Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated winemakers, a man whose Chardonnays are often talked about in the same breath as the great white wines of Burgundy. Listen to us chat about his family’s Croatian origins, how his time in Australia and France changed his outlook on wine, the challenges and rewards of growing grapes in West Auckland and why screwcaps are his closure of choice.

To read more about Michael, have a look at the Kumeu River website. You can also follow the winery on Instagram @kumeu_river.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the wine world’s most extraordinary figures.