The first time I met Richard Guerra, proprietor of Frog In A Barrel in Milford, I must have been feeling somewhat harried. At the end of a busy day of work, I rushed in to grab a cheap and cheerful wine to enjoy with dinner. Richard sat me down at his cafe table, poured me a glass of French red and had a chat. By the time I left the shop 15 minutes later, wine bottle in hand, I was feeling totally relaxed, with the stresses of the day firmly behind me.
We are now regulars at Frog In A Barrel. Richard has has an impressive selection of wines and spirits, especially those he imports directly from France. But, let’s face it, you can buy good wine pretty much anywhere. It’s the personal experience that comes with that purchase that holds the real value. Richard hosted the inaugural Taste of France in Kiwiland at the Spencer On Byron Hotel during the Rugby World Cup, a charity dinner which raised a substantial amount for the Child Cancer Foundation. Hopefully, this will become an annual event.
