Small diamonds of the wine world

Saturday, 6 June 2026

Jo Cribb finds sparkling moments of delight in this trio of wines.

I’ve taken to hunting for little diamonds every day – sparkling moments of delight – to counter the dumpster fire that is the current state of the world.

Fossicking around in the world of wine, those diamonds aren’t hard to find.

Like the new research that measured the planetary impact of a glass of wine and found it’s better for the planet than eating chocolate and about the same as a locally-produced apple or orange.

Calculating a product’s carbon emissions, impact on air and water quality, waste and water usage against a 100% daily limit, New Zealand researchers found a bottle of wine takes up 1.8% of that daily limit. Choosing wine made here in New Zealand and bottled in lighter glass bottles makes it even better for the planet.

Then there is Cloudy Bay’s Good Pick Fund that provides interest-free loans to seasonal vineyard workers from the Pacific. The aim of the fund is to support workers to use their vineyard earnings to start businesses in their home villages. Recipients are also matched with a Cloudy Bay mentor to help with business planning.

As the loans are repaid, they are re-loaned to cede new businesses. Across the Pacific, the fund is supporting village stores to be expanded, boarding houses to be built and canteens opened that will generate sustainable income for decades to come.

I’ll drink to that.

Cloudy Bay, Pelorus NV, Marlborough, $40

Pelorus is the perfect choice to toast those little diamonds of joy. It’s an elegant, dependable Kiwi classic. Enjoy its granny smith apple crunch that contrasts beautifully with the creamy, buttered brioche flavours, all topped off with a sprinkle of toasted almonds.

Mont’Albano, Nero d’avola 2024, Sicilia, $18

There are a lot of food miles in a glass of this. But it is made by one of Italy’s pioneers of organic wine making. Savour this deep ruby-coloured wine and its flavours of violet, dried plums, velvety black berries and spices, and match with a sliver of dark chocolate, in the knowledge that the wine is the better of the two for the planet.

Roaring Meg, Pinot Gris 2025, Central Otago, $22

Closer to home, this wine is a little gem. Often pinot gris can be like the paste version of a diamond: bland and lacklustre. From the Mt Difficulty stable, this version sparkles. Expect bright orchard fruit and tart citrus with a hint of sea salt.