Pick of the Bunch
Queens Wineshop’s Monthly Wine Recommendation
Pick of the Bunch is our monthly series with Queens Wineshop, where John shares one standout bottle he thinks is worth getting your hands on. Expect a quick hit of wine insight, a great recommendation, and a little added incentive: head into Queens Wineshop to pick up this month’s Pick of the Bunch and receive 15% off the bottle price.
This Month's Pick:
For this month's edition, John has selected a wine with a story stretching back thousands of years. Amber wine has been made for more than 8,000 years, but Huntress Waihonga Amber 2025 offers a distinctly modern take on the style, and a particularly good place to start if you're amber-curious.
Huntress Waihonga Amber 2025
People have been making amber wine for over 8,000 years. It originated in the Caucasus Mountains of modern-day Georgia and has been a staple of their craft ever since. Over the last few decades, the process has become increasingly popular in New World wine-growing regions as a way to enhance and amplify the grapes' raw flavour potential.
Huntress Wines, founded by acclaimed winemaker Jannine Rickards, is named to reflect her deep personal connection to nature and a lifestyle of hunting, gathering and foraging. In Te Reo Māori, Waihonga translates to "nectar", and this wine is exactly that.
This organically farmed, hand-picked Pinot Gris spent 17 days on skins, resulting in its beautiful amber hue. The wine offers aromas of ripe peach and apricot, alongside warming kawakawa spice. The palate is textured and silky, concentrated yet lively, with a lingering, nectar-like finish.
Whether you're keen to begin your journey into this wonderfully exciting style, or you're already a seasoned amber wine enthusiast, this bottle is a great place to start or revisit.
~ John Robertson
