[LesleyS]

Thought it would be a good idea to start a thread to talk about Wine :yes

As a newcomer to New Zealand I have been amazed by the immense selection of wines from various regions here, and wondered if anyone would like to say what their favourite wine was, and why? - or point us all in the right direction if a particularly good wine comes on offer at the supermarket? :cheers

This topic arises from the fact that I purchased a particularly 'iffy' Wine Cask yesterday in an attempt to cut back on the budget - doh! false economy if it tastes like 'paint stripper' :laugh

So as not to discriminate, please feel free (if wine is not 'your thing') to nominate/recommend a good Beer, or a favourite Cocktail if you prefer?


Cheers!

[Jo Jo]

We seem to drink a lot of Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc. (I say we, but it's mainly me.) Yum.

[jubjub]

Yeah, um, wine casks..... never ever get a generic "white/red wine" they are always (IMHO) awful!

If you want to get casks, get one that at least has a named grape variety! The Banrock station ones are not at all bad, and if you can get them on special all the better!

Personal fave is NZ Pinot Gris.... YUMMY.

We have had some wines from http://www.nz-wine-society.co.nz/ when they had a warehouse sale locally. Some lovely ones including a very nice cava, nicer that Lindauer (although I am sure Kate would disagee ;) )

You can generally get a Corbans, Hardys or Banrock station on special most weeks in the major supermarkets, also a thing to look out for in the liquor stores is Clearskins, they are not vineyard identified, so you get a "Hawkes Bay Chardonnay" but you dont know which one, these are quite good value too.

OK, now I am rambling....

Glass of wine now methinks.... (none in the house though, darn it)

[dbonnett]

Ah yes, the wine cask.. We carried a "red" all over the SI that even our 6 year old called "grape juice"... I think it had a vintage of April and we were there in June..

On the other hand, my brother-in-law, a rather serious Manhattan wine aficionado, said that they buy every Cloudy Bay bottle they can find (my wife's cousin in Wellington also swears by CB)...

[katandbob]

I buy casks - the country red I think - its ok for mild stress relief, but if I am treating myself - I tend to look at whats on special. LOL - but most taste too sweet! other than the Banrocks and the like! but sometimes its cheaper to get the bottles on special.

Oyster Bay has a nice red selection - Cloudy Bay is always out of stock or way out my purse range!

sorry i can't tell you the name of the nice bottles we drank at the weekend as I went to the bottle bank:laugh

but I have been good this week - I haven't had a glass in 2 days (mind u that may be because I forgot to go to Liquorland ......:laugh )

:o funny how my taste is governed by the purse - but thats kiwi wages for you!:rolleyes:

Kat

[Moorf]

Ohhh, Cloudy Bay - when we first arrived we were told to order in our Cloudy Bay as it was "the" wine... it was bloomin' expensive ($40/bottle or so) and we didn't like it! :o

I now stick to Pinot Gris (usually Villa Maria or Bald Hills). Wasn't a white wine drinker in the UK, here it's what I mostly drink.

Hubby sticks mostly to Mudhouse Pinot Noir.

But right now I'm in to Canterbury Cream - it's like Baileys but a lot cheaper! :D

Oh, and I like a girly Monteiths Summer Ale :nice1

[SarahEDH]

Before being in NZ I never tried the blends, like a cab/shiraz/merlot, but I'm devoted now. Guess I just don't have what it takes to be a cork dork; if it's red, I'll try it. Can't groove on the sweet whites though.

Tonight's drink is a Yellow Tail shiraz/cab, to chase down some hummus & salty pita chips. Color me happy.

[Sam B]

Just had a nice bottle of Astrolabe sauvignon blanc, but I've hit the grapefruit cocktails tonight as it's the start of 4 days off. See you Saturday Jo Jo!!

[gil]

Fab thread LesleyS!
Here are some of my faves:
Wither Hills Sauv Blanc (or Hardy's Sav B if Wither Hills isn't on offer)
Church Road Chardonnay
Brown Brothers Dolcette & Syrah (er, a sweetish red that you serve chilled, not everyone's cup of tea!)
Sparkling: Lindauer Special Reserve Brut

However, we drink most wines that are on offer!

Gil

[Marie P]

I buy whatever Red is on special [normally we have a bottle a night ] but for the past fortnight .........water !!!

Just drinking at the weekend ,we are on a great money saving endeavor ,so no wine for us or fizzy pop for the kids !!


:cheers Marie x :cheers

[DMcG]

I have a "modest" wine rack of around 50 or 60 bottles (mostly bought in our last South Island trip :) ) which is predominantly red. I think I drank the last of my Pegasus Bay Merlots a few weeks back - so it's time to restock on those and I'm down to the last of my Ngatarawa Silks, so it's about to get a bit expensive.
But I still have a dozen of various bottles from the Fromm Vineyard in Marlborough - which IMHO produces some of the best reds in the country :D

Be warned Moorf - going on a Vince's Wine Tour could be a bank breaking expereince :cheers

Dougie

[Familyofmonkeys]

We have been making a point to try a different NZ wine (red or medium/dry white) everytime we see something on offer. We don't habitually drink every week, but if we get something we really like might guzzle a few bottles over a week....will have to start paying more attention to names :o .

My absolute favourite is a nice Grand Reserva Rioja...but it is hard to get a decent one here. There is a little shop in Ponsonby that gets a case if from time to time, but expensive so only for special occasions! And we do get the old Banrock as a fallback sometimes too :)

[b&k]

Ok, hold on, here goes:

Cheap everyday drinking (value-oriented, $8-$14)
- stick to Aussie blend on offer
- casks are fine if same wine is available by the bottle
- e.g. Banrock Station, Hardy's, Yalumba, Lindemans, Wyndham, Jacob's Creek

Better Everyday Drinking (quality-value compromise, $15-20)
- get NZ wines on offer
- e.g. Villa Maria (excellent quality for the price at all levels), Wither Hills, Montana, Matua Valley, Oyster Bay, Mud House, Allan Scott, Saint Clair
- better to stay single variety (non-blends)
- alternatively, buy the resrve level of Aussie brands when on offer (think Hardy's Nottage Hill, Penfold's Rawson's Retreat etc)

Quality Wines (for entertaining/food, $21-$29)
- Choose NZ reserve level wines
- single varieties only (except Cabernet-Merlot)
- e.g. Church Road, Esk Valley, Astrolabe, Te Mata

Premium Wines (special occasions, $30+)
- NZ iconic producers
- e.g. Cloudy Bay, Craggy Range, Ata Rangi, Felton Road, Dry River, Dog Point, Fromm, Kumeu River
- also Villa Maria Reserve and Single Vineyard collections

Sparkling Wines
- Basic Aussie fizz is well made and good value
- If you're going to drink Lindauer get the Special Reserve Blanc de Blancs when it's on offer
- Duetz and Pelorus are the nearest to Champagne
- Champagne is still the king

I find Micheal Cooper's Buyer's Guide (http://www.amazon.co.uk/MIchael-Coopers-Buyers-Guide-Zealand/dp/1869711238/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201190339&sr=1-2) to be fairly accurate for most NZ wines

[Mels]

My favourite is Lindauer Frais. It sounds disgusting as it has a strawberry flavour ? real strawberry flavour.

On a hot day it is very drinkable - Hic! :nice1

I'm getting worried about this forum, we come from disfunctional families, are going insane trying to survive emmigrating and now we're all experts on wine!!! :cheers

Dread to think what a psychologist would make of us all? :laugh

[thezorbster]

Been trying to buy Kiwi & also been trying to buy local as there are lots of vineyards around us. Have to say they are pretty expensive and my eagerness to try everything has been costing us a lot of money. Now going for cheaper wines (but still NZ) for normal drinking and spending a bit more on a local bottle if we feel like a treat.

Love the local Kahurangi Sav Blanc and Old Coach Rd Chardonnay but so many still to try....

Also love Monteiths Radler beer - extremely refreshing in the current heat.

[M&J]

Well we have been trying to support some friends of ours who started their own vineyard about 5 years ago. It's a hard job but someone has to do it!!!!

We tried the Cabernet Merlot 2006, we were the ginea pigs!!! It was fantastic!!! I know I might be biased but I truely beleive it was the best wine I have tasted!!! You can buy the Cabernet Merlot 2005 and a savvy online http://www.ashridgevineyards.co.nz/default.asp free delivery in NZ.

Hope you don't mind the plug but it is fantastic and anything to give them a hand as it is really hard work, we know we went for a visit last easter at harvest time!!
:cheers

[Perksy]

A girl after my own heart Lesley - I'm lost without a nice glass of wine. I am a real lover of New Zealand and Oz wine and was looking forward to living in a country where the cheap local wine was among the good stuff. I was so disappointed to discover that New Zealand wine is as expensive (in some cases dearer) than in the UK. I did find the sparkling wines compared more favourably. I haven't moved over yet and will be looking to hunt down some good ones so will keep an eye on this site.

I love the Montana wines. Like gil I also like the Lindauer range. If you find the brut a bit to dry the rose sparkling is nice as not too dry and not too sweet. It's about £8 a bottle in the UK and I found it a lot more reasonable over in NZ.

I'm also a lover of Oyster Bay. From Oz I like a drop of Lindeman's Bin 65 or Oxford Landing sav blanc.

Kim

[Mickstim]

I just like the title of your thread Lesley.........................This week I have been drinking. And drinking. And drinking.

The stress is getting to me now!!

Barb x

[KerryS]

I love Kumeu River Pinot Gris, and have been drinking quite a few glasses recently.
For reds my favourite is a Craggy Range Merlot. I spent rather a lot of money when I visited their vineyard last year on filling the wine rack at home, and it's almost all gone now! A good excuse for another trip to Hawkes Bay I feel.

Bloke has been drinking a lot of Monteiths Summer Ale, which is lovely and refreshing in the heat. I haven't tried the Macs summer one - has anyone?

[sizzlingbadger]

We've tried the Macs Summer one, not as sweet tasting as the Monteiths. We both prefer the Monteiths, more refreshing.

Love our wine, guys in Liquor store know us too well :D

Recently tried a bottle of Mission Reserve Cabernet Merlot, absolutely gorgeous and reminded us of some of the French red wines you get, certainly going on the favourite list !

Wolf Blass is another good one despite being Ozzie. Do like Banrock as a cheap wine it's certainly nicer than some of the others.

We have found Hardys Sparkling wine really nice, better than some of the Lindauer range.

With so many wineries on the doorstep at Martinborough, it's hard to choose an overall favourite. The Palliser wines go down very well, as do Alana, Murdoch James :) Must try Fromm as we haven't seen that one before :cheers

[LesleyS]

Just had a nice bottle of Astrolabe sauvignon blanc, but I've hit the grapefruit cocktails tonight as it's the start of 4 days off. See you Saturday Jo Jo!!

Sam I am very intrigued to know what goes into a 'Grapefruit Cocktail' ?

My favourite cocktail in the UK was a 'Cosmopolitan' - wicked !:laugh

Must get myself a cocktail shaker and some groovy glasses methinks :yes

[KerryS]

Sam I am very intrigued to know what goes into a 'Grapefruit Cocktail' ?

My favourite cocktail in the UK was a 'Cosmopolitan' - wicked !:laugh

Must get myself a cocktail shaker and some groovy glasses methinks :yes


Don't know about Sam's grapefruit cocktails, but mine are something like this:

Pick grapefruit and squeeze for juice and then strain to get rid of bits.
Pour vodka over ice in a tall glass.
Add equal amounts of grapefruit juice and soda water. Garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel.

It's a good way of using up all the grapefruits when your bored of eating them for breakfast. And it's better than making marmalade!

[jubjub]

I quite liked the Macs sundance, because it's not quite as sweet as the Summer ale. Best beer for this heat is Corona or sol, or a recent discovery was Cantina, tastes pretty similar to Corona, but much cheaper...

[M&J]

Just had a nice bottle of Astrolabe sauvignon blanc, but I've hit the grapefruit cocktails tonight as it's the start of 4 days off. See you Saturday Jo Jo!!

Hey Sam if you need any more grapefuit for your cocktails just call in and see us. We are overrun by them!!!! How do you make them and I'll give them a go.

Cheers Jo

[Moorf]

We found Mac's Summer to be a bit tasteless and watery.

[M&J]

I quite liked the Macs sundance, because it's not quite as sweet as the Summer ale. Best beer for this heat is Corona or sol, or a recent discovery was Cantina, tastes pretty similar to Corona, but much cheaper...

I'm quite taken with Radler beer, esp when it is hot

[benandclare]

Anything red under a tenner :laugh :laugh 2 glasses and who cares ............................:D :D

Oh ok , still prefer the OZ merlots I'm afraid as the vines are just that bit older but sample NZ reds when ever on offer but have no particular favs, enjoy letting the palate discover new tastes

[DMcG]

Just picked up 4 bottles of Wild South 2007 Pinot Noir at $15 a bottle - should be quite drinkable in a couple of years :D

Dougie

[Familyofmonkeys]

Had a bottle of Selaks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc tonight...twas rather nice and fruity tasting :)

[crispyking]

... home brew !! Got some great kits from GreatExpectations (http://www.greatexpectations.co.nz), especially the Muntons Wheat Beer :cheers

will probably have a stab at wine making shortly, which I have been told is 'surprisingly easy' :nice1

of the NZ wines I had, I think the one I rated most was called Monkey Bay - very fruity bucket ...

[gil]

W
Recently tried a bottle of Mission Reserve Cabernet Merlot, absolutely gorgeous and reminded us of some of the French red wines you get, certainly going on the favourite list !



Oooooh! We had some at a dinner party last night, LUSH!

Gil

Edit: PS "Lush" is a UK (possibly just Welsh) term that means " gorgeous", not the US term for a drunk!! :D Lush Gil x

[jubjub]

tonight I am drinking Macs Sassy Red... YUM, kind of almost real ale-ish....

[Carol]

I've been on the gin in the blue bottle for weeks now!
:cheers


But have become QUITE partial to Stones alcoholic Ginger Beer.
yuuum

[James 1077]

Got to be just about anything from Martinborough. My Aunt lives down that way and visiting her is always a pleasure as we get to tour a fair few of the vineyards. :)

Can't really say which my favourite is though as by the time I've been there a few hours I generally love everything!

[Wonderbob]

Hey guys, New World currently has Matua Shingle Peak Sav Blanc (Malborough) on special at the moment - $ 11.95 - at that price it's a winner, drinking it by the gallon....Oh they also have their Pinot Gris at the same price, don't know what that one's like though. The Sav's a beaut!

Cheers! :cheers

[Familyofmonkeys]

This week we tried a Cloudy Bay chardonnay. Was a tad on the sweet side, but very drinkable in the hot weather.

[gil]

A friend introduced me to Bensen Block Unoaked Chardonnay and I buy it fairly regularly now. Having tried and liked that, I bought a Bensen Block Merlot yesterday and it was delicious,

Gil

[richard]

Anything red under a tenner :laugh :laugh 2 glasses and who cares ............................


Blimey, I wouldn't dream of spending that much! :eek:

I wait for the $5.99 specials then buy 12 or more bottles at a time. That way I can keep drinking until the next special.

The supermarkets rotate 4 or 5 different brands so you can build a little cellar with a bit of variety.

I have been know to spend $6.99 sometimes for really nice stuff though.:cheers

[Smiler]

I've been on the gin in the blue bottle for weeks now!
:cheers


But have become QUITE partial to Stones alcoholic Ginger Beer.
yuuum

Only weeks? :p

Where do you buy the ginger beer please? I had that in Dux de Lux in CC with Moorf one Saturday lunchtime. It's gawgeous! :D

[Moorf]

This week I have moooostly been drinking... Berocca. :o

[Tanya]

Only weeks? :p

Where do you buy the ginger beer please? I had that in Dux de Lux in CC with Moorf one Saturday lunchtime. It's gawgeous! :D

Our local fresh choice sell it so probably most of the supermarkets do if you hunt it out!

Tanya

[jubjub]

Where do you buy the ginger beer please?

I got some in Pak n Save, in a six pack with the beers..

[Tanya]

Our local fresh choice sell it so probably most of the supermarkets do if you hunt it out!

Tanya

Smiler - Whwn I read this Last night I thought you meant Stones Ginger Wine - which I know Moorf loves so maybe misread it but if its the Stones Ginger Wine you meant - you will definitely find that at the supermarkets.

Tanya

[Smiler]

Smiler - Whwn I read this Last night I thought you meant Stones Ginger Wine - which I know Moorf loves so maybe misread it but if its the Stones Ginger Wine you meant - you will definitely find that at the supermarkets.

Tanya

Thanks Tanya

Deffo the ginger beer and I'll check the chiller's when I go into town this week. :nice1 *hic*

Tonight I am sipping a very nice chilled Goldridge Estate 2006 Gizzy chardonnay, lots of toasty oak and butterscotch. :raebanana Can't remember how much but it must have been on special in C-o-u-n-t-d-o-w-n-

OH is on Wyndham estate, Bin 444 cab sav, which he says is lovely. If I bought it for him then it was $5.99 :laugh

We're celebrating tonight! :cheers Cheers all!

[LesleyS]

Goldridge Estate Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet 2007...... Lovely

$11.99 at c-o-u-n-t-d-o-w-n ! Should have got 2

[Familyofmonkeys]

Tonight we are trying an Aussie wine that was on special for $15 in New World. It is a Taylors 2005 Clare Valley Cabarnet Savignon. It's very nice (well, it should be as they have had a drought for a few years) so we are going to buy some more tommorrow.

[jubjub]

Im on Hawkes Bay pinot Gris.... hic...

[Smiler]

P G Tips! Yay! :cheers

[Familyofmonkeys]

P G Tips! Yay! :cheers

:laugh :laugh

[Carol]

diet tonic water with a rub of gin around the top of the glass... :(

Fresh out of gin ........after Martinborough....
;):laugh

[Familyofmonkeys]

Tonight we are drinking Oyster Bay 2006 Merlot. Opened bottle last night....tastes even better today...very flavourful :)

[LesleyS]

Drinking a lovely Saints Chardonnay from Gizzy whilst cooking Sunday lunch - looks like I'll have to open another bottle tho it's evaporated :laugh :laugh :laugh

[shakyle2906]

Only thing i get to drink these days is a mug of coffee or horlicks..............

Got few bottles of wine in wine rack and bottle of bubbly in fridge since christmas but never get round to having nice glass...........

Sharon
x

[jubjub]

Tonight we are drinking Oyster Bay 2006 Merlot. Opened bottle last night....tastes even better today...very flavourful :)

Oyster Bay Merlot is one of hubbys faves...