Latest news
NZ Cider Festival cancels
The 2021 NZ Cider Festival has been cancelled, with just two weeks until the event was due to take place in Hawke’s Bay…
Best value celeb wines and spirits revealed
Celebrity-owned wine and liquors have been put to the test by UK financial advice website money.co.uk to find the best value buys…
Events, hospo grapple with shift to ‘Red’
New Zealand’s shift into ‘Red’ under the COVID-19 traffic light system has thrown upcoming festivals and events into doubt and renewed pressure on hospitality venues.
Entries open for New World Beer & Cider Awards 2022
A dedicated class for low-alcohol beers and a Supreme Award are two new additions to this year’s New World Beer & Cider Awards…
Cardrona Distillery launches NZ/UK cocktail battle
Cardrona Distillery has launched its first cocktail competition and is calling for entries from bartenders in New Zealand and the UK ahead of a Grand Final in September…
Allan Scott wine tops Wine Spectator best value list
Wine Spectator has unveiled its inaugural ‘Top 10 Wine Values of 2021’, with Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2021 taking first place…
Cheers to a safe and successful summer!
As the year draws to a close and Kiwis head into their summer holidays, all of us at Drinksbiz would like to thank you for your support throughout 2021…
NZIWS still open for entries ahead of 2022 judging
The New Zealand International Wine Show is still accepting entries ahead of its scheduled judging in February 2022…
Heli-gin tour launches in Queenstown
Queenstown tourism company Altitude Tours has launched what it says is the world’s first heli-gin tour, which includes distillery visits and a mountain-top toast...
Invivo Air to take to the skies
Invivo & Co will fly a chartered service from Auckland to Queenstown in early 2022 to highlight the re-opening of Auckland’s borders…
NZ Winegrowers launches 2021 Mentoring Programme
Industry body New Zealand Winegrowers has launched its 2021 Mentoring Programme, which pairs industry veterans with those wishing to focus on their self-development and goals…
Major research to develop new variants of NZ Sauvignon Blanc
Work has begun on a seven-year $18.7 million research programme that aims to develop more resilient and sustainable new variants of Sauvignon Blanc…
Archie Rose Distilling Co. launches in NZ
Australia’s award-winning Archie Rose Distilling Co. has launched its acclaimed whiskies, gins, vodka, bottled cocktails, and world-first Tailored Spirits concept in New Zealand…
World’s 50 Best Bars 2021 announced
The list of The World’s 50 Best Bars has been revealed, with Connaught Bar in London ranking No.1 for the second consecutive year…
Chris Scott wins 4th NZ Winemaker of the Year title
Church Road’s Chief Winemaker Chris Scott has been named NZ Winemaker of the Year for an unprecedented fourth time at the annual Winestate Wine of the Year Awards…
Fellows of NZ Winegrowers 2021 revealed
NZ Winegrowers has announced its Fellows awards for 2021, in recognition of those who have made an outstanding contribution to the New Zealand wine industry.
Heineken to offer barbershops in Akld bars
Beer brand Heineken is to launch pop up barbershops in two central Auckland venues as the city shifts into the new traffic light system…
Brewers Assoc says higher value beer up in lockdown
The Brewers Association says new figures from Statistics New Zealand show a shift to higher value beers during the July to September 2021 period…
Orchard Thieves Rosé Cider goes Gold at brewing ‘Oscars’
DB’s Orchard Thieves Rosé Cider has been named the Gold medal winner in the new Cider Innovation Rosé category at the International Brewing and Cider Awards 2021…
QT Auckland wins Supreme Award at Hospitality Awards
QT Auckland hotel in the Viaduct Harbour has won the Supreme Award at the 2021 Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence…