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
Yvonne’s Blog
2023 Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction Artwork Unveiled
The 2023 Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction Artwork has been unveiled and it’s awesome! Last night at a glittery gathering in Havelock North, the 2023 Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction featured piece of art was revealed to event sponsors, supporters, auction lot providers and esteemed guests. It’s a 1550 x 1200 acrylic on canvas by Josh Lancaster … 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
Hawke’s Bay is now a World Wine Capital!
Hawke’s Bay joins ranks of elite world wine regions From left: Penelope Radburnd, Lauren Swift, Barry Riwai, Kate Radburnd, Julian Grounds, Alex Hendry. Photo: Brett Phibbs / PhibbsVisuals Hawke’s Bay has been named a Great Wine Capital of the world, a global network of the world’s 12 greatest wine regions, including Bordeaux, Bilbao and Napa … Read More
NEW WINE FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN HAWKE’S BAY APRIL 1 2023
PRESS RELEASE – NEW WINE FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN HAWKE’S BAY – TICKETS ON SALE NOW Tickets are on sale for New Zealand’s newest food and wine festival – Harvest Hawke’s Bay. The inaugural event will take place on April 1, 2023, in a spectacular riverside location, nestled beneath Te Mata Peak in the Tukituki Valley. … Read More
A Little Maison Noire Magic – BayBuzz Magazine Christmas Issue 2022
Santé to Maison Noire by Yvonne LorkinNovember 29, 2022 Photo: Florence Charvin “My perfect Christmas present?” asks artist Esther Smith. “Easy. A trailer load of mulch.” Not exactly what I was expecting when asking Esther and her husband, winemaker Guillaume Thomas of Maison Noire wines, what their Christmas wishes were for 2022. But as I quickly … 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
Low Sulphur and Preservative Free Wines from Stone Pony & Fourth Wave
Low Sulphur and Preservative Free Wines from Stone Pony & Fourth Wave There’s an increasing volume of quality, affordable, ‘minimal intervention’ wines appearing on our shop shelves, opening up the options for consumers who are conscious of what they’d rather their wines ‘didn’t’ contain. Seeing wines labelled Low or No-Added Sulphites, Zero Preservative and Unfined … 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