Last week I had the pleasure of meeting a delightful family who recently started making wine with another couple, our insurance broker introduced me to St Pauli Wines and the family he has gone into partnership with. Matt Colling says…
Over the last month I have opened a few wines, as one does, and this time it was a mixture of new and older vintages. I often get this question – how long should I keep a wine before I…
Our Auckland summer keeps going and going and long may it last. Grapes love dry, hot weather – so bring it on. Most folks will now be in denial, having returned to work after the summer holiday break. Summer is…
As I spent a little time talking with wine-grape growers in recent weeks it has become even more obvious climate change is making life interesting for this industry. In early January I wrote about some of the challenges climate change…
“All Methode Tradionnelle is sparkling wine but not all sparkling wine is Methode Traditionnelle.” Non Vintage Methode Traditionnelle is the true definition of a house style. Produced using a base wine, which is a blend of multiple vintages, the highly…
Each vintage has its challenges but I am amazed at the quality of wines that have been produced in this region in recent years
Matt Connell was born in Taranaki and grew up in Christchurch, eventually making his way north to where working at iconic Auckland microbrewery Galbraiths inspired him to complete a post-grad degree in Oenology and Viticulture in 2001. Winemaking took Matt…
Waipara? Somewhere near north Canterbury isn’t it? Yes it is, and if you want to get into some fantastic wines, you should know more about it. Sitting up straight? Corkscrew in hand? Glass at the ready? Thirsty? Okay, relax. I am your guide. I tend to think…