in this episode we have selected six wines (3x white and 3 x red) we think offer great summer drinking.
this week
My favourite wines from the year. Twelve in total including my value picks.
Getting more Kiwis enjoying food and wine together is an important cornerstone of this podcast. We explore this theme again by going through the current degustation menu with pairing at the two hatted restaurant the Bistro.
Two years this is what the Podcast is all about! Wine education, promoting small producers and food and wine pairing (part 2). This is what all about!
this week on the offensive taking aim at everyone from Tourism ministers, to cuisine , top 100 sommeliers, wine show governing bodies and even myself. After all this i finish on a high with Zephyr Riesling outstanding wine and the perfect way to finish
This is me putting my money where my mouth is. I have been telling you for weeks to stop buying the big corporates and it’s about to I backed up my words with alternatives to the big guys so here they are.
Eradus Sauvignon Blanc $17.99 Whisky and More otherwise $19.99
Odyssey Chardonnay $19.00 Whisky and More otherwise $19-$22
Opals Pinot gris $18.99 Good Wine Company otherwise $22
Pāritua Stone Paddock Rosé $19.99 Advintage $20 from paritua
Me by matahiwi Pinot Noir $19.00 Whisky and More $22 elsewhere
Alpha domus collection Syrah $19.00 Whisky and More otherwise up to $25
Brookfield’s Burn Foot Merlot $17.99 Wine Central or up to $23.99
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc $36.99 Whisky and More otherwise Dog Point (Greywacke) $26.99 Good Wine Company
Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc $26.99 Caros otherwise Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blanc $23.99 Whisky and More
Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay $34.99 Good Wine Company otherwise Odyssey Reserve Iliad Chardonnay $29.99 Whisky and More
Roaring Meg Pinot Noir $23.99 Good Wine Company otherwise Shaky bridge Pioneer Series Pinot Noir $23.99 Whisky and More
Mt difficulty Pinot Noir $36.99 Whisky and More otherwise Grasshopper Rock $39.99 Whisky and More
Craggy Range Martinborough Pinot Noir $33.99 Pak n Save otherwise Lime Rock Pinot Noir 2014 $33.00 Whisky and More or Johner Estate Gladstone Pinot Noir 2021 $35.00 Whisky and More
Craggy Range Syrah $35.00 Woolworths otherwise Beach House Syrah 32.99Whisky and More
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 25.99 Good Wine Company otherwise Beach House Merlot Cabernet Franc $22.99 Whisky and More
Moët & Chandon $68.99 Pak n Save otherwise Vilaura Blanc de Blanc $58 Whisky and More or Quartz Reef Methode Traditionelle $34.99 Pak n Save
Aix Rosé $29.99 New World otherwise Two Rivers Isle of Beauty Rosé $21.99 New World
description to come
how true to traditional winemaking philosophies do the big commercial stick to. Do they follow the same ethos that smaller companies still stick to as in their wines bring a reflection of the growing season or is it just a homogenised numbers based product?
what is with wine influencers posting unicorn wines
Have you ever asked this question? How about should cellar a wine for the time recommended? Will like wine? Will the cork hold ? How do know the cork has worked? Can you wines even from poorer vintages.
I answer these and more.
What is the right? Does situation make a difference? Does the right time make a difference? Does the right food make a difference? I more i also talk about how creating a bespoke specific to your restaurant an easy and very simple way of enhancing enduring your diners have a great and memorable experience. Do you need happy this DM me for a consultation and join others in that bespoke experience through wine and beverages that were made for your food.
Whilst the best Champagne Is hard to beat, the entry level Champagne is just that entry level. High-end Methode from New Zealand and throughout the world is better and cheaper hear me out. Check this and let me know if I have convinced you.
This week I break down all the changes to the Lionel’s Taupo winelist
My Review and analysis of the the NZIWS 2025 with my trophy predictions
You all love this one’s my analysis of the 2025 National wine awards of Aotearoa. We analysis and even predict the category winners for this years awards.
What is the difference between these categories? I simplify and break this down so you know the difference is and can make a more informed decision about your next wine purchase.
Wine of the week 17:30
We have been talking about the top 100 Sommelier list for 2025, but how do we know if the wine list is a good? How do we know if the restaurant has a sommelier? And why is this important? Firstly I believe this is important because if a restaurant cares about the drinks they will undoubtedly care about the food, so the establishment must be good. Here are the things to look out for in my opinion.
The technical issues from last continued this week to the point where the recording software I was using I have got rid of. I need to apologise for the sound quality for the audio version as I had to record it while I was recording the separate video.
What really in this wine there are a lot of falsehoods going around about is added to wines. I go through things that are used in winemaking and what is not.
23:27- finish Wine of the week
Had some VERY annoying technical issues with this which required more editing than I have ever done. So I hope you enjoy this as it was an effort to get it to you.
This week is all about the quality factors, myths and misconceptions out there which you should try to look out for and which are of little importance. All collimating in a massive surprise with the Week of the week!
0:00- 13:59 quality influences pre and during production (before technical issues)
14:10-28:46 quality influences post production (after technical issues)
28:57- finish Wine of the week