More
Fancy an Italian? Read this first.
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 16 Feb 2016 What’s up DOC, or was that DOCG? I think I might have VDT… More and more Italian wine is becoming available in New Zealand, and while it’s hardly rocket science figuring out how Italy (with its climatic blessings) manages to produce superlative wines year after year, … Read More
A trio to love
Published NZ Herald Sat 13 Feb 2016 So you’re gunning to get into the good-books with your valentine tomorrow. You’ve bought flowers, heaping wads of the best chocolate you can find, you’ve even bought a snazzy card and poured your heart out to her with a handwritten message inside (remember handwriting?) Complete the equation … Read More
Wine talk
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 9 Feb 2016 Clos Marguerite Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $27 ★★★★½ For me, sauvignon blanc’s like this absolutely scream their sense of place. From a mile away you can tell it’s from the Awatere Valley because of the gorgeous elderflower, lemon blossom, peach and lime perfume typical of the … Read More