I recently attended an excellent Wine & Food match evening at The Hour Glass in New Plymouth, one of many events held during Feastival Taranaki. Dan Shea from Smith & Sheth from over in the Hawke’s Bay, presented 5 wines from their portfolio, all matched with delicious tapas from Jenna’s team at The Hour Glass.
This tasting was one of over 20 events held during Feastival Taranaki 2026 created by the Taranaki Culinary Action Group (TCAG) a group formed of local food and beverage producers, restauranteurs, and event professionals who are passionate about Taranaki’s food & beverage. Keep an eye our for future Feastival Taranaki events here: https://feastival.co.nz/
It was a packed house tonight with 40+ wine & food lovers attending, and as always the wine, food matches & service provided by Jenna and her wonderful team at the Hour Glass were just excellent. (see notes below)
Dan is the National Sales Manager for Smith & Sheth, & has a long background in the New Zealand wine industry, spending 17 years at Mills Reef Winery where he held a variety of positions including Sales Manager, Brand Manager and, after the recent merger with The Wine Portfolio, Key Account Manager. He now manages all domestic sales and distribution for Aotearoa NZ Fine Wine Estates, supporting national distributor Negociants New Zealand from his home base in Tauranga.
Dan was a most entertaining presenter, with a great sense of humour and the ability to ‘read the room’ when explaining technical wine terminology. He was very knowledgeable & we all learned a lot about each wine as we tasted through them, while listening to the story of how Steve Smith MW and Brian Sheth collaborated to share their love for the same things.
We are in the business of creating great wines that bring great pleasure. As contemporary negociants, Steve Smith MW and Brian Sheth, seek out the exceptional. Fine Wine, Aotearoa New Zealand and Enjoying Life’s Pleasures.
Steve Smith MW has a formidable reputation in the wine industry: renowned for establishing Craggy Range in Hawke’s Bay and Martinborough, he is also one of few qualified Master of Wines to be based in New Zealand. Brian Sheth, from Austin Texas, is an investor and wildlife conservationist, with a strong affiliation and love for New Zealand.
As contemporary negociants Steve and Brian seek out the exceptional: hand selecting the best grapes from the finest vineyards, and establishing steadfast relationships with the land, growers and makers who form the DNA of their CRU. The French call it “terroir” – a sense of place.
An interesting Fact – the DNA strands that define the different grape clones used in the Smith & Sheth wines are embossed on the reverse of their bottle labels – the S&S are entwined like a DNA helix, representing the foundations of the Smith and Sheth collaboration.
Read more about their fascinating story here: https://www.smithandsheth.com/pages/our-story.
THE WINE & FOOD MATCHES
As usual the matching Tapas selected by Jenna and her team were absolutely delicious, made with fresh ingredients and presented beautifully – I can highly recommend both the food and the service, at The Hour Glass: It’s an excellent venue with probably the best Wine List in Taranaki too. Don’t miss out on future events – sign up to their newsletter and be the first to receive special news & event updates: https://hourglass.co.nz/
Smith & Sheth, Heretaunga Rosé 2025
Goat Cheese Bruschetta Topped With Fresh Strawberry Salad
Lively bursts of ripe berry and fragrant florals with crisp acidity make every sip of this Rose sparkle, perfectly elevating the creamy goat cheese and fresh sweet strawberry.
Smith & Sheth, Heretaunga Albarino 2024
Garlic And Lemon Grilled Fish Taco
Brilliant citrus and mineral freshness dance across the palate, matching beautifully with the vibrant garlic and lemon fish tacos for a zesty, delectable pairing.
Smith & Sheth, Heretaunga Chardonnay 2023
Roasted Herbed Chicken On Pumpkin Risotto
Silky layers of stone fruit, subtle oak, and creamy texture meld with the savoury roast chicken and rich pumpkin risotto for a pairing that’s both elegant and deeply satisfying.
Smith & Sheth, Heretaunga Syrah 2022
Grilled Lamb On Mash w Mushroom Jus
Bold dark berry and spice notes mingle with tender grilled lamb and earthy mushroom jus, creating a match that’s rich, savoury, and utterly irresistible.
Smith & Sheth, Heretaunga Cabernet Franc 2024
Duck spring rolls with cherry reduction
Juicy cherry and aromatic herbs create a symphony of flavour, beautifully complementing the succulent duck spring rolls and cherry reduction for a truly delicious experience.
You can find out more on the Smith and Sheth website:
https://www.smithandsheth.com/
