Here are a few of the wines that have passed the desk this month and almost made the grade. Some weren't far off the mark, others are absolute disasters. A few big disappointments of note: The …
New Zealand's Waipara Valley wine region has had a name change. Well, it's still Waipara, but the producers of this oft-overlooked (and glorious) wine region are now putting North Canterbury on labels instead. Given that New …
'Arguably the best value variety from Australia in decades' That's the Decanter opinion on Australian dry Riesling, a wine that - despite endless coaxing from wine writers, sommeliers, retailers and producers - continues to not grow …
What a disappointment this lineup was. So many boring wines, with too many edging towards flavourless, acidic water territory. Obviously price plays an important part here, but that doesn't excuse the boredom factor... Ninth Island Tasmanian …
Waipara Wai Pinot Gris 2013 (Waipara, NZ) 13.5%, Screwcap Another cynical $20 Kiwi Pinot Gris. Pear juice on the nose suggests ripe fruit, but the palate shows none of the weight or intensity of good Pinot Gris, all …
Waipara Hills Pinot Noir 2012 (Waipara, NZ) 13%, Screwcap, $21.99Source: Sample A 'nifty little Pinot' according to the release notes and a quick internet search tells me you can pick this up for under $15, at which …
Presenteed by the industry body, NZ Winegrowers, this tasting was mid September & was specifically designed to showcase new release wines from our Kiwi neighbours. The only challenge was that, perhaps befitting a new release …
At 18 I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, doing a degree that I didn't really like, and a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say I discovered wine, my uni degree morphed into something completely different and wine/beer took over my life.
Almost twenty years later and I currently spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
While wearing my writer cap I write features for the likes of National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS plus I'm a Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here.