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.

When you've paid $200,000 for a seat on a galactic flight, the last thing you want is to be served a dud beer.

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.

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.

The media attention surrounding Prince William's trip to Christchurch and Greymouth was almost as big as the circus over pint-sized pop star Justin Bieber's New Zealand tour.

Our wine industry is a young one by world standards - but does it matter how well our bottles age?

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.

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.

Some of our most experienced wine entrepreneurs are among New Zealand's richest people.

Still they come. Men and women with vision, courage, zeal and determination. They dream.

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.