Category: New Zealand
Bring in the Clones: Juggling Pinot Noir Vines, Styles
Pinot Noir is a mystery to many. How can wines made from the same grape differ so much in quality,...
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Cork Dork: Insights into the Quest for Sommelier Status
For highly entertaining insights into the world of wine, restaurants, the route to becoming a...
Read MoreTwenty Quality White Wines Under $15, Plus a Few Higher-Priced Finds
As wines from the most recent harvests advance toward the distribution channels, spring white sales are in full swing to open future shelf space at your friendly wine merchant and big box store. The following are the best values...
Read MoreParty, Wedding Reception and Other Quaffing Wines
Remember in your college days or shortly thereafter when you were invited to a wedding and were more interested in the amount of alcohol you could consume, plus was the music good enough so you could dance long into the night...
Read MoreFinding Your Benchmark Wines, Calibrating Your Palate
During the early days of running the San Diego Chapter of WINO (Wine Investigation for Novices and Oenophiles) in the 1970s, my mission was to encourage people to try different wines with food and be comfortable with what they...
Read MoreChardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc values for Spring, plus a few classics
The big box stores, wine merchants and even grocery shelves (in some states) have values galore because of new vintages entering the distribution channels, creating a need to move older vintages. As the weather warms, we’ve been...
Read MoreHawke’s Bay — New Zealand haven for Bordeaux blends, big Reds
Hawke’s Bay is the oldest wine region in New Zealand and one known for the quality of its Bordeaux blends. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec do well here, as does Syrah. Some 40 wineries, most with cellar...
Read MoreToast Martinborough, One-Day NZ Wine, Food, Music Festival
Wairapa, two hours outside Wellington, characterizes New Zealand in transition, from lands with a million sheep to new vineyards and vacation destinations. Start in the town square of the rustic town of Martinborough. Browse...
Read MoreNew Zealand — Beyond the vineyards, great escapes in nature, cities
For fans of nature, recreation and outdoor adventures, New Zealand ranks at the top of many travelers’ lists. The country has a spectacular array of beaches, mountains for skiing, camping areas, wilderness trails, kayak rides on...
Read MoreNew Zealand Wine Adventure — Quality Reds on the Rise
Two thoughts typically come to mind when someone in the U.S. hears the term New Zealand wines: Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough and its wine industry’s role in making twist-off tops (screw tops) from quality wineries not...
Read MoreEasy Sipping Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc Value Wines
May and June are good months to look for values in white wines as the pipeline of new wines starts flowing from the wineries, distributors and your local merchant, discount store or market. The following values caught our eyes...
Read MoreCool White Wines for Warmer Spring Days (and Nights)
We’ve been browsing the white wine aisles a bit more as spring approached and the weather warmed. Out of more than 100 wines tasted recently, we narrowed the search to a more workable number and Tweeted about them over the past...
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