Each year at the Nelson Winegrowers annual dinner The Colin Harrison Memorial Trophy is presented to the producer of the region’s top Chardonnay. I have had the pleasure of being one of the trophy’s judges for many years, it is…
Published in the Nelson Mail 01.08.18 Brightwater Vineyards is one of Nelson’s quiet achievers, owners Gary & Valley Neale just get on with the business of making fantastic wines and building a solid business. Their success in doing both of…
Published in the Nelson Mail 20.06.18 Wine show season is rapidly approaching. The range of competitions that showcase the finest of wines includes the New World Wine Awards, for which entries are now open, that has a focus on quality wines priced…
I am often asked whether or not a gold medal sticker on a bottle of wine really means anything, this question usually arises because someone has bought a bottle with a gold medal sticker and didn’t like the wine so,…
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of helping judge the Colin Harrison Memorial Trophy for Nelson’s top chardonnay, however, rather than selecting an outright winner as we have in previous years, we selected our top three wines from…
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;…
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…