This month, folks, we are exploring the theme of dichotomy. It’s a very cool word and I don’t often get…

Wine drinkers have lots to look forward to as wine show season gets underway and wines from some of New Zealand’s latest and greatest vintages are put to the taste test.

Wine producers in the Nelson region are a very lucky bunch of people, the soil and climate conditions here mean they are able to produce a number of varieties incredibly well unlike some other regions, Chardonnay is one of those varieties.

In the wine industry, in almost every situation, the winery owners employ a winemaker to turn their perfectly ripe fruit into delicious wine; Steve Gill is the winemaker for the Te Mania and Richmond Plains labels.

We buy their wines regularly but it is some time since I caught up with Andrew Greenhough from Greenhough Vineyards, so I dropped in to see him for a chat a couple of weeks ago to talk about the current vintage, current release wines and to check on the direction he and his partner Jenny Wheeler are taking their wines.

Kahurangi Estate was established on the original Seifried Estate site in Upper Moutere more than 20 years ago and grew into a significant wine and liquor production and distribution business before then owners Greg and Amanda day sold the business off in parts.

Located in Eggers Road, behind the Upper Moutere village, what was Moutere Hills winery and restaurant has been transformed over the last few of years into Forsters at Moutere Hills, a beautiful dining location where you can sit outside on a sunny day or be wrapped up inside on a colder winter’s day.

The 2021 grape harvest in the Nelson region is going to be remembered for many things, everything from frosts, hail, low rainfall and lower than average temperatures have all had an impact on growing conditions through spring and summer, but through all the challenges some outstanding fruit is currently being harvested.