All Posts By

Christine Humphrey

Wine is Just Natural at AmByth Estate

I discovered AmByth Estate of Templeton, Ca (Paso Robles Wine Region) last May at the RAW Artisan Wine Fair in London. I talked with the owners and winemakers Mary Morwood Hart and Phillip Hart, and tasted their wines. AmByth Estate is the…

A Tale of Two Wine Cities

No, I don’t mean Paris and Bordeaux. I’m talking about two alternative wine destinations I visited recently on California’s Central Coast…Tin City in Paso Robles and The Lompoc Ghetto in Lompoc, Santa Barbara Country. Inhabitants of both “cities” are passionate boutique winemakers, some…

Bordeaux du Sud

Why Gimblett Gravels is important to New Zealand Wines The expression of a wine is truly about its terroir, its sense of place. Sometimes it takes a while and a coincidence to figure out what that terroir is…as is the…

“Wine is Bottled Poetry”…at J Ludlow

I have said this countless times. Every trip to a wine destination near or far uncovers a little gem, that special place where the terroir and the wine are in perfect harmony. This time, that place was J Ludlow.…

Jurassic Ridge Winery…From Geology to Neurology to Oenology

Wine Tasting on Waiheke Island Lance Blumhardt, the owner and winemaker of Jurassic Ridge Winery on Waiheke Island, has quite an interesting story to tell in the world of wine. He started his adult life as a geologist, obtaining his degree…

Auckland’s Croatian Connection

A Suburban Winery in Auckland New Zealand Over 100 years ago, immigrants from what is now Croatia came to New Zealand, bringing with them their viticultural skills and subsequently planting vineyards to the west and north of Auckland. In…

It was Destiny…Bay, that is!

Leaving Auckland behind for a day on Waiheke Island Waiheke Island is a 35 minute ferry ride from Auckland, New Zealand in the Hauraki Gulf. It is pastoral and picturesque, with a beautiful maritime climate and Jurassic-era soil, perfect for what…

The Cellar Door is Open!

  In New Zealand and Australia, the term used for tasting room is  “Cellar Door”. I will be devoting a separate post to this very special place with superb wines. Until next time… Cheers!…