Viva chats to winemaker Axelle Araud of Moet & Chandon.

Is it worth paying a premium for wines from a "good year" or should we stick to the labels?

Demand has soared for a North Island pinot noir crowned best in the world.

With an annual output of around only 150,000 bottles, Champagne Dumangin is probably not on your wine radar. It's not exactly in your face, clamouring for attention. Not yet.

It'll soon be time to crank up that heat pump and drink a wine that warms our cockles.

I was at a tasting recently when someone stood to ask me a question. In fact, she wanted to ask me three questions, but being the economical type of guy I am, I managed to give her just one answer.

Advertising restrictions mean media promotion of New Zealand wines is sometimes left a little wanting.

An obsession among "new world" wine producers is to compare their wines to their European equivalents. Around the winemaking fraternity, you hear producers comparing their sauvignon blancs to the Loire. Cobblers, I say.

Most New Zealand wineries believe they will be profitable in 10 years' time despite the "tough times ahead", a wine industry survey reveals.

Ewan McDonald finds not all good US fruit of the vine comes from Napa.

The art of wine-tasting requires the use of all of your faculties.

Do wines taste better drunk from a glass while meandering among the vines from which the grapes were grown? I think so, but then I am hopelessly sentimental.

A $200 bottle of Martinborough pinot noir was crowned the finest at a tasting in California, ahead of renowned wines from around the world.

"If champagne speaks of celebration, then port speaks of relaxation."

Wine-inspired initiatives are supporting quake-stricken Christchurch.

An "elixir of love" brought Italy victory in Queenstown's annual cocktail world cup on Friday night.

Scoffing at the merits of pinot gris is no longer fashionable - if, indeed, it ever was.

The "Bollix" has built its reputation on featuring the best in homegrown and international rock, pop, celtic, folk and blues talent.

Jetlagged contestants at the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup were given an adrenaline-filled introduction to their week in Queenstown yesterday.

Entertainment and hospitality boost Soljan's revenue.

There's a lot more choice when it comes to quenching your beer thirst these days.

Over the past decade, chardonnay has been as popular as a fart in a lift.