BISH PUTS THE VIN INTO VINYL

There are a lot of great touches to Tony Bish’s recently opened Urban Winery in Napier. As a working winery that doubles as a place to hang out and enjoy some very fine “juice”, you get to get up close to Bish’s egg-shaped fermenters. You also get to enter the old Rothmans building, whose art deco façade is one of the tobacco industry’s very few worthwhile accomplishments. But the masterly stroke is the “wayback stack” of LPs and the turntable. Al Green, Phil Collins, Howlin’ Wolf… Bish has a broad collection. Nor is the wine available for consumption confined to a narrow range. Along with Bish’s own label (with its multiple expressions of chardonnay), you’ll find wines by Bilancia, Easthope Family Winegrowers, Decibel and more, together with some local crafties.