Hot wines and warm grapes

The hole in the ozone isn't ideal for the future of the human race but if you're a grape it's pretty good news: it means stronger sun and more of it. And there's a particularly thin patch of ozone over New Zealand, South Australia and parts of Antarctica.

On Waiheke Island, a 40-minute ferry-ride from Auckland, the sun shines even more, it rains less and temperatures average 3°C higher than in the city.

In fact the climate's similar to Bordeaux, so the 30-odd winemakers on Waiheke tend to replicate what's grown in the famous French region. That means you'll find lots of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blends with dashes of Malbec and Cabernet Franc thrown in for good measure.

Bob Scott who works at Mudbrick Vineyard on Waiheke thinks Viognier is the new rising star of the white grapes - they planted their first crop of it this year - and that Syrah, which they grow too, will soon overtake Cabernet Sauvignon.

Though when it comes to wine, Bob is more open-minded than most.

On Christmas Day he supped a 30 year-old Australian sparkling Shiraz with his turkey - a perfect match, he says. It used to be known as sparkling Burgundy in this part of the world - and still is unofficially, even Bob slipped up - but it's no longer allowed to be called that.

Which makes sense, as it's never been anywhere near France.

Bob also does a line in balsamic vinegar which is currently ageing in the barrel.



www.mudbrick.co.nz