Yvonne Lorkin

Host, Thirsty Work and Freelance Writer at Freelance

Wine Writer at Dish Magazine

CTO @WineFriendNZ @dishmagnz @baybuzz @ThirstyWorkTV @95bFM WokeAF @yvonnelorkinsta https://t.co/uZxjjuisrq

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Articles

Three Fates wine

3 weeks ago | baybuzz.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

[As published in March/April BayBuzz magazine.]When it comes to wine stories fitting the cultural zeitgeist, it doesn’t get more current than three, young Hawke’s Bay women stalking each other on social media before opting to leap into business together with the goal of creating personality-driven wines from resurrected vineyard sites, in minimal-interventionist fashion, during a pandemic. What could possibly go wrong?
Big ideas in wine country

2 months ago | baybuzz.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

[As published in January/February BayBuzz magazine.]So when the theme of “Big Ideas for Hawke’s Bay” was pitched across my desk, the first thing I did was leap up and holler “Monorail!” But no-one in the BayBuzz office thought that would fly. Yet, dear reader, you and I both know that pretty much everything predicted on The Simpsons eventually comes true, so all we need to do is wait, right?
Christmas gifting & summer must-sips

Nov 20, 2024 | baybuzz.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

[As published in November/December BayBuzz magazine.]I’m a giver. I love buying presents for people I care about (and people I’m trying to get on the good side of) so when I see a convenient, creative, gift-guide I’m all over it like snakes on a plane. Hence why I thought “Hark!” and “Forsooth!” Why don’t I offer one to BayBuzz readers? And thusly, it doth occur …Have a fabulously festive and sunny silly season folks, you deserve it.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY: Redmetal Vineyard, Good Times in the Vines

Nov 7, 2024 | dish.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

Grant’s 35 year-plus career had him making wine at Esk Valley, Villa Maria, Chateau Pavie in St Emilion and Sileni Estates and during those years he developed a love for great Merlot-based reds and a desire to grow his own. So back in 1991, with wife Sue, and partners Gary and Diane Simpson, Grant asked a Maraekakaho Road sheep farmer, if he’d carve off 8ha so they could have a crack at growing grapes.
The Best Sparkling Wines of 2024 in NZ

Nov 3, 2024 | dish.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

So what were our judges looking for in fine sparkling wine? Cleansing acidity, biscuity, buttery, yeast autolysis, nutty complexity, a creamy, defined mouthfeel and definite persistence of fizz was paramount. And, most importantly, some kind of flavour x-factor that has you yearning for another glass.
Atypical and super-sippical

Sep 23, 2024 | baybuzz.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

[As published in September/October BayBuzz magazine.]Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest and second-largest wine region boasting over 200 vineyards and 76 wineries. It’s also an incredibly diverse region and one that I unashamedly call ‘the ultimate wine region’ because there’s almost no grape you can’t grow and no wine style you can’t make here.
The Best Chardonnays in New Zealand 2024

Sep 15, 2024 | dish.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

I cannot tell you how much I look forward to our chardonnay panels. Hold on, actually I can, because I’m the one writing this intro. So “very much” and “massively” are how much I look forward to it because chardonnay is my favourite white wine. It’s the most consumed white wine in the world as well. It’s also the most versatile of all the grapes, it can do and be anything.
A century of wine experience: Peter Robertson & Paul Mooney

Aug 21, 2024 | baybuzz.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

[As published in July/August BayBuzz magazine.]“We’re in here Paul!” Peter Robertson bellows. The cellar door at Brookfields squeaks open and someone scuffles around outside while Peter and I chat beside the spitting fireplace in the room next door. Paul Mooney, senior winemaker at Mission Estate has just journeyed across from Taradale, post-lunch with Oz Clark, one of the world’s most famous wine writers. Peter (72) bought Brookfields in 1977, 47 years ago.
The Best Gins in New Zealand 2024

Jul 14, 2024 | dish.co.nz | Yvonne Lorkin

Three years ago, our first gin panel attracted 70 local entries, and we thought that was a monster effort. Could there really be 70 New Zealand gins? Our next call-out had judges sniffing and sipping their way through 108 entries blind and under competition conditions. One. Hundred. And. Eight! And there were more that, due to late arrival, didn’t make the judging table. Wow.
Annabel Langbein: 3 spicy winter recipes to keep you warm

Jun 14, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Annabel Langbein |Yvonne Lorkin

Spicy vegetable samosas. Photo / Annabel Langbein Media At the French Film Festival this year, there’s a beautiful food movie The Taste of Things. This historical romantic drama, set in France in 1889 on a country estate, delivers a parade of exquisitely executed French haute cuisine. I have no doubt that the food and wine budget was eyewatering by anyone’s means.