Latest fromWine

Wine: Hammer horrors
Even in times of recession buying fine wine can be a solid, long-term investment.

Wine: When there's less, choose the best
Trimming down is never far from conversation at this time of year, but it's usually waistlines we're talking about - not wine.

Wine: Tasting les bons vins
I know many wine obsessives who, like myself, gave up buying top-end French wines, especially Bordeaux, when prices skyrocketed in the 90s.

Divers find 200-year-old champagne
Divers have found what is thought to be the world's oldest drinkable champagne in a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea.

Wine: French revolution
France is taking drastic measures to save its struggling wine industry.

Wine: The politics of wining and dining
If politicians must swipe their credit cards on a night out, it's worth making sure it's value for our money and nectar for their guests.

Sip trip hits NZ (+recipe)
Top sommelier Jean-Marie Pratt brings his global quest for tasty tipples Downunder.

Wine: Inspecting the gadgets
There are many gizmos out there which claim to improve your wine drinking experience. We look at the ones that work.

Wine: Trying it out
It all started when my old friend, Chris Carrad, brought over a "cosmic" wine for tasting.

How sunshine shapes your wine
A study of the UV effects on grapes has potentially revealed why our wines are so distinctive

Wine: Back to classics
You know the feeling - you rush into the supermarket only to stand, staring blankly at the fresh vegetable section.

Wine: No added sulphur
Your average reds all contain added sulphur to prevent oxidation. As do most of the dried fruits and nuts we eat.

Montana wine becomes Brancott
The sun has set on one of NZ's major wine brands, Montana Wines, which will soon become Brancott Estate.

Tizard buys French to uphold NZ pride
Judith Tizard says she bought a $155 bottle of champagne during a dinner with Australian ministers as a matter of national pride.

The winemaking expert with a sparkle in his eye
Attention to detail is the all-important ingredient in the business of making champagne, says Francois Hautekeur.

The Dish: Foodie Fundraiser
Prepare to eat a lot when some of Auckland's top eateries team up for the annual Mercy Hospital Degustation Brunch fundraiser.

Wine: The new frontier
Our new generation of vintners aren't afraid to push the boundaries and think outside the square with their winemaking.

Wine: Presentation is key
How we present ourselves says a lot about us to other people, and the same applies to how wines are presented to us, if the nakedly ambitious marketing of champagne, organic wines and pinot noirs I've seen recently is anything to go by.