I grew up in the UK in the 80s and 90s, and at that time, Newcastle Brown Ale really did hold a particular place in the drinking culture. It had grit and authenticity, and despite it being a big hit with students, you could still picture it being imbibed after a day at the docks by a line of sweaty workers. It was Newcastle in a glass and somehow stood for something more than just the amalgamation of hops, barley and water. Sometimes beers do this, they transcend the notion of just drinking and become icons in their own right.The...

I’m a massive Pilsner fan, as you may or may not have picked up on over the last couple of years, and I have to admit, I’m pretty excited about trying today’s beer.It’s a SoCal Pilsner from our friends at One Drop and sports a description that mentions a meeting of German lagers and West Coast IPAs.This sounds like a beer that was specially made with my palate in mind as I love hops (I guess you have to be like beer perhaps?) but I also like to taste the malt, and also find descending into the dank armpit of...

Get in quick while stocks last... a fabulous new rosé from Central Otago. One of our newest rosés in store has sold out from the winery in less than a month after its release. The wine is the new 2021 Dice by Dicey Rosé RRP $74.99 in store now. And it is a total game changer.  Dry, delicious, medium bodied rosé made from Central Otago Pinot Noir grapes.  This outstanding wine remains fresh for up to a month and offers delicious flavours of summer berries without a hint of sweetness; beautifully made and a great concept. “Switching to wine in a box...

Five generations of winemaking has a formidable ring of knowledge, experience and innate understanding that can make us mere mortals feel... well, less than adequate. So it is refreshing to discover an approachable new wine brand from an old winemaking family. Meet Les Jamelles. This new winery has a long winemaking history in Burgundy under the name Delaunay. It is now based in the south of France where Laurent and Catherine Delaunay have founded two brands; Les Jamelles and their high end wines, Abbotts & Delaunay. Both are available here at Regional Wines & Spirits and they represent the outstanding dry heat of...

Here's a Spanish red that will surprise and please in equal measure. It makes a great gift for wine lovers because it is as interesting as it is delicious. Spain is known for its wealth of old vines, mostly grown en vaso (in the shape of a vase) and low to the ground to keep them anchored since there is no trellis they can rely on for support.  These sturdy vines have hefty trunks and, impressively, produce grapes even when they are 100 years of age and older. The fruit tends to taste extremely concentrated and is not exactly plentiful on...