Nicky Pellegrino delves into a harrowing tale of survival that's also a story about love.

Gruner veltliner may not be a white wine you ask for or buy regularly, but it's here whether you're ready or not.

A menu with coquettish names provides an entertaining meal otherwise lacking in service.

People write - or want to write - for many reasons. For some, it is a compulsion, an itch that must be scratched. For others, it has more to do with the narcissistic conviction that the world wants to know what they're thinking and feeling.

For those readers eagerly anticipating the next effort from Sarah Waters, the queen of historical revisionism, look no further than Kate Worsley's debut novel.

A few years ago I visited the charming English port town of Whitby and was intrigued to discover its crucial role in the lives of two very different men whose names continue to echo down the centuries: Count Dracula and Captain James Cook.

Just opened. Fine food in casual space. Royal Oak. Chefs from the esteemed Meredith's kitchen. Asian-European fusion. Eek, that last bit worried me.

Jo Burzynska joins Central Otago artisan vintners on their yearly harvest.

I'd been into the Lumsden before and wasn't impressed, but what a difference a few months makes.

A new eatery on the Shore surprises with its sense of adventure.

For some reason, a number of Australian wines that were fashionable and readily available a couple of decades ago in New Zealand vanished from our shelves. Now they’re making a comeback.

A previously unpublished novel by Janet Frame, In the Memorial Room was written in 1974 and comes out of her experience as a Katherine Mansfield Fellow in Menton, France.

“Houses have their own ways of dying,” wrote E.M. Forster, “some with a tragic roar, some quietly.” Ashenden Park, the honey-stoned Palladian villa at the heart of Elizabeth Wilhide’s debut novel.

Wines from Waitaki Valley have a sophistication all their own, so why are some of the region's key players calling it quits?

Simple, flavourful food and a team that truly cares for its patrons makes this bistro worth popping into.

They take bookings at the Mexican Cafe only for groups of eight or more - except on Valentine's Day. Isn't that soooo romantic?

Southeast Asian flavours delivered with grace and delicacy.

We came here because we’d driven past a few times and were intrigued by the name — and the tower-like corner of the building.

As the number of living New Zealanders who have actually fought in a war declines, attendance at Anzac Day ceremonies continues to rise and ever more books about military history are published. Jim Eagles looks at the latest offerings.

Sparks fly at this Argentinian barbecue house, where the atmosphere is warm and the meat is smokin' hot.

Size and shape matter when it comes to wine glasses, making all the difference to your experience of the elixir within.

Oldies reveal a rich, ripe vein of charm for Nicky Pellegrino.

In the 1980s a visit to the Birdcage meant a fun night out. Now it promises an evening of delight.

Loveblock is the latest creation of that winemaking-cum-clever-marketing power couple, Kim and Erica Crawford.

We came here because it was handy to my friend’s workplace and a good excuse to have a mid-week catch-up.

The secret to putting together a really satisfying literary journal is to make sure you have an editor with catholic tastes at the helm.

My fairly positive "experience" with this book was abruptly, even rudely, spoiled by the very last item, a contribution by John Key, former merchant banker and Prime Minister of this country.