Tag: new zealand

The history of wine growing in New Zealand dates back to the early 19th century when British settlers began cultivating vineyards. However, it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the industry truly took off.  The industry’s expansion gained momentum in the 1980s and 1990s when New Zealand wines started gaining international recognition for their exceptional quality and distinct characteristics. Today,…

Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 (BC $47.74) To me, it doesn’t matter if you get all Bubba from Forrest Gump on it (lamb roast, lamb chops, lamb racks, lamb burgers, lamb and rosemary sausages, lamb casserole, lamb rissoles, lamb steaks, lamb curry, lamb kebabs or lambs tails) I will pretty much always recommend pinot noir because there’s nothing nicer….

The Vancouver International Wine Festival 2023 is almost a month away.  Media were invited to a preview of some of the wines that will be available at the Festival.  Here are a few wines that I quite enjoyed and you may want to try.  The Theme Region this year is South America, so you will be able to try wines…

Greywacke Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021, New Zealand Choosing fruit grown across a smorgasbord of great sites in Marlborough’s Wairau and Southern Valley’s, this nighttime-harvested sauvignon was crafted in individual vineyard batches that were left on their yeast lees for 3months before the final blend was created then it was bottled in mid-August. This has added a creamy complexity to the…

Chinese New Year 2023 is celebrated on January 22, 2023, with this year being the Year of the Water Rabbit. The sign of the Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture, and 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. According to Chinese astrology, Rabbits are predicted to be gentle, quiet, elegant, and alert…

Jules Taylor Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022, New Zealand Whipcrack clean and precise, this sauvignon blanc from one of Marlborough’s most exciting producers is overflowing with herbaceous intensity, lime-licked layers, bruised basil and smoked passionfruit. Utilising fruit grown in the Taylor Pass, Lower Wairau Valley, Hawkesbury and Awatere sub-regions, it has a personality all of its own and sets itself apart….

Trinity Hill The Trinity Hawke’s Bay Red Blend 2021 (ON $19.95) This saucy blend of merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot is inky and magenta-black as it pours. Then sink your schnozz deep into the glass, and inhale like the life of your lungs depends on it. It is SO delicious! Perfumed with bay leaf, tobacco, blackberry, and…

Winemaking has been around for hundreds of years.  We are very familiar with wines coming from Europe, in particular France, where we talk about Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne.  We typically call Europe the “Old World” wine region, while wines made from the southern hemisphere, are known as the “New World“, plus North America.  But where did the grapes come from…

Astrolabe Sleepers Vineyard Kekerengu Coast Pinot Noir 2019 (NZ $50) Grown on coastal, limestone-laden soils 50mins drive south of Blenheim, this pinot noir treads softly on the palate yet is underpinned with exotic, savoury spices, baked tamarillo and wild raspberry notes from woah to go. Paired with: Roasted Eggplant with Spiced Lamb and Harissa dish Magazine Issue 102. There is nothing…

This is my third article reviewing Canadian Wine Trends that happened over 2021.  My first two articles covered 1) Canadian interest in red and white varietal wines and 2) Canadian interest in wine styles, like sparkling and rosé wine.  In this article, I will review our interest in Old World (e.g. Europe) vs New World (e.g. North and South America)…