Episode 56 - MW Michael Brajkovich

Episode 56 - MW Michael Brajkovich

Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich is the Chief Winemaker of one of New Zealand's most iconic brands, Kumeu River, his family's estate located just outside of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island.  Their pioneering of winemaking, particularly Chardonnay, is second to none in New Zealand.  Michael has been apart of some of New Zealand Wine's biggest steps on the global stage.  To this day they continue to innovate now into Methode Traditionnelle production and new vineyards in Hawkes Bay.   More info can be found at www.kumeuriver.co.nz and and @kumeu_river on Instagram.

This episodes is sponsored by Kauriwine.com, purveyors of organic yeasts and fermentation nutrients as well as many other products and services for the winery, brewery or food industry.

We're also sponsored by Decibelwines.com please visit the site and click on your countries flag to ship wine direct to your doorstep.  Use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' to receive 10% off your first order.

Episode 55 - Mike Bennie

Vintage Stories - Episode 55 - Mike Bennie

Mike Bennie is a freelance wine and drinks writer, journalist and presenter based in Sydney, Australia.  He is wine/drinks editor for Australia’s leading food magazine delicious. and Editor-At-Large and contributor/writer to Australia’s most interactive wine commentary website, WineFront.com.au.  You can also find Mike's work in Sun-Herald Style Magazine, Wine Business Magazine along with many other publications locally and overseas.

Mike is an active wine judge in Australia and overseas, and a graduate of the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial. He is proudly a co-founder and co-director of the artisan and sustainability-focused Rootstock Sydney food and wine festival.  He has recently partnered with the community of Newtown with a collaboration work space where his offices are also located.  This space sits above P&V Merchants, a small, eclectic wine shop he has opened with Newtown local Lou Dowling.

This episodes is sponsored by Kauriwine.com, purveyors of organic yeasts and fermentation nutrients as well as many other products and services for the winery, brewery or food industry.

We're also sponsored by Decibelwines.com please visit the site and click on your countries flag to ship wine direct to your doorstep.  Use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' to receive 10% off your first order.

Episode 54 - Rebecca Lines & Hamish Ingham / bonus with Chris Reid

Vintage Stories - Episode 54 - Rebecca Lines & Hamish Ingham / bonus with Chris Reid

Sydney is an ever evolving, exciting city with a vibrant food and drink scene.  Rebecca Lines and Hamish Ingham have been working in the scene for over 14 years having run and own some of it's top spot.  Now they own Banksii in the Barangaroo South district of Sydney and things are pumping.  We thought we'd give you a full hour and tack on a short interview Daniel did with distiller Chris Reid in Martinborough earlier this year.  

This episode is sponsored by Kauriwine.com, specialists in specialises in organic yeasts and nutrients.
We're always sponsored by www.decibelwines.com use the promocode 'DBPODCAST' to receive 10% off your first order.

Episode 53 - Jo Burzynska

Jo Burzynska, who also performs and records under the name Stanier Black-Five – is an Australasia-based sound artist and wine writer whose work in these areas has increasingly converged in the production of multisensory art. As a sound/multisensory artist she has exhibited, performed and released her work around the world, while in her role as an international wine critic and judge, she has written widely read wine columns and is the author of Wine Class: All You Need to Know About Wine in New Zealand (Random House).  
You can find her work at www.joburzynska.com and on Twitter @InVinoPipias

Daniel sat down to chat with Jo at Sydney's 'Culture At Work' exhibit space featuring her work on Osmic Resonance.

This episode is sponsored by www.kauriwine.com and www.decibelwines.com use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' to get 10% off your first order.

Episode 52 - Jason Stent

Jason Stent was born and raised in Hawkes Bay where he fell in love with wine and cycling.  He spent many seasons in France cycling for an amateur team and falling more in love with wine, particularly Bordeaux wines.  He returned with an invigorated passion to the Hawkes Bay wine industry and continues to shine as Paritua's chief winemaker, now producing some of NZ's top and most bespoke wines. 
 
This episode is sponsored by Kauriwine.com experts in organic yeast and winemaking products
www.decibelwines.com.  Use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' to get 10% off your first order.

Episode 51 - James Millton

Vintage Stories - Episode 51 - James Millton

In 1984 James Millton established New Zealand's First Organic & Biodynamic Wine Estate, Millton Vineyards in Gisborne, New Zealand.  His knowledge and experience with organic and biodynamic grape growing and winemaking is second to none in the southern hemisphere.  Though he is by no means set in his ways.  His passion and support for young people and new ideas is what has helped him produced some of New Zealand's finest wines.

This episode is sponsored by Kauri Wine Innovation.  Please visit www.kauriwine.com for more information on their line of organic yeast and fermentation products as well as barrels, tanks and home or commercial braumeisters. 

We're also sponsored by Decibel Wines.  Please visit www.decibelwines.com and use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' to receive 10% off your first order.  We're now shipping our full range of wines, including the highly regarded Testify Gimblett Gravels Reserve Malbec throughout NZ, Australia, the USA, the EU, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and the UK.

Episode 50 - Peter Robertson

Vintage Stories - Episode 50 - Peter Roberston - Brookfields Vineyards

Peter Roberston has made a life in wine that many of us could only hope to achieve.  His wines under the Brookfields label have become one of the most trusted brands in New Zealand.  The wines are of high quality, range through the great Hawkes Bay varietals and all express a warmth, care and attention to detail.  Brookfields wines can be found throughout NZ, Australia, China and the UK.  www.brookfieldsvineyards.co.nz

This episode is sponsored by www.Kauriwine.com to find your innovative winemaking products and www.decibelwines.com where if you use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' you will receive 10% off your first order.

Episode 49 - Tim Turvey

Tim Turvey began innovating with vines and wines in TeAwanga, Hawkes Bay over 30 years ago.  He founded Clearview Estate in 1989.  It is now one of the Southern Hemisphere's true success stories that has remained true to its nature, authentic, local and internationally renown all at once. 

This episode is sponsored by Decibel Wines www.decibelwines.com and Kauri Wines NZ/AU www.kauriwine.com

Episode 48 - John Hancock

Episode 48 - John Hancock

John Hancock has been making wine since the early 70s when he began in Australia.  After moving to New Zealand and working in a few top operations in the 80s he founded Trinity Hill, one of New Zealand's most iconic brands.  He has recently left T Hill to begin his own brand with his sons appropriately named, 'Hancock and Sons'.  This podcast is sponsored by Kauri www.kauriwine.com and Decibel Wines www.decibelwines.com #drinkdecibel

Episode 46 - Lauren Swift

Lauren Swift was raised in Marlborough, New Zealand.  She is the winemaker at Ashe Ridge Wines on the Bridge Pa Triangle of Hawkes Bay, NZ.  In 2015 she was awarded the NZ Young Winemaker of the Year in the competitions inaugural year.  

Vintage Stories - Episode 46 - Lauren Swift

Episode 45 - Jannine Rickards

Vintage Stories - Episode 45 - Jannine Rickards

Jannine Rickards is a winemaker who has helped produce some of New Zealand's most storied wines at places such as Ata Rangi and Pegusus Bay.  After a vintage at Ulicher Winery back at her home in Martinborough, she now finds herself as the Chief Winemaker at the biodynamic winery, Urlar based just north of Martinborough in Gladstone.  She is an avid adventurer, hunter, forager and hiker shown by her alias 'The Huntress'.  Follow her adventures on social media @JannineRickards

Episode 44 - Xan Harding

Vintage Stories - Episode 44 - Xan Harding

Xan Harding is a viticulturist based in the Bridge Pa Triangle region of Hawkes Bay.  He grows for some of Hawkes Bay's top producers such as Trinity Hill, Pernod Ricard, Ashe Ridge as well as having grown trophy award winning wines for Mission Estate and Decibel Wines.  He is on the board of the Hawkes Bay Winegrowers and is entrenched in the proceedings with the tribunal assigned to the controversial WCO in the Hastings region.

Episode 43 - Matt Kirby

Vintage Stories - Episode 43 - Matt Kirby

Winemaker Matt Kirby has been making interesting and progressive wines since his days as a young winemaker in Australia.  Clearview Estate in Hawkes Bay has always been a revered brand.  And since Matt's move to become winemaker at Clearview Estate in TeAwanga they have been on a string of award winning wines and critical praise.  While keeping with some of their traditional success he is also pushing the boundries there with new styles and varietal expressions.

Episode 42 - Dr. Mark Krasnow

Daniel with Dr. Mark Krasnow on Bridge Pa Triangle

Mark Krasnow is a doctor of viticulture from the United States.  He came to New Zealand in 2010 to lecture at the Eastern Institute of Technology.  He returned in 2015 to begin his consulting firm, Thoughtful Viticulture, for vineyard management and more specifically water stressing vines, aiming to get his clients' vineyards as close to dry farming as possible.  With water usage such a hot topic these days in New Zealand, Mark finds himself in the center of a very heated debate.  Mark is a former associate proffesor at Univerity of California at Davis and the Culinary Institute of America.  He is also co-owner of the Crazy Bay Beer company whose brews can be found around Hawkes Bay and beyond.  

Episode 41 - Hayden Penny

Vintage Stories - Episode 41 - Hayden Penny

Hayden Penny is a talented NZ winemaker who has made wine all over the world.  His passion for organic farming and winegrowing has found him at the forefront of progressive winemaking.  He is the winemaker and viticulturist for 'The Supernatural' and a range of wines that push the envelope in style and innovation while also giving a shout back to classic techniques.  He is also involved in the winemaking for many of Ant McKenzie's wines as well as Askerne Winery.  

Vintage Stories - Episode 32 - Kim McPherson

With all that was going on in Texas these days and my recent trip through the USA, I thought it was time to release this 'lost episode'.  This one is from the archives.  The never released, elusive Episode 32!!! Kim McPherson makes wine in Lubbock, TX, the home of Buddy Holly.  His wines have gained international recognition as not only some of the best come out of Texas, but the entire US.  His focus is on Rhone Varietals and what he feels works best for viticulture in that part of the country.  He is a unique character and Daniel tracked him down at his tasting room in Texas for a long chat.   Special thanks to Mike Verratti for helping produce this episode.

Vintage Stories - Episode 40 - Jenny Dobson

Jenny Dobson

Our Gimblett Gravels series wraps up with none other than 'The Queen or Reds' Jenny Dobson. If you take a look at some of the best Gimblett Gravels wines ever released, a significant percentage have had Jenny's hand involved. Her work at Sacred Hill, and with Squawking Magpie, Unison Vineyard and William Murdoch have her entrenched in this special appellation. Jenny is also a mentor and educator at heart having started in the late 70s with Steven Spourier in Paris until now, where she continues to educate, from consumers to young winemakers.

This episode is sponsored by the Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing Region. Please visit www.gimblettgravels.com and check out their Annual Vintage Selection.
We're also sponsored by www.decibelwines.com Use the promocode 'DBPODCAST' and receive 10% off your first order.

Vintage Stories - Episode 39 - Richard Painter

Richard Painter is the cheif winemaker at TeAwa Estate Winery, whose vineyards stretch over the Gimblett Gravels and the Bridge Pa Triangle appellations.  As the parent company Villa Maria is building their brand new Hawkes Bay Winery on the same site, Richard has found himself in the centre of the Hawkes Bay Wine scene.
This episode is sponsored by the Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing Region.  Please visit www.gimblettgravels.com and check out their Annual Vintage Selection.
We're also sponsored by www.decibelwines.com Use the promocode 'DBPODCAST' and receive 10% off your first order.  

Vintage Stories - Episode 38 - Gordon Russell

Vintage Stories - Episode 38 - Gordon Russell

It's no surprise Gordon Russell is my first guest to appear on the podcast twice.  Not only is he one of NZ's most respected and unique winemakers, he's also a unique person.  His wines reflect his interest in music, travel and culture.  We had a great conversation about the latest moves within Villa Maria and Esk Valley wineries and his history working with the Gimblett Gravels fruit.  
This episode is sponsored by the Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District.  Please visit www.gimblettgravels.com and check out their Annual Vintage Selection.
We're also sponsored by www.decibelwines.com  use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' to receive 10% off your first order

Vintage Stories - Episode 37 - Warren Gibson

Vintage Stories - Episode 37 - Warren Gibson (pictured with wife and partner in wine, Lorraine Leheny)

Warren Gibson has established himself in a unique class of winemakers throughout the world.  His work in the last 20 years at Trinity Hill and with his own brands, Bilancia and La Colina, has been exceptional to say the least.  His knowledge of and experience in Hawkes Bay, the Gimblett Gravels and the wine producing world at large is a unique story that we only scratched the surface of in this interview.  

Today's episode is sponsored by the Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District™.  Visit www.gimblettgravels.com to check out the 2015 AVS, a collection of the appellation's best wines from another great vintage in Hawkes Bay.

We're also sponsored by Decibel Wines.  Please visit www.decibelwines.com and use the promo code 'DBPODCAST' to receive 10% off your first order where we ship to places like the USA, the UK, Europe, Australia and of course NZ.