Three bottles to watch TV with

March 12, 2016By Yvonne

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

Italian Invasion

March 8, 2016By Yvonne

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

March 5, 2016By Yvonne

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…

March 1, 2016By Yvonne

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

February 27, 2016By Yvonne

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

February 22, 2016By Yvonne

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

February 20, 2016By Yvonne

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.

February 16, 2016By Yvonne

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

February 15, 2016By Yvonne

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

February 9, 2016By Yvonne

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