At the Bragato Wine Awards dinner last Thursday Nelson wineries were shining lights once again with three trophies being awarded to wines produced by Nelson owned wineries. By pure happenstance my most recent columns featured two of the winning wineries;…
Last week I introduced you to Jonny Hiscox, the guy who grows the grapes for Aronui wines, this week I want you to meet an award winning winemaker, Tony Southgate from Brightwater Vineyards. After Dale Springer, the viticulturist at Brightwater…
Jonny Hiscox is rightfully very proud of his workplace, the Whenua Matua vineyards that are home to Aronui Wines. The name Whenua Matua means significant land—and significant it is, the Whenua Matua vineyard land has special significance to Iwi in…
Geoff Mclean had a dream of owning a cafe since he was twenty and when Kafiene, a struggling cafe came on the market it was an opportunity he couldn’t resist. He says he had his rose tinted glasses on but…
I first met Kirsten Ammann when she ran the cellar door, local trade and events operation at Neudorf Vineyards. Today with her partner Tim Fitzgerald they own the newly established Mapua Country Store. The store is on the corner of…
There has been much talk in the media in recent months about independence of wine writers, paid reviews and gold stickers on wine bottles that promote things other than success, all with the aim of trying to get you and…
The Saturday Market is a jewel in Nelson’s sparkling crown and sometime soon I promise to have a chat with Nita Knight and talk to her about the market, its history and some of the characters that she has dealt…
I have known Mark and Veronica A’Court for many years and if you read The Leader you have probably seen a monthly wine column I write for them and their business, Fresh Choice Nelson. This column however isn’t about promoting their business; it…