Being Middle Earth in the Middle Kingdom
Zhongguo is the Chinese name for China, and translates literally as ‘Middle Kingdom’. It is a country that sits in the middle of the northern hemisphere, and with 1.4 billion […]
A gift for Martinborough’s angels
The centuries-old expression ‘the angels’ share’ refers to the small amount of wine that evaporates through porous oak barrels during the ageing process. My own experience of angels is that […]
About Nicola Belsham
Aperitivi
Summer chillaxing presents a whole new opportunity for vinous appreciation. Whether you are out and about in the Big Smoke or stretched out on the back lawn, herewith are my […]
About Nicola Belsham
Fresh Toast
There has been a buzz in Martinborough over the last few years. An injection of energy, coupled with a desire to be part of the Martinborough scene, is present in […]
About Nicola Belsham
Hand in Hand
Why does wine go so well with food? Wine is essentially an acid, which cleanses the palate. More importantly, wine provides an array of aromas, flavours and textures that, when […]
About Nicola Belsham
City of Wine
Whenever I hear the statement that New Zealand produces less than 3 percent of the wine sold on the global market, I try to visualise what that is. This year […]
About Nicola Belsham
Eggs is Eggs
The Egg: a sensual piece of winemaking equipment but, at the same time, Humpty Dumpty-like and not far removed from an Orkan spaceship. In Martinborough, the people of Cambridge Road […]
About Nicola Belsham
Giving wine with the X‑mas factor
In the absence of accolades, budget restriction, brand or word of mouth, choosing wine as a gift is sometimes as simple as choosing the prettiest label. Undeniably, a bottle with […]
About Nicola Belsham
Going for seconds
Making wine is not a paint-by-numbers formula that can be repeated each year without thought. The nature of working with nature is that things change, and there are no guarantees. […]
About Nicola Belsham
Toasting Toast
I admit to having a Toast addiction. The wine kind. Year after year, Toast Martinborough’s wine, food and music festival has the formula that makes this event famous. Like any […]
