Friday 20th July 2012: Port is perfectly suited to winter, and the port bottle often comes out at the end of a dinner party, or maybe after dinner while we are sitting in front of the fire on a miserable winter's Saturday night. I always tell people that the best way to learn about wine is to taste as many as you can. If you want to try different styles of port to see the difference for yourself, drop in to Casa del Vino tomorrow morning - Neil Hodgson

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Champagne the star of the show
NEIL HODGSON 9/12/2011

I love champagne! I know sparkling wines made in New Zealand in the same style as those from the Champagne region, the home of bubbles in France, are very good and always rate highly in tastings, but there is something just a little ethereal about the real thing I just can't resist.

Last week I was in heaven at a champagne tasting. Imagine the chance to taste a range of champagnes from three premium producers including three that come with a price tag of more than $200 a bottle (with one hitting $450).

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Gifts to make a wine lover's Christmas
NEIL HODGSON 25/11/2011

Christmas is only a month away, so it is time to start buying gifts for the special people in your life, if you haven't already. Because this is a column about wine, of course I am going to tell you to buy something wine-related, but it doesn't have to be a bottle of wine. There are lots of choices. Two of my favourite gift-buying places are Page and Blackmore Booksellers in Trafalgar St and Casa del Vino in Hardy St...

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A welcome solution to wet weekend blues
NEIL HODGSON 24/06/2011

I don't know about you, but I am fed up with wet weekends. Working inside all week I really look forward to getting outside at the weekend, whether it is the Saturday market, lunch at a cafe or stopping in at one of my favourite stores, Casa del Vino...

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Ready to lay out the welcome mat
TRACY NEAL 18/05/2011

BENVENUTO: Ann Banks, of Casa del Vino in Hardy St, dressing up her shop window in time for a June 1st "100 Days to Go" launch to celebrate Rugby World Cup events in Nelson.



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