Straight from Stuff but worth repeating... A New Zealand wine industry leader says British critic Oz Clarke has given the industry a timely warning not to flood its main export market with cut-price pinot noir, as is already happening with sauvignon blanc. Mr Clarke, reigning world wine tasting champion, told the Pinor Noir 2010 conference in Wellington last night that "oceans" of New Zealand sauvignon blanc were hitting British supermarket shelves at prices ...

A quick link to two recent TV interviews in relation to the current NZ Pinot Noir 2010 conference in Wellington.   Leslie Sbrocco : http://www.3news.co.nz/International-wine-critics-converge-on-the-capital/tabid/369/articleID/139705/Default.aspx   Oz Clarke: http://www.3news.co.nz/NZ-wine-industry-praised-by-champion-taster/tabid/372/articleID/139648/Default.aspx

  "The question is: are you the best, and I think you are. That's what you have done in the past three years, distanced yourselves from the competition in numbers of wines and overall average quality." PinotNoir2010 kicks off today in Wellington. Its NZs most important showcase for our number 1 red varietal, in fact our number 1 varietal full stop. The wine worlds media are here in force to tour and taste their ...

Coming soon, our new wine range TRUE AND DARING. Not only are they great value and quality, they can also do tricks as in the photo above. Initially the range includes a 2008 Pinot Noir and 2007 Riesling.  As an introduction to the label we are offering this wine to you FREE ! Until Feb 5th, all you have to do is purchase a 6 bottle case of any Sandihurst wine ...

Removal leaves in the fruiting zone, usually at some point between fruit set and pea size, favourably alters the microclimate in the canopy. It increase ligt and heat on the bunches which can advance grape maturity and improve berry composition. This is a real advantage in cool climate wine growing regions. In addition the increased airflow around the fruit ...

Our 2007 Nelson Chardonnay, with a year of bottle maturation under its belt, seen here having the final touches applied. Sleeve rolled on, labelled, boxed and ready to go. Unoaked and dry in style, Ripe and fruit forward with added weight and texture derived from 6 months ageing on lees, 90% tank fermented, 10% barrel fermented in neutral oak. Plenty going on and a ...

I had a long conversation with a friend of mine in South Africa about a presentation she attended on the South Africa wine industry. A variety of presentations on a variety of subjects. You can have a look at all the presentations here. It makes for some very interesting reading in general. Trust me however to be grabbed by the following statement about ...

Hers an article that recently appeared in The Southland Times featuring Sean Brennan and his plans to build a wine cave on his vineyard. The Brennan vineyard, in the Gibbston Valley, is where Sandihurst sources its Central Otago grapes from. Sean does an excellent job with the grapes and his own wines from the vineyard are superb. Check out his website for more.  

He might not

This was taken last year over the Gewurz vineyard. Unfortunately there is no sign of a rainbow yet this year. Very unseasonable weather and definitely not a pleasure. However, for many it is good so we won't complain. We'll just keep looking forward to seeing the rainbow...

Pinot Gris bunches. On each bunch you can (just) make out some brown 'caps' which have yet to fall off the berries. This may have been caused by weather conditions over flowering, which, in turn, can interfere with the level of fruit set on each bunch. Just a theory...