Philip Rich will raise his glass up to 400 times this week as he turns his palate to the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

The analogies between photography and winemaking may be obvious but that doesn’t diminish the fact they are valid.

New Zealand winemakers weren't pleased after one of the world's most respected wine critics, master of wine Jancis Robinson, pooh-poohed the country's pinot noir in a blind tasting.

The English are producing world-class champagnes.

I'm often struck by the snobbery I encounter in our country when it comes to drinks. Talk about how you'd love a nice, cold lager and someone will pipe up and say: "Oh you don't drink that muck do you?

Making wine without chemicals and other processing techniques is slowly catching on here.

Actor and vigneron Sam Neill is on record as saying that these days he's more interested in rave reviews for his wine than his big-screen exploits.

Seasoned Wwoofer Venetia Sherson gets more than she bargained for on an olive picking job in the hills of southern Tuscany.

Pernod Ricard New Zealand, the local arm of the French liquor company, has sold a dozen wine brands and some wineries to a Lion Nathan New Zealand-led joint venture for $88 million.

Joelle Thomson offers us a toast to crisp sparkling rieslings.

I once had an appalling wine experience, when I watched a man make a rosé.

The change of seasons heralds the release of a fresh new vintage suited to warmer days.

We quiz some of New Zealand's best winemakers to find their tipples du jour.

Marlborough-based winemaker and mother-of-two Jules Taylor may well be on to something. Hers is a virtual brand with no assets.

When a champagne house can name Marie Antoinette and Marilyn Monroe as fans, you'd think the brand couldn't get any more glamorous - then they announce a collaboration with shoe designer Christian Louboutin.

Don't restrict yourself to just one colour or style of wine - there are plenty of others which will suit your palate.

Spanish winemaker Telmo Rodriguez has seduced a Kiwi distributor with his ravishing reds.

If wine had a personality, pinot noir's would be strangely alluring while requiring occasional therapy.

My nana loved her occasional sherry. It sat on a highly polished mahogany side table in a splendid crystal decanter, with an elaborate stopper on top.

Fusing wine and artistic licence is for the people, writes Joelle Thomson.

A creeping blush after a tipple compels Gill South to get to the bottom of an embarrassing problem.

New Zealand's wine-drinking habits are not far off international trends.