wineinsights

Some vintages ask to be revisited, and 2014 is one of them. In the Médoc it was a year of quiet classicism — a slow, steady season that rewarded patience, precision, and estates willing to wait for full phenolic ripeness. The best wines carry that unmistakable Left Bank signature: purity of fruit, clarity of structure, and a sense of restraint that promises longevity rather than early fireworks.

This is the final of a two-part sequel to a previous blog, Wine Travel in New Zealand’s North Island. It provides a brief account of New Zealand’s South Island wine regions outside of the largest - Marlborough, highlighting some of my favourite producers and cellar door experiences, as well as the main varieties produced in each region. While many of these accept walk-ins, it is usually better and, in some cases, essential, especially for larger groups (6 or more) to make an appointment in advance, and I provide the contact information for this.

Few names in Australian wine command the same reverence as Henschke, one of Australia’s oldest family-owned wineries whose story stretches back more than 150 years and six generations, whose wines—particularly Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone—have become benchmarks for single‑vineyard expression. Established in 1868 by Johann Christian Henschke, a Silesian immigrant who planted his first vines in Keyneton in 1861, the estate has evolved through six generations while maintaining an unbroken commitment to site, heritage, and meticulous craftsmanship. Today, Henschke stands as one of Australia’s most prestigious family‑owned wineries, a cornerstone of Eden Valley’s identity, and a global reference point for cool‑climate Shiraz.

When Thomas Jefferson visited Bordeaux in the late 18th century, he praised Château Margaux as one of the finest wines he had encountered. His words captured the estate’s allure, but they were only one voice in a chorus that has spanned continents and centuries. From European courts to New World collectors, and now to Asia’s dynamic wine markets, Margaux has long been recognized as a symbol of refinement and prestige.