SPEND MORE ON YOUR SANITY

10 January 2013By Yvonne

“Oh that’s such a cruisy job – wanna swap?” is something I hear regularly when I meet someone new and they find out what I do for a living.  They must think it’s all just wine tasting day in day out, making a telly show and going to the occasional flash party.  They don’t see … Read More

TOP NEW FOOD TV SHOWS FOR JANUARY

23 December 2012By Yvonne

TOP NEW FOOD TV SHOWS FOR JANUARY FOOD TRIP WITH TODD ENGLISH TUESDAY 12.00PM, 4.00PM, 8.00PM on 1ST JANUARY In Food Trip with Todd English, the master chef, author and restaurateur again brings his talent and taste for reinventing traditional cooking to the screen. During his travels at home and abroad, Todd explores a different dish or … Read More

New Zealand now exporting One Million Cases of Pinot Noir Annually!

20 September 2012By Yvonne

One Million Cases of New Zealand Pinot Noir New Zealand is now exporting well over one million cases of Pinot Noir a year. No surprise considering UK’s wine writer Jamie Goode recent comments that within 10 years New Zealand could be known for making the world’s consistently best Pinot Noir & Syrah. “That is 14 … Read More

Food TV Sweet September Highlights

4 September 2012By Yvonne

  SEPTEMBER 2012 PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS “SWEET SEPTEMBER”     heston’s feast  (new to food tv) MONDAY 12.30pm, 4.30pm, 8.30pm FROM 17th September 5X60 Heston Blumenthal becomes a gastronomic timelord as he turns off his blowtorch, puts on his chef whites and travels back in time to culinary worlds that have gone un-tasted for centuries to … Read More

Stalked by the ‘Digest, saved by the bottle…

8 August 2012By Yvonne

How has your week been? Not too traumatic I hope. Sadly, I’ve suffered a fate in the last few days that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I’ve been found by Readers Digest. Only two years ago I celebrated finally being rid of those constant “Authorised Prize Guarantee” and pushy “Sweepstakes Chances” letters, but … Read More

Duck Creek ‘The Messenger’ Merlot Malbec Cabernet Franc 2010

24 July 2012By Yvonne

Duck Creek ‘The Messenger’ Merlot Malbec Cabernet Franc 2010 $85  Who says the Gimblett Gravels and Waiheke Island are the be all and end all of great kiwi Bordeaux-style reds?  This is a stunning example from the Stillwater area just north of Auckland near the Whangaparoa Peninsula and it’s a muscular, multilayered wine with leathery, … Read More

Dish Magazine Pilsner Tasting

8 June 2012By Yvonne

Hello, I’m delighted to announce that following on from Dish magazine’s inaugural Panel Tasting of Pinot Noirs in our current June-July issue, our next Panel Tasting is to focus on New Zealand Pilsners. (Because we love beer too!) You are invited to submit your brewery’s Pilsner to be part of the blind competition-style panel tasting, … Read More

Mediterranean Mecca

7 March 2012By Yvonne

Mediterranean Mecca  view pdf of newspaper column… Nestled amongst panel beaters, plumbing firms and various other trade-oriented whatnot down the industrialised end of Tuam Street in Christchurch is a veritable oasis for anyone yearning for a Mediterranean wine and food fix.    The wine shelves at Mediterranean Foods are almost back to their bulging best following … Read More

Is Purple Death the worst wine in the world?

16 December 2011By Yvonne

There’s a bit of a survey making the rounds of the Twittersphere asking if Purple Death might be the worst wine ever made.  I think that’s a tad harsh.  Back when I was a teenager and it was the only thing I could afford that actually had any alcoholic strength; I thought it was pretty … Read More