Day 2 of Our Napier Winery Tour
Day 2 of our Napier Winery Tours started at the prestigious CRAGGY RANGE. An impressive venue. Matthew showed us around the exterior of the venue & told us its history. We had a tasting outside before moving into the venue & having a further tasting in the barrel room. The wines here have a proven international track record & were partaken of enthusiastically!
At mid-day, we had an excellent tasting & lunch at BLACK BARN. We had the tasting on arrival & enjoyed the award-winning wines, The lunch choices were many & varied, on the first trip but the service, though good, was slow., because of the school holidays We had a schedule to which we had to adhere, so we were very grateful that, on our second trip, things were changed & we were given a delicious 2-course menu ( Entree & Main),
SMITH & SHETH is a venue of which many have not heard. Each year since 2008, the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association has hired Sydney-based Master of Wine, Andrew Caillard, to choose his top syrah and blended red wines from a single vintage. His latest selection features wines from the 2018 vintage.
Of the 6 syrah chosen for the 2018 Vintage Selection, two were from Smith &Sheth - The CRU Heretaunga Syrah & the S&S Cru Omaha Syrah. The presenters here were a wealth of knowledge & had been sommeliers. It waswas an outstanding presentation.
We had green olives provided & were told that they make you salivate, which improves your tasting.
PARITUA WINERY has only recently opened its cellar door.Their greatest strength is in Bordeaux-style red wines.With the help of a high-tech digital sorting machine that photographs every berry, rejecting those with imperfections, Paritua seems to be able to make good wines from challenging vintages such as 2018 and 2016, from which others would quail
It was worth visiting this stylish, modern winery’s recently-opened cellar door and many added their name to the mailing list. The bus was a bit heavier when we left this venue.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.4% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.1% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.5% ... It is complicated
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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