996 days ago

New Zealand Sommelier of the year - 2021

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

Congratulations to Andrea Martinisi as he is awarded New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2021.

Andrea Martinisi is presented with the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2021 trophy by Marek Przyborek (NZ Sommelier of the Year 2018) and chair of the Examination Committee with Celia Hay, chair of New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association. Andrea is General Manager and Head Sommelier of The Grove Restaurant, Auckland. Marek is head sommelier at Amisfield, Central Otago.

The day started with the Theory Assessment (60 minutest) and Blind Tasting of 2 wines. The white wine was Saint Clair Pioneer Block Gewurztraminer 2020 from Marlborough and from Spain, Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2016. The Practical included a restaurant scenario to decant a bottle of Te Mata Awatea 2018 and provide a food pairing. This was made a little tricky as we also had a bottle Te Mata Awatea 2019 on the sideboard... to check if the candidates were reading the label!

The Practical also featured a spirit tasting where candidates were asked to identify 4 spirits. This year the spirits were Bacardi, Tequila Blanco, Jack Daniels, Calvados.

More messages from your neighbours
4 days ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.4% Yes
    91.4% Complete
  • 8.2% No
    8.2% Complete
  • 0.4% Other - I'll share below!
    0.4% Complete
1193 votes
1 day ago

Lest we forget...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.

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G
5 days ago

Trucks Parking in Residential Streets

Greg from Takanini

How do people feel about truck and trailer units parking in our residential streets? Manuroa and Airfield Roads in Takanini are truck parks every night. This is a safety issue as trucks and buses cross onto the wrong side of the road to pass them. They also block sight lines for people leaving their properties and turning out of side streets. Parking beside reserves and playgrounds means children are stepping out from behind these vehicles to cross our busy streets. The empty flatbed trailer units are hard to see at night, especially in wet weather. There have been at least two accidents in Takanini, one fatal, involving cars hitting these trailers. The Takanini Residents Group have raised this with the Papakura Local Board and Auckland Council, but as these vehicles are legally parked, we are told there is nothing that can be done. I know this is a problem in other areas in South Auckland, so I would like to hear what people think about this issue.