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
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Neil Hodgson
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Neil Hodgson2021-10-06 15:58:002021-10-09 16:28:39Nelson Chardonnays and Colin Harrison Trophy winner
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Phil Parker
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Phil Parker2021-10-04 19:27:222021-10-04 19:27:23DichotomyFEATURED ARTICLES
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Neil Hodgson
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Neil Hodgson2021-10-06 15:58:002021-10-09 16:28:39Nelson Chardonnays and Colin Harrison Trophy winner
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Neil Hodgson
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Neil Hodgson2021-09-15 14:41:002021-09-16 16:48:08The perfect spicy croquettes by Ben Smith
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Neil Hodgson
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Neil Hodgson2021-09-10 16:07:002021-09-15 11:38:42Lockdown in Christchurch
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Neil Hodgson
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Neil Hodgson2021-09-01 15:52:002021-09-15 12:08:14Harry’s Prawn Cocktail
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Neil Hodgson
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Neil Hodgson2021-08-18 16:46:582021-08-18 16:47:00Gnocchi Romaine by Aaron Ballantyne from Hopgood’s & Co
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Neil Hodgson2021-08-14 15:22:002021-09-16 14:22:12Grandma’s Baking from Carol ShirleyTOP WINES TASTINGS
Blackenbrook Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Taste & Other Notes
This is another beautiful wine from Blackenbrook Wines that exhibits the varietal purity we have come to expect from the Schwarzenbach family
Seifried Estate Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Taste & Other Notes
Intense, weighty, concentrated and flavoursome, this multi-trophy winning wine is an exceptional wine at an exceptional price.
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.
We’ve put together a team of experts who have a passion for writing about food and beverages.
Nelson Chardonnays and Colin Harrison Trophy winner
/in Neil Hodgson, Nelson, Wine Articles /by Neil HodgsonFor the last couple of years Old House Vineyards has been placed second in the competition with fruit grown on their vineyard in Old House Road and turned into delicious wine by winemaker Pat Stowe. Owners, Ian Bathgate and his wife Jeanne relocated from the U.K. with their two sons several years ago and bought a former Spencer Hill vineyard.
Dichotomy
/in New Zealand, Phil Parker, WIne Tastings /by Phil ParkerThis month, folks, we are exploring the theme of dichotomy. It’s a very cool word and I don’t often get to use it in casual convo. It also rhymes with lobotomy but that’s not particularly relevant.