WELCOME
Top Tastes is designed to help you find the best food and beverage venues and products; whether you want delicious fish chips, beautiful café food in a winery setting, finely crafted formal dining, food ideas, wine reviews or cocktail recipes this is your guide to the best New Zealand has to offer.
Top Tastes was created by Neil Hodgson and managed by him, he has invited other writers to contribute to the site, this means more regional information will be added as time goes by. You will find a range of opinions, reviews and recipes from people who know their stuff when it comes to food and beverage.
Only reviews written by this select group will be published on the site (you are welcome to leave comments of course) so you will be able to trust the review – no fake reviews, no ranting, just good information to help you choose great things to eat and drink as well as the best places to eat out.
THE LATEST REVIEWS
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/NW-Wine-Awards-logo.jpg
482
544
Neil Hodgson
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TopTastes-logo-1030x396.png
Neil Hodgson2021-07-27 14:45:082021-07-27 14:45:10New World Wine Awards Judging Commences
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Street-Food-on-Washington-owners-Ben-and-Bridget-Smith-have-brought-restaurant-quality-food-to-suburban-Nelson_sqr_sml.jpg
512
511
Neil Hodgson
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TopTastes-logo-1030x396.png
Neil Hodgson2021-07-07 16:24:002021-07-22 17:02:41Street Food on WashingtonFEATURED ARTICLES
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Amber-Robertson-from-Wine-Nelson-and-winemaker-Jane-Docherty-with-the-first-flight-of-wines-to-be-tasted_sqr_sml.jpg
511
511
Neil Hodgson
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TopTastes-logo-1030x396.png
Neil Hodgson2021-06-23 10:59:002021-06-26 11:18:33Choosing Top Nelson Chardonnay
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/McRoberts_sml.jpg
500
500
Neil Hodgson
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TopTastes-logo-1030x396.png
Neil Hodgson2021-06-18 16:55:252021-06-18 16:56:5540 AUCTION LOTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 30TH HAWKE’S BAY WINE AUCTION
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/1622417294478-1_sqr_sml.jpg
499
500
Neil Hodgson
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TopTastes-logo-1030x396.png
Neil Hodgson2021-06-02 16:27:002021-06-23 16:44:28Yo Mama’s Empanadas
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logovsm.jpg
501
500
Neil Hodgson
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TopTastes-logo-1030x396.png
Neil Hodgson2021-05-05 18:57:002021-05-09 19:54:15Salvito’s Pizza Bar
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Lisa-Goodson-and-Rusty-Rayne-in-the-bar-area-at-Moutere-Hills-Vineyard-MARTIN-DE-RUYTER-STUFFsqrsml.jpg
500
500
Neil Hodgson
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TopTastes-logo-1030x396.png
Neil Hodgson2021-04-21 16:03:002021-05-08 16:09:25Moutere Hills Wines and Forsters
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Juliet-at-Figgery-sqr_sml.jpg
499
500
Neil Hodgson
https://www.toptastes.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TopTastes-logo-1030x396.png
Neil Hodgson2021-03-19 15:04:442021-04-20 14:42:13Master of Cheese uses her refined palate to help lift Sri Lankan dairy farmers out of povertyTOP WINES TASTINGS
No1 Family Estate Assemble Methode Marlborough
Taste & Other Notes
It may be made in Marlborough but the Champagne heritage of Daniel Le Brun is obvious in this finely crafted yet very approachable wine.
Blackenbrook 2019 Family Reserve Nelson Pinot Noir
Taste & Other Notes
I first tasted this wine several months ago not long after it was bottled and thought it was an exceptional wine at the time, with extra time in the bottle my opinion hasn’t changed. While Pinot Noir can be light and floral this example is a delicious, powerful wine with lots of character and intrigue. From the initial intense fruit to the layers of smoky oak and juicy acidity this is a determined wine, it has presence and character.
Blackenbrook 2019 Family Reserve Nelson Chardonnay
Taste & Other Notes
This Blackenbrook Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay represents a full style with obvious oak that balances the fruit intensity nicely. Lovely butterscotch flavours upfront are enticing but it’s the balance of intense flavours, oak and ripe acidity that makes this wine special.
We’ve put together a team of experts who have a passion for writing about food and beverages.
New World Wine Awards Judging Commences
/in Neil Hodgson, New Zealand, News, Wine Articles /by Neil HodgsonWine drinkers have lots to look forward to as wine show season gets underway and wines from some of New Zealand’s latest and greatest vintages are put to the taste test.
Street Food on Washington
/in Neil Hodgson, Nelson, Restaurants /by Neil Hodgsonchef Ben Smith and his wife Bridget have since taken over the old store in Washington Valley and set about turning it into a real community food spot; Street Food on Washington is a lot more than just a place for quick takeaways at lunchtime, but you can do that too if you want to.