wineinsights

The Adelaide Hills is Australia's cool-climate crown jewel—renowned for its elegance, altitude, and innovation. Just 30 minutes from Adelaide, it offers a dynamic blend of tradition and experimentation across stunning terrain. It was with some excitement that I ventured out into this wonderful wine landscape for a one-day sampling of the wines this region has to offer.

For many, the Barossa is synonymous with Australian red wine, such is its history and global reputation. At the same time, it is also often maligned in the modern wine world as home of a winemaking style that has had its day. In just one day I wanted to dip my toe into this iconic region and find out what is really going on.

New Zealand is a small country and by global standards a small wine producer (13th equal with Brazil in 2024) but with only five million people and a production of roughly 378 million standard 750ml bottles there is plenty of wine for visitors as well as export. In 2025 NZ ranked 10 in the world for export volume but 6th for value! And while 60% of our approximately 42,000 hectares under vine is located in one region – Marlborough, you don’t have to travel very far anywhere in NZ to find quality wine production.

Despite the relative isolation of New Zealand at the bottom of the world, I travel as much as possible, and I always include some wine touring. I’ve had many incredible experiences, and still have many new vistas to explore, but one region keeps calling me back: Alsace in France. My wife and I have been three times now and are already longing for another visit.

My monthly wine tasting with local Martinborough wine buffs and winemakers, boosted by a regular contingent of Wellington aficionados, is always an exciting occasion. This month’s tasting – a vertical of the Puriri Hills flagship wine, originally called Reserve, but since 2012, Harmonie du Soir, was surely one of the most awaited.