How an American Became a Central Otago Winemaker
Jen Parr was recently nominated by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine as one of 6 finalists for New Zealand Winemaker of the Year in 2019. How did she end up on that list? A former…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
Winemaker of the Year is Richard Batchelor
New Zealand-born winemaker Richard Batchelor of Washington’s Maryhill Winery earned the 2019 Winemaker of the Year trophy at the annual Indy International Wine Competition, held in late May. Yahoo reports on the industry win. The…
Invivo Teams Up with Sarah Jessica Parker
Waikato wine producer Invivo, which was started in 2008 by Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron, has teamed up with Sex in the City star Sarah Jessica Parker to develop sauvignon blanc and rosé wines. The…
Sauvignon Blanc Needs Rethinks Says Emma Jenkins
The “elephant in the room” of the New Zealand wine industry is the fact that its star grape, sauvignon blanc, “suffers from an image problem”, according to wine writer and consultant Emma…
NZ Wine Has Huge Potential in Japan
From sleepy New Zealand hillsides to sleek Tokyo dining scenes, a bottle of Hawke’s Bay wine shipped to Japan traces an arc that exporters like Sileni Estates’ CEO Nigel Avery see as an avenue…
Wine Lovers Guide to Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay is fast becoming one of New Zealand’s top wine destinations. Amanda Barnes from Decanter magazine shares her tips on where to go and what to do. More than a million tourists make their…
Michael Seresin Takes a Widescreen Approach
A New Zealander with Russian roots, Michael Seresin is a cinematographer (Midnight Express, Angela’s Ashes and, coming soon, Mowgli) and – with newly hired Tamra Kelly-Washington – a biodynamically inclined winemaker. London Evening Standard…
Melanie Brown Is Champion of Our Wine in London
If you are looking to have your eyes opened to the wonders of New Zealand wine, then Melanie Brown is the one to call. Since joining The Providores and Tapa Room in Marylebone, headed…
Meet Kevin Judd “Winemaker and Photographer Extraordinaire”
Kevin Judd is “one of the finest winemakers in New Zealand – or anywhere for that matter,” writes Tom Hyland in an article for Forbes, which profiles the winemaker and…
Meeting Jenny Dobson a Pioneer of the Médoc
Jenny Dobson is a New Zealander considered to have been one of the first female cellar masters in the Médoc and who was subsequently nicknamed the ‘queen of red wine blending’ for her consultant…
NZ Wine Wows With Surprises
“’The speed of change in New Zealand wine leaves me breathless,’ writes Elin McCoy after visiting the country for tastings earlier this year.” McCoy reports for Decanter. New Zealand always seems…
Sampling the Goodness of Nigel Ludlow’s EVOI Wines
“Divine providence took its time before arriving on Nigel Ludlow’s doorstep. New Zealand born and educated, initially with a Bachelor of Science Degree in nutrition (useful for his early career as a triathlete), he…
In the Two Paddocks Man Cave with Sam Neill
Peaky Blinders star Sam Neill speaks to the Financial Times about his New Zealand oasis, Jacinda Ardern and tech titans buying bolt holes against catastrophe. At Two Paddocks, the vineyard and farm which Neill bought…
Treading Grapes With Angela Osborne in California
California didn’t always produce top-quality Grenache, but these Central Coast growers, including New Zealand-born Angela Osborne, are changing that by focusing on varietal bottlings to produce terroir-driven wines on par with top-shelf Pinot Noirs…
Exploring New Zealand’s Paradise for Wine Lovers
“The Marlborough Sounds is a system of ancient river valleys that have filled up with seawater from the Pacific Ocean,” writes Victoria Moore in an article for The Telegraph. “As…
New Zealand’s New Big Thing Is Pinot Noir
New Zealand “was once known merely for crisp, grassy sauvignon blanc wines. No longer,” Elin McCoy writes in a report for Bloomberg. “Actor Sam Neill just finished a six-part television documentary on the voyages of…
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Outside the Box
“Perhaps no other wine style is as instantly recognisable as New Zealand sauvignon blanc,” Christina Pickard writes for Wine Enthusiast magazine. “It put New Zealand wine on the map in all its brash, aromatic…
Winemaker Sam Connew’s Blazing Trail
“Can-do Connew, that’s my nickname for one of Australia’s most accomplished winemakers, , a trail-blazing show judge, a great role model for women in wine and creator of the acclaimed Tasmanian…
NZ’s Wine “Quirky, Exciting And Worth Studying”
“New Zealand is sort of out there on its own, mysterious and captivating. We’re talking about two islands, inextricably linked, yet with quirky underdog identities all their own,” writes Michael Austin in an article…
Vintner Hugh Crichton Loves Chardonnay
Hugh Crichton gave up a successful career in the London financial markets to return home to New Zealand to pursue his first love – wine. But Crichton, 51, is not obsessed with sauvignon blanc,…
The Future Of New Zealand Wine Is Strong
“The future of New Zealand wine is strong – both through local sales and, increasingly, export,” writes Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas in an article for Snooth. “There’s no question that…
Giving NZ Sauvignon Blanc a Second Chance
“The last few weeks of Wine School have been as much of an education for me as they may have been for anybody else,” writes Eric Asimov in The New York Times’ column
New Zealanders Leading the Wine Charge in BC
Two New Zealanders are some of the global movers and shakers in the British Columbia wine industry. Chief winemaker at Okanagan Crush Pad, Haywire Winery Matt Dumayne (pictured) and general manager and winemaker at…
Winemaker David Paterson on the Rise of BC Grapes
New Zealander David Paterson, winemaker and general manger of Tantalus Vineyards, is a co-founder of what is a rare, winery-run event in British Columbia, the B.C….
Renegade Winemaker Josh Hammond’s First Vintage
Renegade, a new urban winery in London’s Bethnal Green, co-owned by New Zealand-born winemaker Josh Hammond and London School of Economics graduate Warwick Smith has just launched its first two wines. The pair were inspired…
Down Under Delights Enjoyed in Oregon
“If I must choose just one New Zealand winery for sauvignon blanc, I’ll pick Kim Crawford. The 2016 vintage is already available in area stores, and if anything, it’s even better than previous years,”…
Americans Prefer Pricier NZ Wines to Australian
Americans are falling in love with pricey New Zealand wines at the expense of cheaper vino from Australia and Argentina, according to a Bloomberg report. The value of New Zealand wine shipped to the United…
Discover New Zealand’s Wine Regions
“New Zealand’s wine regions are at their most spectacular in autumn when the days are long and bathed in late sunshine – it’s an ideal time to savour and enjoy the country’s sauvignon blancs,…
Wine Producers Balancing the Old with the New
New wave wine producing has been “unusually slow” to catch on in New Zealand, according to British wine critic Jancis Robinson, “even though the country’s wine business is enjoying an unprecedented level of self-confidence.” “The…
First-Rate Wines from Marlborough
“New Zealand is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes: rugged mountain ranges, lush rainforests, and tranquil coastlines. New Zealand’s unique terroir also yields crisp, vibrant, lively wines reflecting the very essence…
Why Martinborough, New Zealand, Should Be Your Next Wine Destination
Erin Florio, a “homesick Kiwi”, explains why everyone should be sipping their way through Martinborough in an article for Condé Nast Traveler. She remembers family trips to the South Wairarapa District in…
Sauvignon Blancs Breaking the Rules
“Whip-cracking acidity, tongue-tingling, citrusy-herby flavours, and pungent aromas give New Zealand sauvignon blancs a punchy, kick-boxing appeal,” Elin McCoy writes for Bloomberg. “Adventurous New Zealand winemakers are now lifting the category to a new…
Marlborough NZ’s Best Wine Destination
The world’s Sauvignon Blanc capital, Marlborough, has much more to offer than its signature wine, according to Wine Enthusiast Magazine managing editor Joe Czerwinski. “New Zealand’s Marlborough wine region is the country’s vinous powerhouse, responsible…
Winemaker Andréa McBride’s Perfect Pairing
The wedding of New Zealand-born winemaker Andréa McBride and American Fabian John, held at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, features in the San Francisco Chronicle style section. “McBride was not looking for a husband…
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Widens Its Scope
“Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is like no other wine on Earth,” according to Los Angeles Times wine critic Patrick Comiskey. “It’s one of the most recognisable, aromatically peremptory wines in the world. So imagine you’re…
A Toast to New Zealand’s Wine
“New Zealand wine regions are at their most spectacular in fall, when the days are long and bathed in late sunshine,” as reported in an article in the Canada Free Press, which features some…
NZ Chardonnays Taking on Burgundy
New Zealand chardonnays can be a great substitute for expensive burgundies, as reported in the South China Morning Post. In a New Zealand vs Burgundy blind tasting in London last year, Kumeu River…
Loveblock Makes New Zealand Wines with Heart & Soul
“A conversation with Loveblock winery founder Erica Crawford reminds you that love isn’t just an emotion – it can be a catalyst for creating something truly special,” as reported in an article in
A New Breed of Syrah
In 2015 New Zealand wine sales were up nearly 20 percent in the United States. New Zealand famously is known for its white wines – at the moment, however, Syrah is the latest craze. Once a…
How Far Would You Go For Wine
“New Zealand holds a coveted position in the hearts of travelers, particularly those of us with a bent toward adventure sports or trout fishing or cycling or wine.” “New Zealand marks you. That’s because of who you…
New Zealand Is Mad for Pinot Gris
On a recent trip, the Telegraph’s wine columnist Victoria Moore was surprised to see how “crazy everyone in New Zealand seemed to be for pinot gris.” Moore wonders when Britain will catch on. “Growers were…
Wanaka Wines That Deliver a Taste of New Zealand
“We’re in the Upper Clutha Basin where even under grey skies the lakes and rivers are an astonishing cerulean blue. Wanaka, the small town at the head of the lake that bears the same…
Two Great Reasons to Visit Martinborough
New Zealand’s most expensive wine, Marie Zelie Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 is one good reason to visit Martinborough Vineyards, Wharekauhau Lodge is another, says the Telegraph’s Victoria Moore. “Price alone wouldn’t be enough to make…
Best Italian Wines New Zealand Made
You don’t have to go to the source to drink world-class Sangiovese or Montepulciano. According to Condé Nast Traveler, some of the finest Italian wine is made right here in New Zealand. When it comes…
On the Waiheke Wine Trail
When you land in New Zealand, the wine is closer than you think according to Lori Rackl, a freelance journalist writing for the Los Angeles Times. Rackl begins her vineyard tour on Waiheke Island…
A Celebration of Hawke’s Bay’s History of Winemaking
‘Wine: Stories from Hawke’s Bay’ – a history and celebration of the internationally acclaimed Hawke’s Bay wine industry will be published on November 1 by BayBuzz Ltd. The book that is 100% kiwi made tells…
A Guide to Wine Tasting in New Zealand
“New Zealand isn’t just a place for thrill-seekers. Over the past 30 years, New Zealand has been earning its place as a tastemaker in the wine world”, writes Jenn Brown for The…
Michael Seresin Working on Wine and the Jungle Book
Cinematographer and wine producer Michael Seresin was born in Wellington, emigrated to Europe in 1966 and has been based in west London since 1967, but there’s one thing he still hasn’t acclimatised to, reports…
Sileni Estates Winery Finds Ripe Market in US
Nigel Avery, CEO of Sileni Estates USA, and a former member of New Zealand’s Olympic weightlifting team, has moved his family to Minnesota while he works to expand sales and learn the US market…
In Defense of the Soccer Mom’s Favorite Wine
Reliable, inexpensive New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is the go-to wine for many Americans. Is it worthy? And are some even better than just upscale Pinot Grigio? Lettie Teague, wine columnist for The…
Clear Skies Ahead for Cloudy Bay
Cloudy Bay, the New Zealand winery that has “become the flag-bearer for New World wines,” is celebrated in the June issue of Air France Magazine. The winery, established in 1985…
Trinity Hill’s Warren Gibson Making Wine with Sense of Place
Winemaker at Trinity Hill Warren Gibson called 2013 the vintage of the century. That year was incredibly dry. Considering he was just as excited about 2014 and 2015, now is the ideal time to…
New Zealand Chardonnay Named World-Beater
The 2012 Vidal Legacy Chardonnay, “a distinctly modern New Zealand chardonnay”, has been awarded the International Trophy for Chardonnay priced over £15 in the annual World Wine Awards released by influential wine publication
New Zealand Chardonnay Trounces Burgundy in Blind Test
“Auckland, on the same latitude as southern Spain, may seem an unlikely location for vineyards capable of making precise ripostes to white burgundy,” British wine critic Jancis Robinson writes for the Financial Times. “But…
Winemaker Ray Walsh Appreciating Oregon Flavours
Winemaker Ray Walsh of Capitello Wines is bringing out the best of terroir in Oregon and his native New Zealand, the Register-Guard’s Vanessa Salvia reports. New Zealand has become known as a cinematographer’s…
The Most Photographed Pub in New Zealand
The Cadrona Hotel, which is the most photographed pub in New Zealand, “could probably tell a tale or two”, according to Mogens Johansen in the West Australian. Standing in front of the…
