Blog
Forests of France: old oak trees tranformed into wine barrels
- 1 March 2023
- Celia Hay
Forests of France: old oak trees transformed into wine barrels
Hospices de Beaune Museum of Wine and Food
- 5 February 2023
- Celia Hay
The reputation of France as gastronomic food and wine powerhouse is evident when you visit the medieval town of Beaune, in the heart of Burgundy's wine country. The Hospices de Beaune Annual Wine Auction launches host of food and wine events.
Wine and Food Tour - Burgundy and Champagne
- 4 February 2023
- Celia Hay
Fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, charcuterie, meats, fish and shellfish, pastries and breads are eagerly bought at markets around France. Here are some of my photos from the Saturday markets in Chablis in Burgundy and Epernay in Champagne.
Sir Joseph Banks of Banks Peninsula
- 3 January 2023
- Celia Hay
I have known of Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) all my life, as person behind Captain Cook's naming of Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand
Hollyford Track; 5 days in Fiordland
- 27 December 2022
- Celia Hay
The Hollyford River dominates the valley as it winds west from the mountains of the Southern Alps to the Tasman Sea. In December 2022, I ventured there with Oliver and Alice Hay to hike the 56 km journey of the Hollyford Track.
Celia Hay awarded Sir George Fistonich Medal
- 4 November 2022
- Celia Hay
Celia Hay awarded the Sir George Fistonich Medal 2022 in recognition of services to New Zealand Wine.
Man O'War wine Food & Wine Pairing
- 3 October 2022
- Celia Hay
A fine line-up of Man O’War wines introduced by winemaker Duncan McTavish and David Nash.
Beyond the magnificent beaches of Noosa and the Sunshine coast
- 15 September 2022
- Celia Hay
Beyond the magnificent beaches of Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, you can also discover remnants of ancient rainforests dominated by numerous species of eucalyptus otherwise known as gum trees.
Sir Miles Warren - his legacy for Christchurch
- 21 August 2022
- Celia Hay
Sir Miles Warren (1929 - 2022) has endowed Christchurch, not only with his buildings but also with his home and gardens.
Banks Peninsula’s Te Ara Pātaka; the summit walkway
- 26 April 2022
- Celia Hay
Banks Peninsula’s Te Ara Pātaka; the summit walkway traverses parts of the ancient crater rim that flanks both Akaroa and Lyttleton Harbours.
New Zealand Wines that Age
- 12 March 2022
- Celia Hay
Presenting AUT Auckland University of Technology Professional Wine Knowledge programme this week, I was able to pull from the cellar a flight of wines that demonstrates that aging wine brings forth new characteristics that are not always apparent in young wines.
Women in Wine: Celia Hay on making the most of lockdown
- 7 March 2022
- Celia Hay
It's been 10 years since the Christchurch earthquake forced Celia Hay out of her food and wine business in the city, and 2021 was another challenging year. Read the full story by Joelle Thomson for the New Zealand Wine Growers magazine.
Summer of Bruce
- 1 February 2022
- Celia Hay
Bruce Springsteen is one of those singers, whose distinctive, raspy voice is easy to identify even if the lyrics are hard to decipher.
Hike to Lake Crucible, Mount Aspiring National Park
- 26 January 2022
- Celia Hay
Mount Aspiring (Tititea) National Park dominates the Central Otago highlands. Snow-crusted mountains that soar beyond 2000 meters, snow tussocks about 500 metres and New Zealand beech trees flank the lower altitudes. The Siberia Stream Valley leads on to the Gillespie Pass but a side trip can take you to Lake Crucible at the foot of a glacier.
New NZQA Micro-Credentials
- 10 December 2021
- Celia Hay
With NZQA approval for 13 micro-credentials, the New Zealand School Food and Wine hopes to inspire and attract new people to jobs in hospitality, wine and tourism and also enhance wider community understanding of our food and beverage story.
Notes on Attwood's Empire and the Making of Native Title
- 2 November 2021
- Celia Hay
That chance and circumstance played such a central role in the foundation of New Zealand as a British colony is startling. Professor Bain Attwood's book Empire and the Making of Native Title, 2020 explains this extraordinary story.
Hobson Bay Adventure
- 15 October 2021
- Celia Hay
Running along the coastline, shielded from the Waitemata by Tamaki Drive, lies the Hobson Bay Walkway. This urban adventure can be joined at a number of access points; from Shore Road and also via flights of steps that lead down to the bay from a series of Parnell streets.
Hay Scenic Reserve
- 8 September 2021
- Celia Hay
On July 11 2021, we unveiled an interpretation panel to give context to the reserve that, according to botanist and conservationist Hugh Wilson, is a remnant of lowland podocarp/hardwood and “one of the best, if not the best, of only four or five very small surviving fragments in the whole region” of Banks Peninsula.
Okains Bay Museum
- 22 March 2021
- Celia Hay
Walking into the Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum Banks Peninsula, it’s hard not to feel the urge to salute the mighty totara tree, once so abundant on Banks Peninsula, and now remembered as waka (canoe), or fence post or roof shingles or tiles.
Remembering Christchurch Earthquake 10 years later.
- 10 March 2021
- Celia Hay
Everyone living in Christchurch has their own personal story of this time; some of tragedy or heroism, others recalling small steps to help friends or family or strangers or even to offer emotional support to rise-up again after such challenges.
Two new wine qualifications launch this year
- 10 March 2021
- Celia Hay
Celia Hay is launching the new courses this year at the New Zealand School of Food and Wine, which she founded in 1995 in Christchurch, then relocated to Auckland in 2011 after the quakes.
New Wine Guide - 2nd Edition wins the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
- 10 March 2021
- Celia Hay
The evolution of New Zealand as a vine-growing, wine producing country is also a story of the New Zealand Dream; of inspired entrepreneurs, captivated by the aromas, flavours and sociability of wine.
New Zealand Wine Guide (2nd ed) - Book Launch
- 24 July 2020
- Celia Hay
Recently we were able to celebrate the launch with a wine tasting (naturally) and a guest appearance by the illustrious wine maker and winery photographer, Kevin Judd.
New Zealand Wine Guide (2nd Edition) - Media Release
- 4 May 2020
- Celia Hay
First published in 2014, the completely updated second edition of the book will provide a useful and accessible resource for people wishing to extend their knowledge of New Zealand wines.
Celia's reflections on a Hospitality Career Journey
- 16 April 2020
- Celia Hay
Celia Hay, founder of the New Zealand School of Food and Wine, reflects on a life in hospitality.
25 Years of Food & Wine
- 12 March 2020
- Celia Hay
The New Zealand School Of Food & Wine celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
Dart River Hike - Mount Aspiring National Park
- 26 December 2019
- Celia Hay
Three days hiking along the Dart River at the side of Mount Earnslaw at the head of Lake Wakatipu.
Gisborne Wine & Food Tour
- 5 December 2019
- Celia Hay
Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the sun each day and experience the energy of that first light.
Jancis Robinson's Wine Atlas Launch in New Zealand
- 5 December 2019
- Celia Hay
Celebrating the launch of the World Atlas of Wine (8th Ed) by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson.
Dinner at The Fat Duck
- 13 October 2019
- Celia Hay
What an incredible treat to enjoy The Fat Duck journey.
Volcanic Wines of the Naples Region + Dinner in Milano
- 28 June 2019
- Celia Hay
This Volcanic region is famous for its local wines. Located just north of Naples and not far from Mount Vesuvio.
Wines of Ningxia, China
- 29 October 2018
- Celia Hay
Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous region is where the great Mongol Emperor Ghengis Khan met his death around 1227.
Kyoto and ASI Asia Oceania Best Sommelier Competition 2018
- 18 October 2018
- Celia Hay
Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, it is crammed full of notable buildings, temples, beautiful gardens and its food delicacies and sake offer another unique experience.
One Belt One Road Sommelier Competition Ningxia - Sept 2018
- 4 September 2018
- Celia Hay
Congratulations to New Zealand Sommelier Maciej Zimny along with his team won the One Belt One Road Sommelier Summit Competition in Ningxia.
NZ Somms at ASI Asia Oceania Competition - Kyoto 2018
- 3 September 2018
- Celia Hay
The ASI Association of Sommeliers InternationalAsia Oceania Competition was held in Kyoto. Andrea Martinisi and Marek Przyborek were representing New Zealand, and placed 5thand 6threspectively.
The Natural Wines of Georgia and the Qvevri
- 22 June 2018
- Celia Hay
In June, I was fortunate to visit Georgia for the General Assembly of the ASI Association of Sommeliers International and to present New Zealand's creditentials for membership.
Toscana: Discovering iconic wines
- 29 May 2017
- Celia Hay
Driving around the narrow, windy roads through the bush-clad Tuscan hills it is easy to see why there is a proliferation of communes and villages, with romantic Italian names, that designate a particular wine style and terroir.
Luncheon at Champagne Louis Roederer
- 29 May 2017
- Celia Hay
A special gastronomic lunch at Champagne Louis Roederer was savoured in the luxurious surroundings of the Roederer Mansion followed by a tour of the winery and visit to a small portion of Roederer's 5 kilometres of cellar that lies beneath the city of Reims.
Discovering Austria
- 21 May 2017
- Celia Hay
In May, the Sommelier Union of Austria hosted the European Sommelier Competition in Vienna and in my role as chairperson of the New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association, I was invited to attend.
Best Sommelier Competition Europe and Africa 2017
- 5 May 2017
- Celia Hay
Congratulations to Raimonds Tomsons from Latvia to who won the Best Sommelier for Europe and Africa.
Sommelier visits to Mornington Peninsula & Macedon Ranges, Victoria
- 6 April 2017
- Celia Hay
The sommeliers would split into different groups with each one headed for an important wine region in Victoria - Geelong, Yarra, Macedon Ranges and Mornington Peninsula. My group headed to Mornington to learn about their signature Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs and discover that they also make excellent Pinot Gris.
Sweet and Sophisticated: The Story of Tokaji Wine
- 20 July 2016
- Celia Hay
The wines of the Hungarian region of Tokaj, or as they say it “toe-kay,” are a window into the past.
Discovering Mendoza's wine and culinary traditions
- 26 June 2016
- Celia Hay
Mendoza is both a city and a province and is located in the far west of Argentina. It is 1000 km from Buenos Aires and less than 200 km to Santiago, Chile, via National Route 7, a road that winds through the Andes and takes 7- 8 hours to drive.
World Best Sommelier Competition in Argentina 2016
- 22 May 2016
- Celia Hay
The vibrant wine culture in Argentina has enabled it to host the ASI Association of Sommeliers International's Best Sommelier in the World.