New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals

New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals The New Zealand Sommelier and Wine Professionals Association aims to create a community of people working with wine and other beverages around New Zealand.

The New Zealand Sommelier and Wine Professionals Association (NZSWP) . Our goal is to create a not for profit organisation to build a community of people from around New Zealand working with wine, beverages, in wine and beverage marketing within the sectors of hospitality, wine, wine tourism, wine education. In 2020, our association achieved full membership of Association of Sommeliers International.

Congratulations to Andrea Martinisi⁩ who will be our candidate for the ASI Best Sommelier 2026 in Portugal. Yesterday w...
10/03/2026

Congratulations to Andrea Martinisi⁩ who will be our candidate for the ASI Best Sommelier 2026 in Portugal.

Yesterday we held a runoff to select our competitor.

Marek⁩ Przyborek joined us from Wellington for the challenge.

There was a 100 question theory test, blind tasting and spirits tasting and service practical.

Many thanks to Cameron Douglas⁩ and Cashias Gumbo⁩ for being part of our judging panel.

Congratulations Andrea!

Happy new year 2026!Year of the Fire Horse 🔥🐎 May I raise a virtual toast to you all - wine friends unite -Mine was keep...
06/01/2026

Happy new year 2026!
Year of the Fire Horse 🔥🐎
May I raise a virtual toast to you all - wine friends unite -
Mine was keeping in tradition,Taittinger Prelude 🥂🍾
Wishing your glass to always be full!

Shakira Kippex

It’s a Hugo Spritz, while helping my mate Stuart with the Christmas extravaganza. It’s sparkling wine, sparkling water, ...
29/12/2025

It’s a Hugo Spritz, while helping my mate Stuart with the Christmas extravaganza.

It’s sparkling wine, sparkling water, St Germain.

Very refreshing on a humid evening.

Happy New Year to you and yours 🥂 🍷

Helen Evans

Nick Hewitt here, we enjoyed this Antonelli Montefalco Rosso 2020 on Christmas Day with family here in Greytown, Wairara...
27/12/2025

Nick Hewitt here, we enjoyed this Antonelli Montefalco Rosso 2020 on Christmas Day with family here in Greytown, Wairarapa.

I visited Montefalco 22 years ago, over grape harvest with my parents and shared many special memories. My grandmother’s best friend Alison Ryde lives there.

We discovered Pear Walnut and Blue Cheese Pizza which we have recreated hundreds of times since.

My sister and brother-in-law were inspired by Alison’s son Mac’s truffle farm, to farm truffles here in New Zealand, they will be harvesting their first truffles in 2026.

Cheers!
Nick Hewitt

https://www.antonellisanmarco.it/en/wine/montefalco-rosso-doc/

https://www.artigianoimports.co.nz/shop/p/antonelli-montefalco-rosso-riserva


Samira Kakh features in ASI Magazine.Samira Kakh was born and raised in Iran, a country where the culture of wine is anc...
26/12/2025

Samira Kakh features in ASI Magazine.

Samira Kakh was born and raised in Iran, a country where the culture of wine is ancient, complex, and largely unspoken in modern life.
Today, she is building a future in wine in New Zealand, having passed her introductory course with the Court of Master Sommeliers, working through WSET, and most recently completing ASI Certification 1.
In theory, it is unimaginable. On paper, it seems improbable. In conversation, it feels inevitable.
Read the full story in ASI Magazine  from page 38 https://issuu.com/associationsommellerieinternationale/docs/asi_magazine_24_release_year_in_review_2025

Congratulations to Wayne Shennen as he works on the final stages of his book on the drinking culture in Japan.I’m hugely...
25/12/2025

Congratulations to Wayne Shennen as he works on the final stages of his book on the drinking culture in Japan.

I’m hugely excited to share that my book on drinking culture in Japan, co-written with Jesse Fink and published by Penguin Random House in the UK, will be released next October in both the UK and the USA. For those of us in the New Zealand wine trade, Japan often feels close yet still deeply complex — familiar on the surface, but full of nuance once you sit at the table. This book comes from years of working, drinking, and learning in Japan, talking with brewers, bartenders, sommeliers, and everyday locals, and trying to understand not just what people drink, but why.

It’s been written very much with the casual drinker in mind, and anyone curious about how alcohol fits into Japanese society, hospitality, and business culture, but in a way that industry people will also have something to chew on. Hopefully it will be released in NZ as soon as possible, as I’m genuinely proud to be able to bring these stories and insights back home, and I can’t wait to share a glass and some conversations around it next year.

This year I’m going with Graham’s 20 Years Old Aged Tawny, especially fitting since I’m back home in Portugal for the ho...
24/12/2025

This year I’m going with Graham’s 20 Years Old Aged Tawny, especially fitting since I’m back home in Portugal for the holidays. With a complex balance of fruity richness and acidity at an incredible value, it’s pure coziness in a bottle and never fails to make me smile.
Miguel Borges
Christmas in Portugal

The African sun still runs strong in my veins, so I happily embrace the sunny, beachy Christmas vibes of New Zealand, pr...
24/12/2025

The African sun still runs strong in my veins, so I happily embrace the sunny, beachy Christmas vibes of New Zealand, preferably with family, friends, sun, beach, barbeques and a glass of Mullineux Old Vines White 2024 in hand.

This old-vine Chenin Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Sémillon Gris blend captures the Swartland’s sunshine and ancient granite terroir with bright acidity and layered flavours of grapefruit, lemon, nectarine, pear and ginger, all wrapped in a fine mineral tension and elegance.

Geek note: whole-bunch pressed, barrel fermented with indigenous yeast, 11 months in 3rd–5th fill French oak (500L barrels and 2000L Foudres), full malo, unfiltered.

As I said… BBQ, sun, beach. I would serve this wine with easy barbecued snapper, finished with a pesto beurre blanc and topped with crushed pistachio, lemon zest, dill and Parmesan, an adapted recipe by Chef Jan.

Cheers to a sunny Christmas!
Joa

www.joaswines.co.nz

Robbie’s Christmas drink:Terra Santca ‘Special Reserve’ The Italian Red Blend, Bannockburn, Central.I’ve always had an a...
22/12/2025

Robbie’s Christmas drink:
Terra Santca ‘Special Reserve’ The Italian Red Blend, Bannockburn, Central.

I’ve always had an affinity with New Zealand’s lesser known varietals that are premium quality, but also honour our unique terrior with signatures that are quintessential New Zealand.

This Xmas I’ve chosen Terra Sancta’s beautifully crafted ‘The Italian’ red blend, made up of Dolcetto, Lagrein and Babera from their Winery Hill and Little Italy blocks.

Textural and layered with the red fruits of Dolcetto with a hint of Xmas spice and cherry, the layered and mid body of Lagrein and hinting at a distinct lavender note and Babera for poise, tannin structure and length, makes this a very special wine to enjoy with friends and family alike.

Natural ferments used and uniquely matured in 90% French Oak and 10% Virginia Oak.

Definitely worth getting your hands on it to cellar for future years to come.

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104 Customs Street West
Auckland
1010

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