Hand picked grapes from vines with an average age of 30 years, fermentation in vats, foudres and barrels, aging on fine lees with partial malolactic fermentation and a dry dosage of 4.5 grams per litre. This is the skinny on our newest champagne here at Regional, which has already impressed our staff, who are excited about having an ultra dry bubbly from the world's HQ of great sparkling wine, namely, the Champagne region in France. This wine was also, impressively, disgorged by hand. That means, the lees sediment (following the second fermentation, in bottle) were removed with the crown seal by hand...

New Zealand’s next white wine success or a blip on the radar? Albarino is also known as Alvarinho and is the most successful alternative new grape variety to be planted in New Zealand since, well, possibly since Sauvignon Blanc came along. Not that anyone is realistically suggesting Albarino could displace Sauvignon. Rather, it is now clear, after half a decade of commercial exploration and experimentation that Albarino offers a varietal wine of purity, character and wide appeal that can be produced for a relatively modest price. Think: I don't need a second mortgage to afford to try it.  Buy Albarino from Spain...

If you have ever wondered why an actor you’ve always admired seems to be perpetually cast in supporting roles and never lands the lead, it will be easy to relate to Cabernet Franc. This beautifully fragrant grape and the dark, delicious wines it makes are usually purely a portion of another blended red, only occasionally making it to the bottle as the sole ingredient. But when it does, the results are impressive, as the best versions show, often from the Loire Valley where the grape is also known as Breton. It goes by another name in Bordeaux too, namely Bouchet, where it has...

Astrolabe Wines is our new winery of the month for October at Regional Wines... The well known Astrolabe wine brand is a family owned Marlborough wine producer run by two generations of the Waghorn family with its founders, Simon and Jane Waghorn, and their daughters.  * Buy Astrolabe wines here Or read on for more about the wines and the family who make them... The winery was founded in 1996 and the family have since forged strong relationships with 10 grape growers in the region, all of whom they respect and have long term contracts with. This means the wines are made from excellent...

In exciting news this week, Regional Wines & Spirits' owner, Geoff Henderson, has purchased his first slice of action in the Auckland wine, beer and spirits scene with an iconic store in Herne Bay. This week, Geoff secured the purchase of  Herne Bay Cellars, which is situated on one of Auckland's golden miles, Jervois Road in Herne Bay.  Geoff also owns the newly refurbished Hamilton Beer & Wine Co, which is one of the country’s best designed purveyors of great wine, beer and spirits. His selective purchases are seeing him expand an independent group of stores in an age where independent wine,...