Have you ever asked this question? How about should cellar a wine for the time recommended? Will like wine? Will the cork hold ? How do know the cork has worked? Can you wines even from poorer vintages.
I answer these and more.
What is the right? Does situation make a difference? Does the right time make a difference? Does the right food make a difference? I more i also talk about how creating a bespoke specific to your restaurant an easy and very simple way of enhancing enduring your diners have a great and memorable experience. Do you need happy this DM me for a consultation and join others in that bespoke experience through wine and beverages that were made for your food.
Whilst the best Champagne Is hard to beat, the entry level Champagne is just that entry level. High-end Methode from New Zealand and throughout the world is better and cheaper hear me out. Check this and let me know if I have convinced you.
This week I break down all the changes to the Lionel’s Taupo winelist
My Review and analysis of the the NZIWS 2025 with my trophy predictions
You all love this one’s my analysis of the 2025 National wine awards of Aotearoa. We analysis and even predict the category winners for this years awards.
What is the difference between these categories? I simplify and break this down so you know the difference is and can make a more informed decision about your next wine purchase.
Wine of the week 17:30
We have been talking about the top 100 Sommelier list for 2025, but how do we know if the wine list is a good? How do we know if the restaurant has a sommelier? And why is this important? Firstly I believe this is important because if a restaurant cares about the drinks they will undoubtedly care about the food, so the establishment must be good. Here are the things to look out for in my opinion.
The technical issues from last continued this week to the point where the recording software I was using I have got rid of. I need to apologise for the sound quality for the audio version as I had to record it while I was recording the separate video.
What really in this wine there are a lot of falsehoods going around about is added to wines. I go through things that are used in winemaking and what is not.
23:27- finish Wine of the week
Had some VERY annoying technical issues with this which required more editing than I have ever done. So I hope you enjoy this as it was an effort to get it to you.
This week is all about the quality factors, myths and misconceptions out there which you should try to look out for and which are of little importance. All collimating in a massive surprise with the Week of the week!
0:00- 13:59 quality influences pre and during production (before technical issues)
14:10-28:46 quality influences post production (after technical issues)
28:57- finish Wine of the week
What does it mean on a wine label? After tasting a ‘Reserve’ wine that I have trusted in the past admittedly from a poor vintage and was underwhelmed. This compelled me to dive into these reserve wines.
26:08- Wine of the week
My take/ review on the NZ heralds Viva magazine top 50 Kiwi wineries for 2025. I congratulate all 50 and give my two cents on them.
0:00- 3:26 Intro
3:26- 6:36 Prophets Rock (overall top producer)
6:36- 17:00 other category winners
17:00- 23:20 overview of the rest and summation
23.3- finish Wine of the week
An old friend sent me a clip of people taking the piss out of wine analysis. Firstly it made me laugh then it got me thinking why do they talk they talk like this and what are they saying or they don’t really smell that they are making it up. Then I realised I talk like this and I say these then thanks @nancy_tschetner_artist for sending me this clip (below) and giving me a great topic to dive into.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJJi4foNBi5/?igsh=MXEzM29wanNweHpwZQ==
Temperature of your wine makes such a difference to your drinking experience. We as Kiwis drink our whites too cold! Inspiration for this episode came because I tried two Chardonnay at their correct temperature then later tried them straight out of the fridge and it was a big mistake a mistake too many of us make.
Timestamps
0:00- 3:35 overview of how temperature affects wine
3:35- 11:19 the two wines that were the catalyst for this episode
11:19-14:44 drinking wines at there optimum
14:44- 17:45 tips on getting your wine down or up to a better drinking temperature
17:45- 19:15 summation
19:15- Finish wine of the week what’s coming up
The answer might be straightforward for most but there will be some that are unaware that the word in this case Merlot is actually the nav of the grape variety used in the wine. It is also the wines grape varietal name and it is most commonly used for blending with other grapes.
In the episode we explore grape varieties, varietals and blended wines and before you think it blends don’t always mean the leftovers!
Don’t forgot you can watch this on my YouTube channel @vknowgeek
Don’t forgot you can watch this on my YouTube channel @vknowgeek
Timestamps
0:00- 9:40 what grapes are used to make wine?
9:40- 22:08 random wine tangent, the art of blending and all the different ways of blending wine.
22.08 Finish wine of the week what’s coming up
I haven’t done one of these in a while this is food and wine pairings based on whether it’s just you and your partner, a couple of close friends and family that you want to impress with something left of centre or the go “all out” dinner party. I have included some specific wines too for you to check out.
Don’t forgot you can watch this on my YouTube channel @vknowgeek
Timestamps
0:00- 8:09 Ground rules
8:09- 14:24 fish and seafood
14:24- 22:05 white meats
22:06-29:37 red meats
29:37- 37:29 vegetables and dessert
37:29- Finish wine of the week what’s coming up
Some wines do hurt us. These are the wines the hurt me as well as stories of how some other wines hurt others. If you get hurt by wine this is for you.
Don’t forgot you can watch this on my YouTube channel @vknowgeek
Timestamps
0:00- 7:15 Acid reflux
7:15- 16:35 One glass hangover
16:35- 20:35 Gout wine
20:35- 22:23 Quercetin and histamines
22:23- 25:58 Conclusions
26:12-Finish wine of the week what’s coming up
Firstly congratulations to all the winners at the Aotearoa Organic Wine Awards 2025. However we want to debate the fairness and whether or not there can be a true representation given the climatic conditions the North Island in particular have endured over the last few years.
Always let me know if you agree or disagree with what I have to say.
Don’t forgot you can watch this on my YouTube channel @vknowgeek
Timestamps
0:00- 4:05 intro
4:05-7:10 organic wine awards stats
7:10-13.52 my thoughts on organic certification vs organic practices
13.52- 16:13 the impact of growing conditions on resulting wine
16:13- 21:35 conclusion
21:51- Finish wine of the week what’s coming up
https://open.spotify.com/artist/03oIsOUE0eEQ9HZZYg2tOV?si=V6QWpuhVS3CqU9RaNhxwzQ
https://www.facebook.com/aziamusic.studio.z
https://www.instagram.com/azia_studio.z?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D
https://www.tiktok.com/@azia_music?_t=8hVsHcwRrj5&_r=1
Stop buying those big brands, step outside your comfort zone and don’t get sucked into all the hype. Don’t buy into consumerism. Live a little try wine from smaller more artisanal producers.
If you would like some suggestions on producers to try message me the types of wine you like and I can give you some producers to check out.
Always let me know if you agree or disagree with what I have to say.
Don’t forgot you can watch this on my YouTube channel @vknowgeek
Timestamps
0:00- 6:40 What is this all about
6:40- 8:44 comparing Pyramid Valley and Craggy Range
8:44- 14:38 bulk production vs boutique
14:38- 17:42 restaurants role in this
17:42- 18:14 the Easthope story
18:14- 21:00 Kiwi whites/reds Vs international whites/reds
21:00- 24:52 5 biggest wine producers in NZ
24:52- 25:19 conclusion
25:19- Finish wine of the week what’s coming up
If you haven’t seen this fad on socials check it out then you can check out my thoughts on this whole thing there are plenty to check out. Don’t forgot you can watch this on my YouTube channel @vknowgeek
Timestamps
0:00- 16:28 My stance on this
17:26- Finish wine of the week what’s coming up
