NEW ZEALAND WINE

Kirsten loves it - drinks it - talks & writes about it

DRINKING NZ WINE

Kirsten has imbibed wine since she was in her 20s but it wasn’t till she moved to New Zealand in 2002 that she became keen to actually learn about wine. Before that she drank primarily European, American and South American wine but it was just a most enjoyable beverage and not something she paid a lot of attention to. Back then, winemaker dinners, sommeliers and wine tasting events weren’t a big thing in Denmark. Today they are.

When she moved to New Zealand in 2002 she met many of Marlborough’s leading winemakers who would dine at the hotel, she worked at then, and through them – as well as the job itself – she began appreciating the wines here.

TALKING ABOUT NZ WINE

New Zealand Wine & Travel Experience was Kirsten's informative, fun and inspiring online Airbnb Experiencefor those keen to learn about wine and New Zealand as a destination.She set it up during the pandemic (2020-2022) and hosted hundreds of winelovers from around the world.

For the love of wine was Kirsten’s fortnightly radio chat show focusing on people in the New Zealand wine industry. Broadcast on Fresh FM for two years (2020-2022) during the pandemic.

WRITING ABOUT NZ WINE

Kirsten has written a plethora of articles - as well as a book- about the New Zealand wine industry and its people, visited lots of wineries, attended many tastings etc. And she continues to do so as NZ wine has become more than a hobby for her… She thoroughly enjoys learning about wine (as well as drinking it!) and she loves sharing her knowledge.

HOSTING NZ WINE EVENTS

During Kirsten's annual visits to Denmark promoting New Zealand as a tourist destination, she also offers New Zealand wine tastings/talks to private wine clubs. That is partly on the back of publishing her book Passion, Pinot & Savvy. Her unique and fun wine events combine tasting great wine with storytelling about the wines, the industry, the winemakers and New Zealand. If you'd like Kirsten to host a fabulous tasting of wine from New Zealand - please email her: kirstenmadfrog@xtra.co.nz

if you were a wine which one would you be?

When Kirsten was asked this question by Caro of caroha.com she replied: Given I am from the old world and have successfully moved to the new world, and also become a New Zealand citizen, I would tongue-in-cheek say that Pinot Noir sums me up. As NZ Winegrowers describes it: “Intense, expressive, fruit-driven. Old World structure and elegance meets New World power and intensity… notoriously fickle (it is world-class only in cool-climate regions), the Pinot Noir grape has found in New Zealand a home away from home.”