Image credit: Hawke’s Bay Wine It’s hard not to be charmed by Hawke’s Bay, when laid at one’s feet is a bounty of wineries, local produce and stunning natural beauty against a backdrop of balmy sunny days. On the east coast of the New Zealand’s North Island, clustered around the southern end of the bayContinue reading “Gourmet Traveller WINE: Hail Hawke’s Bay”
Tag Archives: Chardonnay
Yarra Valley cellar doors – what’s changed?
Image designed by Freepik As restrictions ease in Victoria, cellar doors have been given the green light to open albeit under slightly different circumstances. With that in mind, I headed to the Yarra Valley to see how different things are, if at all. First stop was Giant Steps winery in the new pop-up cellar doorContinue reading “Yarra Valley cellar doors – what’s changed?”
Gourmet Traveller WINE: Getting Around Gisborne
Wainui Beach, Gisborne, New Zealand. © Simone Madden-Grey At the end of last year I visited Gisborne, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Pristine coastlines, outstanding local produce, delicious wine and the warmest of welcomes are to be found here. In the February/March issue of Gourmet Traveller WINE you can read aboutContinue reading “Gourmet Traveller WINE: Getting Around Gisborne”
Wine for Normal People: Martinborough, NZ and the Glory of Wellington Wine Country
Photo: Winery wall at Ata Rangi. In this episode, Elizabeth and I get together to talk about Martinborough and the Wellington Wine Country – a “tiny but mighty region”! We talk about the fabulous Pinot Noir being made in the region as well as some of the white wines you should also take a lookContinue reading “Wine for Normal People: Martinborough, NZ and the Glory of Wellington Wine Country”
Mornington Peninsula: Paradigm Hill
Winemaking on the Mornington Peninsula dates back to the late nineteenth century, however today’s cellar doors are populated by members of the modern chapter in this region’s history. The early 1970s saw a revival in interest around viticulture and winemaking due in part to the potential offered by the maritime climate for producing quality wines.Continue reading “Mornington Peninsula: Paradigm Hill”
Mornington Peninsula: Main Ridge Estate
The view from the Main Ridge Estate cellar door verandah. Drive down the dusty, winding William Road of Red Hill and you will be faced with a dilemma – turn left for Red Hill Cheese or right for one of Mornington Peninsula’s icons, Main Ridge Estate. It’s a tough one, particularly in our household asContinue reading “Mornington Peninsula: Main Ridge Estate”
Spirito di Vino: Giant Steps, Yarra Valley
Written for Spirito di Vino Asia Issue #24. Image: Redfish Bluefish Photographic. Driving into Healesville, the town around which Australia’s Yarra Valley is centred, I am due for an early morning meeting with Steve Flamsteed, before his day starts to fill up with the duties of Head Winemaker and now part owner of Giant Steps.Continue reading “Spirito di Vino: Giant Steps, Yarra Valley”
My inner geek and the Champagne Bureau of Australia
Image credit: Michel Guillard – Collection CIVC Since completing my WSET Diploma last year, it is not often I find myself in a room geeking out about structure, blind tasting and blending components. But a few weeks back that is just where I found myself and it was perfect! The Vin de Champagne is aContinue reading “My inner geek and the Champagne Bureau of Australia”
Postcard from CapeWine 2015: Day 1
This is my first trip to South Africa, a region whose wines I have come to enjoy with increasing frequency, so as you can imagine I was super excited to be part of the Asia group travelling from Hong Kong to attend the CapeWine 2015 Conference in Cape Town, South Africa September 15 – 17Continue reading “Postcard from CapeWine 2015: Day 1”
Bubbles in Wan Chai – Champagne Thiénot at Berry Bros. & Rudd
A relative newcomer to the world of sparkling wine, Champagne Thiénot was established in 1985 by Alain Thiénot. Given that many of the great names in Champagne can trace their history back centuries it speaks volumes that a comparative youngster has gained such a foothold in the minds of Champagne drinkers. Last night Berry Bros.Continue reading “Bubbles in Wan Chai – Champagne Thiénot at Berry Bros. & Rudd”
Simone Madden-Grey : Happy Wine Woman 