Gone Fishing (for Pinot) in Middle Earth

Regular readers will have noticed a lack of new material on the Wandering Palate website over the last month, a direct consequence of ‘gone fishing’ in New Zealand; actually angling for pinot noir more than fish. Read More >

Must-Have Wine – Red Wine of the Lunar Year (Dragon) – Rippon Mature Vines Point Noir 2009 – Wanaka, Central Otago, New Zealand

The Wandering Palate Must-Have Wines of the Lunar Year - Dragon 2012

Admittedly my predilection for pinot noir is perhaps a prejudice in my choice of ‘Red Wine of the Year’ and this sneak preview of my annual retrospective of wine highlights, the Year of the Dragon – 2012. However, the irrefutable fact is, Rippon Mature Vines Pinot Noir 2009 was the most profoundly complex, texturally sensual and incredibly drinkable wine I encountered all year; a wine of extraordinary charm and approachability even it its youth. And I will go further and declare it is the most impressive current release New World pinot noir I have ever had – period. Read More >

More Duck Run

More Duck Run

In case you have not been following the Duck Run, the Wandering Palate was in Central Otago recently, staying with Nigel Greening, wine Jedi Master and proprietor of Felton Road.

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Wanaka, Deep South Is., New Zealand (July 29th)

Nigel Greenings Wild Hare Pappardelle (shot by the chef himself up Mount Difficulty)

It would be fair to say the extremes in temperature and environment don’t get any more diverse than holidaying on the beach the Datai Resort, Langkawi, Malaysia (6 º longitude N – just above the equator) to Wanaka (Lake), in the deep south of the South Island, New Zealand (44 º longitude S).

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