Kerri Jackson soaks up more than just good wine on a Penfolds tour that's steeped in history.

For lovers of fine wine, March 1 is coming to mean only one thing every year: the annual release of Penfolds highly sought after Bin selection.

It's an exciting thing to discover a bar that has the right mix of interesting wines and good music.

When wanting to impress visiting overseas wine buffs, I have trusty favourites that I pluck from the cellar and open with a good deal of confidence.

Randall Graham, a founding member of Californian wine group, The Rhône Rangers, once claimed it was more difficult to get rid of a case of syrah than the clap.

When this variety is doing its job well it can transport you to a different place.

Wine writer John Hawkesby takes a look back over a year of sipping to come up with his 12 best bottles.

If you donned a "Jesus drinks riesling" T-shirt in the normal world, most people would think you were one sandwich short of a picnic, but among other riesling freaks it doesn't make the grade.

It's that time of year again when we're compelled to buy a sentimental card for our loved ones and go out for a set-menu meal - or wallow in our singledom.

Your guide to Valentine's Day drinking.

Blended families are very common these days. Yours, mine and sometimes ours. Extra patience, care and a whole range of sensitivities are required.

The New Zealand pinot noir movement is gathering pace and the great and good of the wine world jetted in from Singapore, Stockholm and San Francisco last week to experience Central Otago's take on the grape.

New Zealand wines of genuine distinction and world class status are not legion, but they do exist. Some tick some of the boxes some of the time. A few seem to get it dead right most of the time.

Getting experimental in our vineyards is a risky business, but one that has paid off in the past for our winemakers.

Dust your bunny ears down, the Year of the Rabbit is upon us.

The textures of New Zealand wines have developed from severe to silky.

The iconic Aussie drop has a new winemaker at the helm but drinkers shouldn't notice.

The annual Margaret River Wine Region Festival showcases wares from many of its 100 or more producers.

You'll rarely hear "subtle" and "Marlborough sauvignon blanc" in the same sentence.

Viva looks back on the year that was - and the year that lies ahead - for winemakers and drinkers.

The summer holiday period can be tough going sometimes, with plenty of parties, functions and barbies to attend, as well as the more relaxed few drinks at home.

Brown muscat and men called Keith share something in common - they don't sound very sexy. Nevertheless, I got hot under the collar about some new brown muscat plantings a few weeks ago.

There's fresh blood oozing with talent in New Zealand's wine industry. Rebecca Gibb picks the ones to watch this year.

Here is the annual review - albeit lightly - of how the last year shaped up or down, depending on whether you're a producer, a drinker or both.