Where do you start to get to know a region? Is it through its landscape, its people or the industries the region supports?
The Hawke’s Bay, which lies north of Wellington and on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, is one of the newest great wine regions of the world. So, for me, getting to know the Hawke’s Bay means taking a step backwards to teach myself about wine.
It's not that I don't drink wine. Nothing gives me more pleasure than sitting in the warmth of the sun with a glass of wine, surrounded by family and friends.
But ask me about the wine I'm drinking, and my knowledge evaporates like the last drops in my wine glass. This site is more than just a look at the Hawke’s Bay vineyards. It's a wine novice journey to understand and appreciate the aromas and intrigues of wine.
There are so many questions I want to know from what grape varieties do we grow in the Hawke's Bay to how the terrain influence the type of wines produced. But there are many more basic questions about wine that I want to learn such as:
What is the difference between a Chardonnay and pinot gris or a pinot noir and burgundy?
What does oaked verses unoaked mean? How does oak change the taste of wine?
How long should wine last unopened?
How do I read a wine label?
What temperature should the wine be when I drink it? Does the drinking temperature vary between red and white wine? Does it really matter?
What's the difference between a dessert wine and a 'normal' wine?
Why do you swirl the wine in your glass?
How much wine do you put in a glass? And why do restaurants leave my glass half empty?
Why are there different wine glasses for different wines and does it really make a difference to the way wine tastes?
Lastly, how do you match a wine to the food you eat?
I hope you will join me as I discover the region's vineyards. As my understanding of wine grows, I look forward to sharing that knowledge with you here.
So, cheers! Let the journey begin.
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