Category Archives: New Zealand

Rosés of Pinot Noir from Around the World: The 2018 Vintage

Posted on June 13, 2019 by don

Rosés made of Pinot Noir are the stars of this year’s rosé tasting. They’re typically light red in color, fragrant with red cherry and pomegranate scents, medium bodied with good fullness in the mouth, and flavorful with flavors that mirror … Continue reading →

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Mt. Beautiful of North Canterbury: New Releases

Posted on April 3, 2018 by don

David Teece, the founder of Mt Beautiful wines, grew up on a farm in New Zealand, studied economics at the University of Pennsylvania, and taught at Stanford and Oxford before settling down in Berkeley, California, where he is a professor … Continue reading →

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Review of the 2016 Rosés: Focus on Pinot Noir

Posted on May 26, 2017 by don

Delicious, crisp rosés are already on the shelves waiting for consumers to welcome the coming hot summer with a chilled glass. In this, our annual rosé review, we review 60 rosés made from different grape varieties grown around the world. … Continue reading →

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Vino del Sol: New Wine Values from California and New Zealand

Posted on June 15, 2015 by mike

These wines from importer Vino del Sol are good value wines for everyday drinking.  The main label is GEN 5 which is produced  under a joint venture between Lange Twins Winery in Lodi and Vino del Sol.    They are made by … Continue reading →

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New Releases from California’s Central Coast, Lodi, and Marlborough

Posted on June 3, 2015 by don

In this article, we review several wines that offer better than expected quality for modest prices, mostly under $20 retail.  They come from Arroyo Seco, the Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Clarksburg, Lodi, and New Zealand’s Marlborough region. Testarossa. Located in … Continue reading →

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The US Wine Market in a Nutshell: 2014 Winners & Losers

Posted on April 27, 2015 by don

Surprising US market trends for 2014:  sales of high priced wines are rising, while low priced wines are falling; Sauvignon Blanc is the biggest winner among single varietals, while Syrah is the biggest loser; red wine blends and rosé wine … Continue reading →

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Carrick Wines of Central Otago, New Zealand

Posted on September 17, 2013 by don

Steve and Barbara Green are helping put Central Otago on the map.  They’re making some of the most flavorful Pinot Noir to come out of the South Island, and their white wines are delicious, too.  Why are they so good? … Continue reading →

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Great Winemakers: Rudi Bauer of Central Otago’s Quartz Reef

Posted on June 3, 2013 by don

We recently had the opportunity to retaste the Quartz Reef wines of Rudi Bauer.  We previously tasted his sparkling wines in our Sparkling Wine Report and his Pinot Noirs in our New Zealand Pinot Noir Report. Our tastings of his … Continue reading →

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New Zealand Wines from Lake Chalice

Posted on October 11, 2012 by don

Lake Chalice is a medium sized, privately owned winery located in New Zealand’s Marlborough wine region. It was established in 1989 by Chris Gambitsis and Phil Binnie on the original 28 acre, notoriously stony Falcon Vineyard but has since expanded … Continue reading →

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New Zealand Wines from John Forrest

Posted on July 19, 2012 by don

John Forrest is a former rugby player and Ph.D. scientist from New Zealand who did research at San Diego’s Salk Institute in the 1980s, caught the winemaking bug, and returned home to establish the Forrest Estate Winery and several years … Continue reading →

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