Post #40630 by stentiki on Tue, Jun 24, 2003 10:37 PM

Tiki Baron,

Interesting question. Surely, New Zealand is one of the great Tiki Meccas. I had the good fortune of visiting a winery while I was there and I was quite impressed. The tiki spirit was with me as I sipped those fabulous young wines! We were on the North Island and it reminded me very much of the vineyards in Napa and the metro area of Auckland is very similar to Seattle.

I guess if there is a label that has a Maori image on it, that would be considered tiki but to say that New Zealand wine should count because New Zealand has a tiki culture would be like saying that California wine should count for the same reason.

As far as Chile is concerned, they have Pisco which is produced from grapes and one of our favorites comes in a cool bottle shaped in the image of the Moai. I would definitely consider this Tiki and there are some great recipes in the Grog Log that call for it.

So long story short, I would consider New Zealand wine tiki if:

1. It comes in a Maori shaped bottle
   -or
2. If it comes with a label with a tiki on it
   -or
3. If there is drink in the Grog Log or elsewhere that calls for wine (I'm unaware of one but I'm sure someone here will know).
   -or
4. If he can somehow obtain one of those cool Trader Vic's Morgan Stem wine glasses (the Tiki Holy Grail!) and drink his fine New Zealand wine from that (we should all be so lucky!).
   -or
5. Just say f**k it, and pour his wine into his favorite tiki mug and call it a day!

Cheers!

Aloha,

Uncle Arty

IN THE ZEN OF STEN

[ Edited by: stentiki on 2003-06-24 22:39 ]