A tale of lamb, salt and wine

It’s not just consumers who are looking for ingredients of provenance, but also the families who work the fields, the farmland and the vines who seek to nourish the environment for the greater good. New Zealand is naturally an ideal place, and Central Otago, a rugged landscape, where the Crutchleys completely transformed pastures over the

Two Paddocks, striking gold in former goldmine

When we began searching for a Central Otago Pinot Noir six years ago, the label of Two Paddocks immediately struck us, but it was the very restrained and classical style that was love at first sight. Even Francophiles might be tempted to try what Lisa Perotti-Brown, Master of Wine, calls “a very natural, almost leafy

Kumeu River, Auckland, New Zealand

Kumeu River is one of the 10 or 12 estates we started off with in 2013. Year in year out, their wines, starting from the village and going all the way to the top with Mate’s Vineyard, are compelling in their own right. Frankly, it is also their relatively low price for fine Chardonnay, that

Fun times in Waipara, New Zealand

  Suppose most Riesling lovers on their way to becoming fanatics are those who have figured out the structured Alsatian from the finessed German and the fruit intense wines from Austria. Along the way they will also have tasted some Australian Riesling from the Clare and Eden Valley – you gotta love lime here – and

Churton, new world wine tempered with old world style

Churton was established in 1997 by Sam and Mandy Weaver. From site selection and bio-dynamic practices through to low intervention winemaking, Churton produces exceptional terroir driven wines. Churton is a 22 hectare single vineyard and encompasses an undulating ridge line between the Omaka and Waihopai valleys in Marlborough, New Zealand. 200 metres above sea level,

The Naturalists from Antipodes

The last 10 years have seen many independent growers and winemakers emerge in many of today’s “cool” wine regions including Yarra, Adelaide Hills (Australia) or Canterbury (New Zealand). Most likely, these individuals traveled extensively, worked and tasted with the best winemakers, and scraped their pennies together to either buy or rent vineyards to grow healthy

Viticulturist Interview Mike Wing, Two Paddocks

Name: Mike Wing Winery: Two Paddocks Town/Country: Central Otago, New Zealand Which spot in your vineyard is the most special and why? The rocky outcrop at our Last Chance Vineyard. Here there is a 360 degree view of Central Otago and it is always drenched in sun. 2. If you link the dots in your

Interview James Rowan, Soho Wine Co.

Name: James Rowan Winery: Soho Wine Co Town/Country: Waiheke Island, New Zealand Which spot in your vineyard is the most special and why? There are a few and they’re where you get to see/feel the whole island, and our special little piece of it…oh, there’s down in the new plantings…new ideas…a new future.  Also, there’s

Interview Michael Brajkovich, Kumeu River Wines

Name: Michael Brajkovich Winery: Kumeu River Wines Town/Country: Kumeu, New Zealand Which spot in your vineyard is the most special and why? At the top of the Hunting Hill vineyard there is a very good view of Mate’s Vineyard, and out to the West, the Waitakere Ranges. It’s beautiful and it’s a reminder of what