Joelle Thompson and her Little Black Book of Wine

Joelle Thomson says good company is a big factor in enjoying wine.

Wine writer JOELLE THOMSON de-mystifies the task of choosing the right wine, outlines the merits of shopping online and suggests descriptive wine words to drop into conversation in her latest release The Little Black Book of Wine. Colleen Thorpe talks to Joelle about, what else but wine, and finds the book is out just in time to help impress friends over the holiday period.

Do you really have to spend a lot of money to get a good wine?

No way. I'd never have written 10 budget wine guides -- nor this book -- if I thought wine had to cost a lot in order to taste good. Try Riesling and Mediterranean reds and tell me they don't work for you.

What is the wine of your choice this summer?

A lot more Chenin Blanc; 2014 Astrolabe Wrekin Chenin from Marlborough absolutely rocks. I'm also planning to enjoy good Kiwi Chardonnays; Main Divide, Palliser Estate and Dog Point are among the best, as are great Kiwi Rieslings from the South Island, mostly; Pegasus Bay, Auburn, Mt Edward and Ceres Black Rabbit Riesling from a rocky hillside in Bannockburn, Central Otago.

For bubbles, I'll buy Prosecco because it is great value and slightly lower in alcohol at 11.5per cent.

How are Kiwi wines comparing to the rest of the world at the moment?

New Zealand white wines are gaining a massive global fan club because this country has a cool maritime climate, which provides grapes and wines with intense acidity (freshness) and stacks of fruit driven flavours - a fab combo. Screwcaps help too; they enable our wines to taste fresh.

I buy (and taste) a steady stream of European wine, so much of which is destroyed by cork, which can allow air in. I love good wine, regardless of where it's from and closures make a massive difference to the taste. Imagine if bread was sealed in a wrapping that made it dry out before you'd opened it. All wine should be packaged with a reliable closure.

What is the most remarkable wine you have ever tasted?

A spring day in north west Italy, a good friend and a great wine; 2007 Mascarello Monprivato Barolo DOCG from the Mascarello family and made 100 per cent from Italy's staunchest black grape - Nebbiolo. Awe inspiring.

Tell us your five top tips to becoming a wine expert

* Trust yourself; good tasters are made, not born

* The more you taste and read about wine, the better you get at tasting

* Try new things; there is a wide world worth discovering beyond pinot gris. Be adventurous; it'll amaze you

* Drink Med reds; the best-value wines on Earth frequently come from Sicily, Spain and the south of France. The climate in those places is warm, dry and consistent; the wines follow suit

* Read The Little Black Book of Wine; it's designed to take the pomposity out of wine and whet your appetite for more info about the most complex, interesting drink on Earth.

And your top five wines for under $20

Tricky; try these: Main Divide Riesling, Canterbury; Urban Uco Malbec, Argentina; La Mura Nero d'Avola, Sicily; Farnese Montepulciano, Italy; Main Divide Chardonnay, Canterbury. They are all available in supermarkets or online at Fine Wine Delivery Company. Easy. They all over deliver on the cost.

What wine will you be drinking on Christmas Day?

Prosecco, Champagne and Riesling (everyone in the family gets to bring a mystery one) and whichever reds we all chose. It's about the people and the place; Martinborough, family, close friends, countryside.

When you are not drinking wine you are drinking?

Fresh soda water (love my Sodastream), weak Earl Grey tea and strong Wellington-brewed coffee; thanks great boyfriend with the kickass coffee machine.

Tell us two things about yourself that will surprise

* I grew up in the South Island and Singapore and never tasted wine until I was 14 when my cousin poured me a cheap port.

* I can't stand pretension; a great wine tastes bad with unpleasant company whereas any wine tastes good with the right person.

The Little Black Book of Wine
By Joelle Thomson, New Holland, $24.99