To die for.
"The Sauvignon Blanc grape owes a lot to New Zealand," wine writer Eric Asimov once wrote. He's right: New Zealand winegrowers have a talent for balancing fruitiness and bracing acidity in every glass, leaving behind a crisp finish that often contrasts the heavy oakiness of that other white grape, Chardonnay. Plus, its producers often favor the screw cap, something that belies a greater Read more
I've had a longtime love affair with the wines of New Zealand, not only for their affordability, but also for their lack of pretension. From Babich to Kim Crawford, I've quaffed my share of Sauvignon Blanc from the famed Marlborough region, but at a trade tasting yesterday, I got my first taste of the area's fine Gewürztraminer. There was only one Gewürzt on pour, a 2010 Spy Valley, but it's Read more
As the weather warms up, it's natural to gravitate toward crisp, clean New Zealand whites, as they're both refreshing and easy to drink on their own, and perfect as a pick-me-up on a weekend excursion or a sunny Summer afternoon. One new label to look for that easily fits that bill — and then some — is Eco.Love Wines. Eco.Love hails from the country's South Island. Rather impressively, it Read more
With the United States officially surpassing France in total wine consumption, wine drinkers aren't just about Chardonnay and Cab — they're into New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Argentinian Malbec, and Australian Shiraz, too. But beyond the usual suspects, there are plenty of grape varietals out there are that have flown under the radar. Take the time to seek them out, as they've got distinct Read more
There's a reason the word "wine" comes before "food" at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival: wine flowed freely everywhere at the event. We found ourselves particularly drawn to the distinct wines from the Marlborough region of New Zealand, but we also fell in love with a robust rosé from the Côtes de Provence as well as a prestigious bottle of bubbly. See all of our favorite vinos when you Read more
In some ways, sipping the world's wines can be a hopeless endeavor; there's so much wine out there that we could sample wine all day long and still get nowhere near tasting everything. That doesn't mean we won't try! From a French Côtes du Rhone Blanc to a New Zealand late-harvest Riesling, here are five memorable wines we quaffed this week, and why we loved them. Read more
Sauvignon Blanc is without a doubt my preferred wine grape. It's normally a wine that's crisp and refreshing with flavors ranging from fruity and floral to earthy and grassy. One recent bottle that's worth mentioning is the 2009 Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc. It's from New Zealand and has a screw-cap top, but it's delightful, complex, and easy to drink. It's the type of wine that after one sip, Read more
Can't decide between drinking vodka and wine? Well, soon you won't have to. Absolut, the Swedish vodka producer recognized all over the world, has partnered with New Zealand's Brancott Estate to release a new product, Absolut Tune — a "sparkling fusion" of vodka and Sauvignon Blanc. The limited-edition bottling, which is a blend of 60 percent vodka and 40 percent Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Read more
