Christchurch hosts Pinot Noir NZ for first time in its 20-year history A 115-strong collective of New Zealand Pinot Noir producers are bringing their international celebration to Christchurch for the first time in 2021, shining the global spotlight on one of New Zealand’s most exciting wines. World famous Pinot Noir celebration hits the South Island … Read More
Yvonne’s Blog
Australian Wine Film wins Silver Dolphin at Cannes
Dr. Richard Hamilton, the owner of Leconfield Wines, Australia’s oldest family-owned winemaking business, has just won a Silver Dolphin at the 2018 Cannes Media and TV Awards in Cannes for his film ‘WineLine2 – Odyssey’. The film received the Silver Dolphin award in the Documentary section of the Cannes Media and TV Awards – the … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Final Regional Newspapers Wine Column Saturday 15th Sept 2018
I set my alarm for 4am to begin writing this column. That’s when my house is quiet and calm and no one is yelling at me to help find their socks/tie/glasses/sports gear/keys and cellphones. It’s when I can just tap away on my computer, turning notes from the previous week into something semi-readable and when … Read More
DeVine Wine in a Can…
I’m as open-minded as the next cynical critic about new packaging and as such I welcomed the chance for canned wine to redeem itself. DeVine Sparkling Brut NV 200ml can $5.99 ($19.99 4pk) I think it was the playdough-yellow packaging and tired, tacky, grapey motifs on the front that initially made me throw up a … Read More
What’s happening with the Air NZ Wine Awards? New announcement – read on!
The best of New Zealand wine will be discovered at New Zealand Winegrowers’ refreshed wine competition later this year. The New Zealand Wine of the Year™ Awards is the official national wine competition of the New Zealand wine industry, replacing the Air New Zealand Wine Awards and the Bragato Wine Awards, two of the industry’s … Read More
Canvas Column Sat 2 July 2016
Julia Child once said “I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food”. She also said “Every woman should own a blowtorch”. I miss Julia. Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Gewürztraminer 2015 $25 This organically produced wine is golden and glossy in the glass and absolutely heaves with heady spices, musky pot … Read More
Wine & Food Matching Lorkin Style…
Wine and food matching. The fact that it’s even a thing is the relatively recent result of American neo-prohibitionists in1970’s demanding that if alcoholic beverages were to be served anywhere, then suitable food needed to be provided. So canny restaurateurs clicked rather quickly that if you’re going to do it, do it well and put … Read More
New Meaning to Old Vines
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Sat 17 Oct So you’re looking over at the fence at the back of your section at that gnarly old grapevine that’s been there since WAY before you bought the house and it occurs to you (again) “I wonder whether we could make wine from the grapes that grow on that?” … Read More
Sparkling Spring
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Sat 10 Oct 2015 There’s something about the onset of Spring which sparks the desire for something well, sparkling. Mimi Sparkling Pink $13.99 ★★★½ Aromas of delicate strawberry shortcake and cranberry cashew trail mix lead the way to soft cherry, breadcrust and biscuit flavours. It’s fresh, smooth, lengthy and the … Read More
Cloudy Bay 30 Years 2015
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Sat 10 Oct 2015 In 1985 about this time, I was sitting in a movie theatre watching Michael J Fox as Marty McFly travel via his silver DeLorean thirty years into the future, to 2015. 1985 was when our family moved from Takapau to the big smoke of Hastings and … Read More