Steeped in tradition and blessed with diverse terroir, the French wine industry enjoys an enviable position atop the rankings of the world’s wine producing regions. As one of the top three producers of table wine by volume (Italy and Spain produce similar volumes each year, depending on vintage conditions), France is also blessed with a…
Read more
According to Saint Ambrose, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. So, when in New Zealand, how could I defy native ideology and look elsewhere than the wares of the vignerons of both the South and North Islands? While visiting their country, would it be churlish to refuse the local offerings in favour of…
Read more
It may be the rise of Enotourism or just the handiwork of 21st Century hipsters and beatniks, but there has been a definite push towards new and exciting styles of wine in recent times. There was once a time when the “in crowd” were satisfied with a wooded chardonnay or even a cab-sauv blend, but…
Read more
According to Saint Ambrose, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. So, when in New Zealand, how could I defy native ideology and look elsewhere than the wares of the vignerons of both the South and North Islands? While visiting their country, would it be churlish to refuse the local offerings in favour of…
Read more
Cellaring wine can be an intriguing and rewarding hobby, but if you play this form of oenological roulette for long enough, a disaster is almost certain to strike. Like it did in one of my climate-controlled wine fridges last weekend! Having rearranged a shelf to make room for a couple more bottles, I noticed that…
Read more
Cellaring wine can be an intriguing and rewarding hobby, but if you play this form of oenological roulette long enough, a disaster is almost certain to strike. Like it did in one of my climate-controlled wine fridges last weekend. Having rearranged a shelf to make room for a couple more bottles, I noticed a telltale…
Read more
The Central Otago district in New Zealand’s south island is quickly developing a reputation as a world-class producer of Pinot Noir and aromatic whites, despite being the world’s most southern wine producing region. Once seen as a foolhardy foray in to cool climate viticulture, the area has been ranked by some well regarded wine writers…
Read more
It was only late in 2001 that a Californian Professor and Geneticist, Dr Carole Meredith used DNA profiling to conclusively prove that both Zinfandel and the Italian favourite, Primitivo was in fact a Croatian grape, known as Crlenak Kastelanski. Until then, the Americans and Italians had both claimed the grape as a national native, but…
Read more
If I had a “tenner” for every time I’ve heard people say that “the sulphites in red wine give me headaches”, I reckon I’d probably be on a plane to the Bahamas right now! Rightly or wrongly, sulphur dioxide (SO2) is often blamed as being the cause of hangovers and headaches on the morning after…
Read more
It may not be a style which is frequently vinted on its own, but Cabernet Franc is undoubtedly an enigmatic grape with a fascinating history. Thought to have originated in the Basque Country in the Western Pyrenees, Cabernet Franc has been proven through DNA analysis to be a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. In the late…
Read more