Life
The Listener’s first wine columnist had plenty to say about the quality of our wines in the 1960s
The archives of the Listeners first three decades have been published on Papers Past.
Latest from Michael Cooper
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
Weekend wine guide: Devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle, this winery is flourishing again
Despite severe damage, Brookfields has thrived since reopening at the end of 2023.
Weekend wine guide: Love wine? Does that make you a wine snob, a wine nerd or perhaps a wine geek?
'Wine enthusiast' is not the only way to describe those with a love for the beverage.
Bumper weekend wine guide: 36 affordable tipples you can bank on
Good wine needn’t cost a fortune.
Weekend wine guide: The factors that determine whether a wine sells for $20 or $200
The cost of some of our most expensive wines is not always about the quality.
Weekend wine guide: North Canterbury’s climate and terrain put its chardonnays on the map
The arresting quality of chardonnays from the Waipara deserves recognition.
Bumper weekend wine guide: The best NZ claret-style wines to try now
Feel like you’re in France with these Bordeaux inspired reds.
Weekend wine guide: Four-star wines for three-star prices
Oyster Bay, Delegat and Barossa Valley offer terrific value for high-quality wines.
Young winemaker follows in her mum’s esteemed footsteps at Radburnd Cellars
"It's pretty easy to fall in love with the industry."
Vintners’ bad luck spreads through our top wine regions
The 2026 harvest is now hitting the shelves amid falling demand and difficult conditions.
Weekend wine guide: Why Australian Brown Brothers wines hit the right notes
The brand has several moderately priced, attractive, unabashedly sweet wines.
The greenest of vineyards: A guide to some of NZ’s best organic wines
Organic wines continue to rise in popularity and sophistication.
Weekend wine guide: Stellar chardonnays from Hawke’s Bay
Dry conditions hugely contributed to the arresting quality of 2024 chardonnay.
Weekend wine guide: Marlborough vineyard is poised for a change of ownership
Fromm Winery, which has a reputation for distinctive wines, is now for sale.
Weekend wine guide: Albariño is now internationally fashionable
The white-wine grapes are now more widely planted than many other varieties.
Bumper weekend wine guide: NZ is overflowing with quality pinot noir in the $20-$40 range
Pinot noir can knock your socks off within a year or two of the harvest.
Weekend wine guide: Waiheke’s Stonyridge maintains its strong reputation
The winery produces top-shelf wines of all flavours.
Weekend wine guide: A large American corporate owns some of our most popular wineries
Kim Crawford and Selaks are just two of the company’s key brands.
Bumper weekend wine guide: Top international wines to try, and not just from Australia
Nearly half the total wine on sale in New Zealand comes from overseas.
NZ sauvignon blancs respected in the US, but under pressure from rivals
US home-grown sauvignon blanc is giving Marlborough stiff competition.
Weekend wine guide: The reasons for rating a particular wine vary, but the assessment is always honest
Michael Cooper reveals why he reviews the wines he does.
Weekend wine guide: The Marlborough vineyard big NZ wine industry names turn to for top grapes
The vineyard’s elevation, soils and orientation create a unique terroir.
Bumper weekend wine guide: Pinot gris remains an easy drinking favourite
The latest round-up of pinot gris highlights.
Weekend wine guide: How to reduce wine list anxiety when eating out
Ordering wine can be a lot more stressful than simply plucking a bottle from the shelf.
Weekend wine guide: Five-star vintages from two of our best winemakers
Chris Scott and Dom Maxwell have branched out to make their own 'flagship' vintages.
Weekend wine guide: Tipples with a twist
Wines with a difference from vineyards trying out new production methods.
Weekend wine guide: Marlborough winery responds to market conditions with low-alcohol wines
Forrest Estate is also experimenting with the potential of other grape varieties.
Bumper weekend wine guide: Michael Cooper rounds up the best chardonnays to discover
The Chardonnay grape remains one of the most popular white wines.
Weekend wine guide: What is wine quality?
Experts use varying criteria to assess how good a wine is.
Weekend wine guide: Marlborough’s Astrolabe lives up to its name
Taste the spirit of adventure with Astrolabe's highly individual wines.
Weekend wine guide: Te Mata’s horizons have been expanding for more than a century
The internationally renowned winery has taken advantage of its prime location.
Bumper weekend wine guide: Wines made from rarer grape varieties are worth seeking out
Top picks to try this weekend.