So who are we?? www.kiwiwinefanclub.co.nz is a totally loose unit of wine lovers. We have next to no 'credibility' with anyone special except Mum and Dad. We cant spell, we can hardly write, but we love our wine and have tasted thousands and thousands of wines over the years in many different situations.

We could be seen as a bunch of wannabe wine experts without the drive to make it big. We would far rather talk about taste and events than the technical mumbo jumbo or snobbery associated with wine. We just don't have the energy for all that! Our only qualifications include the fact we have taste buds which really is the only certification you need to make a personal judgement on wine!

We would like to describe ourselves as 'enthusiasts' instead of the rather negative sounding word 'critics'. As 'enthusiasts' we don't always sniff, slurp and spit into buckets while looking like nuclear scientists. We often are not so organised and scribble quick notes on napkins, in cellphones or notebooks. Every now and then we even construct a note from memory! We fail occassionally in our duty to proof read and make sense.

We just drink wine to enjoy and for most of us it is completely a hobby. We don't sell wine or have any vested interests in you buying it. We don't write carefully worded PC columns to make a living either. In fact this site is only put together using the precious little spare time we have.

Please do excuse the fact that we aren't as technically savvy as Geoff Kelly, as respected as Bob Campbell or as poetic as Robert Parker! However we can blow our trumpet a bit as stayers. After a decade on the internet we have seen websites come and we have seen them go or fall into disrepair. We are still here, slowly and steadily growing. We try not to start anything we can't maintain. Nothing keeps us here apart from a passion and love for wine and the occassions with friends and family that go with it. We all hope that you catch some of that feeling here!

This website is now in its fourth home. Originally we started up in 1999, so we have been around a while and are very established within the internet 'wine geek' community. Many thanks to Dave for his dedication in upgrading this site to a respectable standard on professional hosting. Without him the rubber would never meet the road. We also have introduced a presence on the internet phenonomen 'Facebook' aiming to grow our younger readership further via social networking.

Our below writers contribute with frequencies varying from often to hardly ever but the combination of opinions is simply magnificent. Opinions are ours only and no warranty in terms of fitness for any use is offered. You may like what we like, you may not. Welcome to the world of tastes and fashion!! Welcome to the world of Kiwi Wine Fan Club!!

Introducing the evil managers of the www.kiwiwinefanclub.co.nz empire, the Grand poo bahs:

Your Dedicated Writers:

Craig - Editor. Pet Region: Hawkes Bay, Waipara. Specialist Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay. Passionate and down to earth after a decade of full on tasting, 9 years at Wine NZ. He is a very loved member of the internet wine community where he is the height of tact and good manners especially with Australians who respect his every viewpoint. In a blind tasting Craig once picked a shiraz as a pinot so he is an expert.

David - Webmaster. Pet Region: Nelson. Specialist Varieties: Shiraz, Chardonnay. David is all class. His specialties include rating cellar door girls, drinking wine and learning new lines to ensure all listening are amazed at his knowledge. David has been a pilgrim to great wineries such as Neudorf, Te Mata, Craggy Range, Kumeu River. He cooks a mean dinner and parties always rock. Veteran of 6 Wine NZ's where he has so far not been expelled for bad behaviour. In a blind tasting David once picked a sauvignon blanc from a beer so he is tuned.

Kate - International Correspondent - Australia: Pet Regions: Australia and Champagne. Pet Varieties: Champagne and Pinot Noir. Weaned on Champagne, Kate has a culinary sophistication far advanced of her age. Kate has now finally met Ross. She listens to funny music, Ross makes it!! Kate is now based in Australia, but is still in love and in the loop with New Zealand wine. She is inspired by the complete experience; fine wine, matching food, music and company. She dreams of becoming a food writer. If she leaves us off her CV she has a good a chance!

Jay - International Correspondent - UK.  A pommie, but tries not to take wine too seriously. Drinks it … enjoys it … writes about it. Dislikes the pomposity and suit-wearing (this is the UK after all) that comes with it. Misses NZ and the lifestyle and chilled people. Thankfully was weaned on Barossa Valley Shiraz and Marlborough SB.  At home drinks a lot of shiraz-based wine, mainly Aussie, Cote Rotie and Hermitage and if a white wine, it’s a Riesling. Rioja is nice too.  Likes Craig’s attitude and the 109-point scoring system … and his ability to wind up the aussies after years of perfecting his technique!

Melanie - Marketing Specialist: Pet Region: Hawkes Bay, Otago. Specialist Varieties: Champagne. You cant drink 750mls alone, so Mel helps Craig empty many bottles. At least 6 visits to WineNZ. A soft spot for expensive fizz. Mel has a reputation of being able to drink lots of Champagne without any adverse effects. Yeah ok so that aint true! Mel, in a blind tasting, could pick between her 5th champagne and a nasty overloaded cocktail. Sometimes Mel gets off her butt and writes something but it's a miracle when it happens.

Occassional Contributors:

Will - Contributing Writer: Pet Region: Hawkes Bay. Specialist Varieties: red + white ! From Sheffield, UK, will spent a while working in the Hawkes Bay. Will greatly enjoyed the lovely Hawkes Bay countryside and sampling some delicious local wine. Interested in wine for several years, Will has visited many wine making areas and has attended several formal wine tasting classes. Will has now returned to the UK and will continue to contribute from there.

Sarah – Contributing Writer. Pet regions: Canterbury and Marlborough. Specialist Varieties: Riesling and Pinot Noir. Sarah is a drinking - no wait that was - ‘hospo-tality professional’. Able to decant fine Bordeaux whilst expounding on the delights of Quail stuffed with sweetbreads as ‘the perfect match’. She joined the winoscenti at the tender age of 19 and can now manage WineNZ in under an hour without missing a drop or a “dense core of fruit”. In a blind tasting Sarah once picked Jaboulet Hermitage ‘La Chapelle’ as a bottle of pen ink but apparently that’s a good thing?

Ross - Contributing Writer: Pet Region: Matakana and West Auckland. Specialist Varieties: Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ross is the man. Nights at his place rock. Always big reds, music and sport. Wine is just a slice of lifestyle lets not forget that. No pretention here, at home with Margaux or Wolf Blass Yellow Label. We all know what Ross' favourite word is. He told everyone after his 3rd glass of E+E Black Pepper Shiraz, or was it Jasper Hill? Or was it the whisky that did it? On occassion Ross picks up the pen and expresses his views, but he is very busy playing music.

Mark - Contributing Writer: Pet Region: Northland. Specialist Varieties: Riesling and Gewurztraminer. Almost too sophisticated to write for us, but his fine appreciation of aromatic varieties has seen him come on board to give us more credibility? Mark has completed his third trip to WineNZ and come through well contributing descriptors at a rate of knots. In a blind tasting Mark once picked Penfolds Grange as a supermarket special. Help!! Mark also dives for crayfish and scallops, which are best enjoyed with good wine. Getting Mark to pen his useful opinions is sometimes a challenge but he sure helps the rest of us tidy up our thoughts!