Automated technical workers are now trundling their way into vineyards. The next glass of Chardonnay you drink may have had its vines pruned by a robot.

Whether it is a modern style Sauternes, a herbaceous Italian Vin Santo, or a fresh Riesling Auslese, there’s a sweet wine to meet your palate.

Bordeaux-based oenologist, Fabrice Dubourdieu, always brings a bottle of Sauternes to Asian dinners as the elixir is an effective all–rounder for wine pairings.

You’ll rarely find ambassador for Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck, Ned Goodwin, drinking wines from Bordeaux when he’s off-duty. The Master of Wine prefers quaffs from Jura and Loire Valley.

Grower champagne maker, Alexandre Penet, shares on how he intends to win more drinkers over to his side with his low dosage bubblies.

Looking for a place to hang out after work? We highlight two Japanese bars to visit this month—KUMO Sake & Whisky bar and The Horse’s Mouth.

If you are taking bar legend Charles Schumann out for drinks in town, pick the quiet joints. Watering holes with deejays annoy him.

A winemaker by day (and weekends) and a criminal judge by night, George Shinas, shares how the cheeky names behind his wines came about and why drought can be a good thing for his vines.

If you recognise the name Vasco Rossi, then you know your international rock and roll stars. Rossi is Italy’s answer to Bon Jovi. Named after the Italian singer-songwriter, Sydney’s latest watering hole, Vasco, isn’t a singular tribute to this rock star but more of a general homage to the who’s who in the rock and…

For winemaker Grant Taylor, Central Otago’s various sub-regions offer fascinating opportunities to produce complex and top class Pinot Noirs.