Here we go, folks. Another jolly bumper edition, featuring some fab wines from NZ Italy and USA. All prices in $NZD

 

Main Divide North Canterbury Riesling 2020 $22
Great value medium sweet, classic riesling from North Canterbury. 12.8% alcohol. Soft acids, beeswax, pineapple, poached apple, ripe mandarin and a hint of crème brulée with a little spritz of CO2. Match with seafood or mildly spicy Asian dishes.
Available: Available: Fine O Wine, Pt Chev Organic Wines, pegasusbay.com

Bogle Family Vineyards California Chardonnay 2020 $29
If you’re a fan of buttery, toasty fruit-led Chardonnay (as I am), then this one’s for you. It’s my go-to regular chardonnay at home. Aromas of pineapple, toasty vanilla oak and hint of herbs. In the mouth it’s fresh cut ripe pineapple, peach and spice, toast, creamy yeast, toasted hazelnut and a crisp finish. Nice with creamy pasta and chicken dishes.
Available: Pt Chev Organic wines, Dhall & Nash finewinedelivery.co.nz

Bogle Family Vineyards California Chardonnay 2021 $29
Slightly softer, with almond croissant, creamy and peachy with slight minerality. But very much on point with the house style from Bogle. Food matches as above.
Available: Pt Chev Organic wines, Dhall & Nash finewinedelivery.co.nz

Main Divide North Canterbury Chardonnay 2022 $22
Definitely on the funky, reductive chardonnay spectrum. Flinty and crisp, with hazelnut, super-ripe grapefruit, peach, nectarine, with a crisp and dry lengthy finish. Food match: a rich, creamy chowder or seafood pasta.
Available: blackmarket.co.nz  pegasusbay.com

Sartori Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG 2018 $64
Honestly. This is one of the best reds, local or imported, that I have sampled in a long time.  Reminds me very much of Montepulciano Brunellos that I was lucky enough to sample in Tuscany many years ago. Soft and gorgeous. Supple, and ripe with spiced cherry, dark plum, baba rhum, almond toffee and a hint of tawny port. Buy now. Before I do. Food match – Italian tomato-based pasta. Or by itself.
Available: Dhall & Nash

Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso 2020 $56
A very different style from the Sartori, this wine is more savoury and assertively tannic – with soy, cigar, liquorice, and earthy, spicy flavours. Match with spicy tomato based vegetarian or beef dishes.
Available: Dhall & Nash

Main Divide North Canterbury Merlot Cabernet 2020 $22
Not as intense as the Bolgheri Rosso as above, but a bold red blend with a funky, yeasty nose. Dark plum, cherry, liquorice, leather, soy, truffle and a hint of herbal.  Match with slow cooked beef bourguignon or rich ratatouille
Available: pegasusbay.com   finewinedelivery.co.nz

Sartori Rerum Recioto Della Valpolicella Clasico DOCG 2018 (500 ml) $56
A intense sweet Veronese red traditionally made from grapes left to dry in the sun on racks before pressing and fermentation. A blend of obscure native Italian grape varieties is used to make this 13.5% alcohol in a ruby port style. Flavours of black cherry, spice muscatel and toasted almond. Food match: Almond cake, desserts and biscotti.
Available: Dhall & Nash

 Phil Parker runs Wine & Food tours in Auckland New Zealand

 

 

 

All NZ wine selection.

 

 

Here's a bunch of NZ wines with a bit of a twist - a zero alcohol option, plus a charity label aiming to reduce international slavery. All prices in $NZD.

Ara Zero Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (Vegan)  2022 $17
Has just won ‘Best of Show Sauvignon Blanc’ at the Mundus Vini Non-alcoholic Wine Competition. At no more than 0.5% alcohol, it has a soft savvie profile of passionfruit, guava, fresh black currant and a raisiny crisp citrus finish. A great autumn picnic option for the designated driver.
Available: Pt Chev Organic Wines, First Glass Wines 

Ara Single Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (Vegan)  2022 $17
A soft take on the typical Marlborough sauvignon. Dominant flavours of fresh black currant, green bell pepper, soft citrus acids, herbs and a hint of passionfruit. Match with seafood or mildly spicy Asian dishes.
Available: Countdown, winesale.co.nz   www.vineonline.co.nz

Astrolabe Taihoa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $39
This limited production wine is whole bunch pressed with native yeast, and barrel fermented with yeast lees stirring. Complex and multi-layered and could pass for a crisp chardonnay. Soft acids with a rich palate of canned peach, nectarine, ripe kiwifruit, clover honey and ripe pineapple. Match with roast chicken or creamy pasta.
Available: Caros

27 Seconds Waipara Riesling 2021 $19
Great value medium sweet style riesling, 10% alcohol. Packed with ripe mandarin, honeysuckle, canned apricot, clover honey. A soft, tangy, slightly crisp finish.
Match with seafood, medium spiced Vietnamese dishes, or as a pre-dinner drink. 100% of the profits go to an NZ charity combating international slavery. Read the full story and buy here: 27seconds.co.nz

27 Seconds Waipara Pinot Gris 2021 $22
Earthy and complex. Rich flavours of musk, pineapple, rock melon, orange peel and a medium dry finish. Would be great with creamy pasta, chicken dishes, and spicy Asian seafood.

Ara Single Estate Marlborough Pinot Gris (Vegan) 2022 $17
Rich and ripe off-dry style, with guava, honeysuckle, Braeburn apple, rock melon and a hint of marshmallow. Yummy. Fab as an aperitif or match with Asian foods, scallops, or slow cooked rich pork dishes.
Available: Glengarry

Ara Single Estate Marlborough Chardonnay (Vegan) 2022 $17
Crisply elegant and young. Leaning towards a sauvignon blanc profile, with lime citrus with a hint of toasty oak. Apricot and nectarine, and a crisp dry finish.  Match with creamy, cheesy lasagne or seafood.
Available: Available: Fine O Wine, Pt Chev Organic Wines, Glengarry

Shaky Bridge Central Otago Pinot Noir Pioneer Series 2021
These two pinots are grown in one of the oldest Pinot noir vineyards in Central Otago. Opens up with cigar, toasty oak, black currant, sultana, dark chocolate, cherry and spice. A hint of spice and savoury mushroom/roasted meat. Medium bodied, elegant and classy pinot noir. Worth cellaring for 2 to 3 years. Match with roasted meats and vegetables.
Available: Caro’s,  finewinedelivery.co.nz

Shaky Bridge Artisan Series Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Soft, spicy and elegant and very drinkable right now. Cherry, blackberry, Black Doris plum, molasses, and a hint of thyme and savoury yeasty tang.  Match with rich mushroom dishes.
Available: New World,  finewinedelivery.co.nz 

Phil Parker is a local Auckland NZ wine writer and wine tour guide.