On Sunday 16 August 2026, (just yesterday when I first began writing), I had the privilege of leading a landmark vertical tasting of Ata Rangi Célèbre, featuring an extraordinary lineup of 13 wines spanning from 1994 to 2024. This rare retrospective offered a profound look at one of New Zealand’s most distinctive red blends—a wine that has quietly cultivated a fiercely dedicated following. Historically, Célèbre has lived somewhat in the shadow of its legendary sibling, the internationally acclaimed Ata Rangi Pinot Noir, which remains a benchmark for the Martinborough region (see my article Three Decades of Ata Rangi Pinot Noir). Yet, as this tasting triumphantly demonstrated, Célèbre is a powerhouse of complexity and character in its own right, uniquely reflecting both the evolution of the estate and the brilliant longevity of Wairarapa’s late-ripening varieties.

This article is a practical guide to understanding wine faults — what they are, how they appear, and how to tell the difference between a genuine defect and harmless complexity.

In the late summer of August 2026, the skies over southwest France have turned a bruised, apocalyptic orange. France is grappling with its worst fire crisis in decades, with blazes in the Gironde department forcing massive evacuations and consuming over 116,000 hectares of land nationwide. For the historic estates of Bordeaux, the crisis hits exceptionally close to home. While iconic appellations like Margaux and Pauillac have narrowly dodged direct flame damage, the smoke billowing from nearby burning pine forests has cast a dark cloud over a $3 billion industry.

Stepping off the treadmill: An armchair, a good glass of wine and some serious reading

Popular films have long shaped how people discover and engage with wine, influencing perceptions of regions, varieties, and wine culture itself. Understanding these cultural drivers is important for anyone interested in wine education and wine tourism, because movies often introduce audiences to styles and places they later seek out in real life.

To the traveller arriving for a weekend of winery tours and wine tasting in Martinborough, the landscape around the village square looks remarkably simple. It is flat, unpretentious, and easy to navigate. Unlike the dramatic mountain backdrops of Central Otago or the rolling green hills of North Canterbury, our pocket of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail doesn't boast about its geography.