Keen tips on some top tipples

Simon Wood will be offering a regular column called Wood on Wine and Beer.

For the Wood family, wine is a family affair, and Simon Wood is continuing that legacy.

Simon is very familiar with the wine industry, following in his parents’ footsteps.

Hugh Wood, Simon’s father, was always involved in the wine industry and owned a few speciality stores.

He was one of the founding members of the Hamilton Wine and Food Society as the cellarmaster and also wrote columns for the Hamilton Press.

His column, Wood on Wine, was taken over by Simon’s mother Bev, after Hugh passed away.

And now Simon continues that family legacy with his own column, Wood on Wine and Beer.

Simon admits when it comes to the ‘‘old world’’, European countries, specifically Italy, Spain and France, with generations of history and heritage of wine making, New Zealand can’t compete. ‘‘Thats new world versus old world. ‘‘New Zealand makes wine extremely well, over the last 20 years, we have refined it, worked out what we are and what we’re not good at.

‘‘The industry has matured and we have worked out what grows well in different regions.’’

He loves a pinot noir, sparkling and dessert wine and chardonnay and craft beer, but admits ‘‘there is not much he doesn’t like’’.

He leans more towards wine with dinner when eating out.

Wood says his columns will include wines and craft beers he has recently enjoyed, and those he didn’t, including if the beverage is better with food, or stand alone.

He says readers shouldn’t be concerned about the price of the wines in his column, most of the wines he writes about are readily available in supermarkets or wine shops around the $20 a bottle mark.