LATEST WINE NEWS
Your chance to win! - Cellar Door Wine Festival, Adelaide
Calling all Wine Diva-ers
Purchase your Cellar Door Wine Festival entry tickets and go into the draw to win one dozen of Chapel Hill Winery's, il Vescovo McLaren Vale white 2011, valued at $300.
Simply purchase your Festival entry tickets at www.cellardoorfestival.com/tickets
Enter ‘Wine Diva’ in the ‘what is the name of the person who recommended you’ section on the final ticketing page and you are automatically entered into the prize draw!
150 cellar doors under the one roof
The Cellar Door Wine Festival gives you the opportunity to explore 12 iconic wine regions and enjoy tastings from more than 150 wineries.
The 3-day festival (February 24-26) features a series of Master Classes including Tastes of the Barossa, Wine and Chocolate Tasting, and a Spiegelau Beer Glass Tasting.
There will also be a regional Farmers Market where visitors can sample and purchase regional delights from boutique producers, and beer fans can sample brews from micro breweries through to iconic SA brewer Coopers Brewery.
For the best of SA's wine and food visit the Cellar Door Festival at the Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, SA.
Check out Chapel Hill Wine
www.chapelhillwine.com.au
Check out the Festival
www.cellardoorfestival.com
Editorial
New listing on Wine Diva - Leaning Church Vineyard
We are constantly adding to the directory, and like to pull out of the pack wineries that take our fancy.
Leaning Church Vineyard is a place where wine and hospitality flow.
Named after St Albans Anglican Church of Pioneer which was moved to the vineyard in 1989, the church building is now leaning somewhat to the right; but don't let that stop you - owners Sarah and Mark Hirst, have turned the building over to the more earthly pursuits of food, functions and fun, although lovers' unions are still blessed here.
Leaning Church Vineyard on the
Tamar Valley Wine Route
Last year they won gold and trophy at the Tassie Wine Show for their 2010 Sauvignon Blanc; showing their skill and the pedigree of the vineyard which was formerly in Taltarni's stable producing labels, Lalla Gully and Clover Hill.
Their 2010 Pinot Noir sparkling is just about to be released.
Apart from regular platters, weekend dining, BBQs and weddings, they also have tasting events throughout the year.
Next: A game degustation dinner party
March 16th @ 7pm
The church is 100 years old this year so keep an eye out for the birthday bash.
Editorial
Australia’s Wine Industry Design Competition 2012
Australia’s Wine Industry Design Competition in partnership with the Keystone Group has launched the 2012 competition to find some of the best wine labels in the country.
Wine companies of all sizes, are invited to enter their bottles, and for the first time the competition is open to designers and design students to submit an entry, mocked up onto an appropriate bottle for a fictitious brand.
Founded in 1998 by the Association of Australian Boutique Winemakers (AABW), and formerly titled
The Winery, Surry Hills
competition venue
the Label Design Awards this competition has grown and expanded into one of the industry’s premier events bringing a greater awareness to wine branding and labeling.
Judges include Paul Schulte, Lisa McGuigan, Judith Kennedy, the Herald’s Sue Bennett, Lousie Cole and Toni Paterson MW
The winners will be announced at a VIP presentation reception at The Winery in Surry Hills on the 15th May, 2012 and the winning bottles will be on display at The Winery for one month following the announcement.
Entries close 30 March 2012.
Entry forms @ www.boutiquewines.com.au
Editorial
A Wine for the celebratory table
Misty Glen Wines in the Hunter Valley has taken the road less travelled and produced a Sparkling Chambourcin. Owners, Vicci Lashmore-Smith and Eric Smith were looking for something different in a sparkling red. The Chambourcin grape variety is well suited to the Hunter Valley's high seasonal rainfall and with their vineyard producing excellent fruit they embarked on this sparkling enterprise. Using the Charmat fermentation method (an Italian method similar to Méthode champenoise but fermented in a tank) and then given a second fermentation to mature, they produced a subtly sweet, fruity wine with a nose of dried plum and blackberry on the palate.
Wines from the beautiful
Hunter Valley wines
The deep ruby colour is what gives this wine such a celebratory feel. Feedback from the friends network indicates an excellent match with Lamb dishes, blue cheeses and vintage cheddar and one friend claimed great success served as a dessert wine with Créme brulee.
3 stars from Winestate Magazine
Sale Now On
For a limited time purchase any* 6 bottles from our wine range for only $90 or 12 bottles for $180 *
Sparkling Chambourcin $240/ case SAVE $60
Drop in at the Cellar Door or CALL NOW 02 4998 7781 or
Click this link for details and order form
Offer ends 31 August 2011
* excludes Chardonnay 2006 & 2008
Advertorial
Pindarie puts on a musical feast for the Barossa Gourmet Weekend
Join Wendy and Tony at Pindarie's cellar door and garden on the Barossa Gourmet Weekend, August 20-21.
The Flaming Sambucas will also be there pumping out the rock vibes all weekend as you enjoy great wine matched to a Grecian feast of grilled lamb shish kebabs delicious Spanish flat bread, salad, tzatziki and other vegetarian dishes plus finger food specially made for kids.
Coffee and sweets also on the menu.
Great wine, Barossa views and
fun for the children
Pindarie is an historic farm famous for its wine, olives and wool.
Perched high on the Western Ridge it has spectacular views over the Valley.
Pindarie is a great place to relax and take in the beauty of the valley and Barossan hospitality.
Children can have fun in the kids play area specially decked out with a haystack for the big weekend.
Yarra Valley's Kellybrook Restaurant & Winery launches their Winter Menu
Just because it's getting a little brisk doesn't mean you have to hibernate.
With the vineyards wrapped in winter hues and stillness it is quite a magical time to enjoy the rolling hills and back road scenes of the Yarra Valley.
Kellybrook Winery & Restaurant encourage people to explore the beauty of winter's landscape and pleasures of the winter table.
Get out and about this winter with friends and family and enjoy Kellybrook's unique take on the season.
Lunch Friday - Sunday
Dinner Friday - Saturday
Roaring fire, winter fare and wines
to match
Their Winter Set Menu has just been launched so from the vantage point of an elegant table and a roaring fire you can enjoy matching their great wines to this season's menu.
There is also an a la carte menu and set price menus for functions. Please phone your booking on (03) 9722 1304.
* Please note that the Winter Set Menu is available on Friday and Saturday only.
Winter Set Menu 2011
3 courses $37.00
Wild mushroom soup with truffled crème fraiche
Wine suggestion: Kellybrook Pinot Noir 2009 or Kellybrook Riesling 2009
Slow-cooked beef, horseradish mash, Kellybrook Shiraz jus
Wine suggestion: Kellybrook Shiraz 2008
Apple crumble tart, tawny port caramel, vanilla icecream
Wine suggestion: Kellybrook Champagne Cider or Kellybrook Tawny Port
Vive la France! Long live Australia! - the fight to Stop Coal Seam Gas Mining
The French Parliament's lower house has just voted in favour of banning gas fracturing (fracking) to extract gas from coal seams. This is not surprising. Fracking injects highly toxic chemicals using an explosive process to create fractures in the Earth's crust and releases gas (the highly inflammable methane gas) which is then piped across the countryside. These dangerous chemicals seep their way into waterways, dams and underground water storages (aquifers). Thousands of people have protested all over France, determined to stop a mining process which is poisoning water, wine grapes and food. The French people's passion for their food and wine has energised the stop the coal seam gas (CSG) movement.
Like France, Australia has vast underground water storages that support the very essence of life: the agriculture and viticulture on which we depend. Viticulturalists and winemakers all over Australia from the Hunter Valley to the Margaret River have been calling for bans on coal seam gas mining to protect Australia's wine regions. Australian wine is much loved all over the world and constitutes our second largest agricultural export. The movement to stop CSG in Australia is gaining momentum as citizens become aware of the dangers and see their precious water and land being destroyed for the short-term monetary gain of others.
How bad is it?
Hundreds of wells have already been sunk and thousands more are planned. Agricultural land in the vicinity of the wells is devastated and water supplies are permanently damaged. There is almost no regulation and there is no recourse for landowners who are forced to relinquish parts of their land to the miners. This is happening across the country.
The rise of coal seam gas mining points to a collapse in parliamentary government and civil government (the public service) in Australia. There is nothing more basic than the protection of water and there is nothing more fundamental in terms of the role of government and the public service than to secure the water supply. Because our governing institutions will not protect even the drinking water, we as citizens must take steps to secure the supply - and this is exactly what is happening right around Australia today.
How has the collapse of water security come about?
Historically, threats to the water supply have been tightly regulated to secure a safe water supply. The regulatory system has considered natural threats such as bush fires as well as threats from hostile forces such as the threat of invasion by the Japanese during World War II and more recently the threat of terrorism, which saw authorities focus on tightening security around key infrastructure such as dams because they were deemed vulnerable to attack.
Safe drinking water - the basis of life
is threatened by Coal Seam Gas mining
Sydney and Wollongong - Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands wine regions
One example is the five dams which straddle the Illawarra Escarpment, from Woronora Dam in the north to Avon Dam in the south. A citizen can be fined thousands of dollars for illegally bushwalking in the catchment of these dams - it's that strict!
However, in 2005 the NSW State Labor Government passed amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act which paved the way for mining leases to be issued on lands including water catchment lands. Test wells have already been drilled in the Woronora Dam catchment which supplies drinking water to Southern Sydney and Wollongong.
I can only explain this by way analogy
The Chaser Proposition
During the 2007 APEC conference in Sydney the ABC's Chaser boys breached $160mill worth of security and entered the Red Zone. A uniformed officer said to them, "You can do what you want matey. The road's yours". They achieved this feat by simply sticking a Canadian flag on a motorcade. In other words since the cars looked like an official vehicle from an allied state, they were waved through. The intention of the vehicle's occupants was of no interest - looking friendly was all that mattered. In Australia, we think miners look friendly, too.
And based on this incident I can assume that the NSW government will not be handing out licences to mine in the Sydney Water Catchment to visitors from Afghanistan or Yemen, but if you are from Canada, Australia, the US the UK, China or South Korea etc. then Australia's precious water "is yours" I call this the "Chaser Proposition" which sees millions of dollars worth of security and libraries full of laws and regulations, policies and procedures for the protection of water rendered totally obsolete.
The Future?
Unlike the Chaser boys, the mining companies are not going to turn around their motorcade of trucks and drilling rigs and leave -- so with no protection from our state institutions it is up to us, the citizens, to 'lock the gate'. Many groups have been formed around Australia and they include the farmers /landholders group, Lock The Gate Alliance. Below are links to those groups who are forming up into an army to fight against what can only be described as the greatest threat ever to water and land in Australia. The mining companies who are set to make a fortune for elite groups of people mainly in other countries such as Britain, the US and China appear friendly enough but they are in fact a mortal enemy who should be feared and stopped at all costs.
Long Live Australia! and let us stand with our farmers and the French farmers for the love of water food and wine!
What can you do?
- Find out more about CSG mining in your local area
- Spread the word to family, friends and neighbours about what is happening
- Call your local politicians to account
- Join the groups already set up to fight CSG
- See documentaries on CSG mining - links below
- Turn up at protests whenever you can.
NEXT EVENT
18 August 2011 (12:00 noon)
Rally at NSW Mineral Exploration and Investment Conference 2011
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Phillip St Sydney
Lock the Gate Alliance
CSG Illawarra Meeting
21 August 2011
Thirroul District Community Centre
352-358 Lawrence Hargraves Drive
Thirroul NSW (library)
http://stop-csg-illawarra.org/
Links to more information
Sydney Catchment Authority
Opening the gate to CSG mining.
Environmental Defenders Office
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act explained.
Australian Documentary Film on CSG Mining
Groups Against CSG (list incomplete)
Lock the Gate Alliance
Shoo Cockatoo
STOP CSG Illawarra
Wine Diva 25 May 2011
Bluemetal Vineyard closing its door in June
Bluemetal Vineyard will be closing their cellar door and cafe on 14 June. The vineyard has been an important part of the food and wine scene in the Southern Highlands. Located in the historic Berrima district, the vineyard has for many years hosted food wine and cultural events, at their cafe and cellar door.
This is your last chance to enjoy their delicious food and wine in a the cosy cafe set in a beautiful rural setting.Their award winning wines are selling at bargin prices via the cellar door and online.
The vineyard cottage will also close on 30 June.
Bluemetal Vineyard, 112 Compton Park Road, Berrima.
Cafe: Fridays to Mondays from 11am to 4pm.
Accommodation: $300 a night on weekends, $200 a night Monday-Thursday. Minimum two-night booking.
Information & Bookings Phone 4877 1877, wine@bluemetalvineyard.com www.bluemetalvineyard.com
Windowrie Estate's The Mill Celebrating 150 years
In 1861 the opening of The Cowra Steam Mill was celebrated by holding the Cowra Town Ball in the Mill itself, an event described by a correspondent for the Bathurst Free Press as "This brilliant affair ... "
Today, 150 years later The Mill is again celebrating, starting with festivities over the Easter Weekend and running throughout the year culminating in the Party as part of the Windowrie Weekend 29-30 October.
The Mill was purchased by the O’Dea family of Windowrie Wines in 1995, and was lovingly restored by Stephen O’Dea, with a group of local builders, welders and stonemasons after more than 90 years of abandonment.
The three storey Flour Mill was built of local granite and sandstone by the Walsh Brothers and some sixty men starting in 1859.
Celebrate 150 years of The Mill
The restoration stayed true to the original stonework and the beautiful timber work throughout was restored using recycled timbers and the ceiling was lined with the same hessian used to bag the super fine flour that made the Mill famous.
The building had somewhat of a checkered history. It operated as a flour mill for 40 years, closing in 1901 the year of Federation, due to depressed economic conditions. It reopened briefly during World War II to manufacture soap for troops, 80,000 of who passed through the training camp at Cowra. Then in 1952 the building was severely damaged by "the great flood" when the Lachlan River burst its banks leaving only the third floor above the water line.
Today The Mill functions as Windowrie Estate's cellar door, wine bar and pizza cafe, providing hospitality facilities to tourists and locals alike and showcasing Cowra wines.
Come and celebrate with the O'Dea family the history of this wonderful Victorian building and raise a glass to its future health.
For more information phone Windowrie (02) 6344 3264.
Small Acres Cyder - the apple in a cider lover's eye
Small Acres Cyder of Orange NSW, is at the forefront of producing traditional alcoholic ciders, and has created a range of premium ciders that would rival any aromatic white wine at the dinner table. Using time honoured traditions and adding their own contemporary twist, Gail & James Kendell have managed to produce exciting, food friendly ciders.
The inspiration to set up Small Acres Cyder in 2004 came from Gail’s frustration at not being able to get a real cider here in Australia. Now Gail and James have six different ciders in their range and a Perry. Each is made with the juice of fresh handpicked apples with wonderful names such as Sweet Coppin, Yarlington Mill, Dabinet, Antoinette and Kingston Black.
Cider apples have a more complex structure than eating apples and like wine grapes, have a balance of tannin and acid.
Gail Kendell's passion for cider
reborn in Orange
Cider apples can be grouped into Sweets, Bitter Sweets, Bitter Sharps or Sharps. It is how these are blended in different proportions that creates the different styles Gail and James make.
Small Acres Cyder have three cider industry firsts under their belt; the first is Appscato, made using the same processes used to make Moscato, also Cidre Rouge, a method champagnois Rosé style cider, and Pomona Ice, a dessert style cider made in a similar fashion to iced wines.
Small Acres Cyder of Orange NSW, is at the forefront of producing traditional alcoholic ciders, and has created a range of premium ciders that would rival any aromatic white wine at the dinner table. Using time honoured traditions and adding their own contemporary twist, Gail & James Kendell have managed to produce exciting, food friendly ciders.
Cellar door:11.00 am - 4.00 pm Saturday to Sunday. Lunch third weekend of every month.
Special cider events during Orange F.O.O.D Week, 9-10 April and 15-16 April 2011 Visit: Small Acres Cyder Web page
Cumulus have been expanding their creativity through the internet with the launch of their new website and debut in to social networking.
The new website not only looks great but contains all the information you'd ever need to know about their wines and who they are, alongside information on the region of Orange, upcoming events and activities, and a fantastic new online buying facility where you can purchase your favourite wines easily and directly!
This recent website development is complemented by their new Facebook page www.facebook.com/ cumulusestatewines, where you can talk to Senior Winemaker Debbie Lauritz and the team and keep up-to-date with the latest news from Orange.
It is also home to some great competitions so keep an eye on it for your chance to win some delicious Cumulus wines.
The rest of the Cumulus team has also been busy, with the installation and unveiling of the new Cumulus Bottling Line and impressive improvements to the environmental sustainability of the winery.
The new Bottling Line is the first high capacity permanent bottling line in the Orange wine region and will create significant employment as well as underpin the vitality of the local wine industry and further establish Cumulus's role as a business leader in the Central West. It will also significantly reduce transport times, and thus minimise transport-based winery carbon emissions.
This links in nicely to the other improvements to environmental sustainability at the Estate vineyards and winery. These improvements led to Cumulus Estate Wines being awarded the prize for the Best Agribusiness and the Best Environmental Sustainability Award for Water Conservation at the recent 2010 CGU Orange Outstanding Business Awards.
So a great start to the year, and with the 2011 Orange harvest just round the corner (Debbie predicts the first picking date of February 14th) the work is only just starting!
Austrian grape varieties a winner for Adelaide Hills winery
Hahndorf Hill Winery in the Adelaide Hills is on a winning streak with its new-wave Austrian grape varieties.
This year the boutique winery became the first winery in South Australia (and the second in Australia) to produce a vintage from Grüner Veltliner, the trendy white grape from Austria which is reputed to make the world's most food-friendly wine.
Hahndorf Hill's debut 2010 GRU (Grüner Veltliner) was awarded 94 points in a review by Philip White of The Independent Weekly and 93 points by Tim White of The Australian Financial Review.
Larry Jacobs in his
vineyard
at Hahndorf Hill
Hahndorf Hill co-owner, Larry Jacobs, said there had been a 'huge interest'; in his debut Grüner Veltliner, with the wine being virtually pre-sold before release.
Hahndorf Hill is also the only Australian producer of Blaufränkisch, the prestige red grape from Austria. The 2008 Hahndorf Hill Blaufränkisch recently scooped a trophy and gold medal at the 2010 Australian Boutique Awards, as well as a gold medal at the 2010 International Cool Climate Wine Show.
To reserve your allocation of the Hahndorf Hill 2011 GRU, visit the Grüner Veltliner page on the Hahndorf Hill website.
Visit w ebsite www.hahndorfhillwinery.com.au
Cool Climate Cabernet Cleans Up Consistently
The Pyrenees wine region in Western Victoria, is a cool climate high elevation region turning heads in the wine world with a distinctive regional style of Cabernet Sauvignon.
At the recent Victorian Wine Show pioneer Pyrenees winery, Blue Pyrenees was a star performer in the Cabernet class. Their 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon won Trophy for Best Cabernet in Show and a gold medal in its class. This is a repeat performance of the success of the 2008 vintage which also won gold at the show. The 2009 also impressed the judges at this year's Adelaide, Ballarat and National Cool Climate wine shows winning praise for its complexity and concentration.
Blue Pyrenees
Cabernet Sauvignon
Andrew Koerner Senior Winemaker at Blue Pyrenees is very happy but not surprised by the results.
"I have been convinced since I have been with Blue Pyrenees that Cabernet is our most consistent high quality performer in both the vineyard and as a wine. It has great elegance and power, demonstrating just why a cool climate like ours really suits this variety. This is why our flagship 'Reserve' Estate Red wine is mostly made from Cabernet. I truly believe that very few wine regions in Australia can claim to do Cabernet as well as the Pyrenees region and that we can really hang our hat on this variety", says Andrew.
Andrew is in a good position to comment having worked for over 22 years in some of our best wine regions, including McLaren Vale, the Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley and the Hunter.
Blue Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (rrp $22)
Blue Pyrenees wines are available from wine stockists nationally
Or via their website www.bluepyrenees.com.au
"Poetry is thoughts that breathe, and words that burn." - Thomas Gray
Wine, poetry and food - three pleasures well-known to the ancients - still delight and move us deeply. Bluemetal Vineyard are hosting some very special poetry events, each featuring a well-known poet, and each a unique experience not to be missed. With poetry spoken in this Southern Highlands setting, we are reminded of the deeper truths of the state of the world and our own hearts.
Renowned poet, Robert Gray will present the next event on 29 October. It will be a special evening to celebrate the launch of poet Mark Tredinnick's first book of poems Fire Diary .
Beauty and passion are lived expressions here. Every care has been taken by Bluemetal Vineyard The cafe; serves fresh food and beautiful wine for poetry evenings and other functions and throughout the day.
Lunch in the garden
Set in a lovely garden with views of the vineyards it is intimate and cosy, with a warm, generous fire.
You can also stay at the vineyard in the Vineyard Cottage. A giant chess set, collection of board games including Scrabble, books and DVDs make the holiday cottage a perfect retreat to while away a weekend. Or, take your notebook, and find a quiet spot to pen your own hidden thoughts. It's an idyllic place with three stylish double bedrooms, cosy combustion wood fireplace and two large decks.
"A charming country retreat with European touches, perfect for groups of wine-loving friends, couples and families with older children."
Lenny Ann Low Sydney Morning Herald 2010
Bluemetal Vineyard cellar door, cafe and accommodation for poets, wine lovers and seekers of special places.
Bluemetal Vineyard, 112 Compton Park Road, Berrima.
Accommodation: $300 a night on weekends, $200 a night Monday-Thursday. Minimum two-night booking.
Information & Bookings Phone 4877 1877, wine@bluemetalvineyard.com www.bluemetalvineyard.com
Blue Pyrenees Springs Straight out of the Start Gate
Blue Pyrenees will be donning their silks in preparation for a Quinella event this October in their local region. They'll be a major sponsor for Country Racing Victoria's flagship event, The PJA Blue Pyrenees Avoca Cup for the second year running, and on the same weekend they'll unharness their new Cellar Door in nearby Daylesford.
Last year Blue Pyrenees Estate signed a five year sponsorship deal with The Avoca Shire Turf Club to be a major sponsor of its signature events which is held every year to coincide with the Caulfield Cup.
People flock to Avoca to experience the food, wine and excitement of
And they're racing!
thoroughbred racing. The Avoca Cup is one of Country Racing Victoria's top 10 events, with approximately 6,000 people on-course each year, and has seen the 2nd most growth in attendance in the Victorian spring racing calendar in recent years.
The 2007 Vintage Brut, the sparkling wine for which they built their fine reputation has just been released to coincide with the spring racing season and as a celebration of their foray into Daylesford.
Blue Pyrenees Vintage Brut 2007
RRP $25 www.bluepyrenees.com.au
Contact | Andrew Koerner, GM & Senior Winemaker, Blue Pyrenees andrew.koerner@bluepyrenees.com.au
Bursting with excitement - Orange Wine Week and Cumulus Estate Wines Budburst Lunch
Orange Wine Week is nearly upon us (starting Friday 22nd October 2010) and Cumulus Estate Wines from Orange are bursting with excitement to announce this years opening weekend event, the "Cumulus Estate Wines Budburst Lunch" to be held at 12 noon on Saturday 23rd October.
The Cumulus Wine Week event is always a sell-out at the Orange Wine Week festivities, showcasing the region's fine wines, excellent food and wonderful music, and this year the theme is "Budburst" - a celebration of Spring and the beginning of the new vintage.
For the first time ever, Cumulus invites you into their private vineyards for the event with a wonderful alfresco lunch prepared by Chef Josie Chapman from the Old Convent Restaurant. Josie is renowned for creating a sensational food experience using fresh regional produce in a modern Australian style.
Seated at marquee covered communal tables on an elevated position amongst the spectacular Cumulus vines, the lunch will be a celebration of everything new, including the latest releases from the Rolling, Climbing and super-premium Cumulus ranges. This year's event is not to be missed.
Cumulus Orange - showcasing the region
Orange Wine Week is now in its fifth year and is considered to be the most important consumer and wine industry event in the local Orange calendar.
Wine Week is 10 days' of events and activities highlighting the region's premium wines and local produce and 2010 will be a record year as for the first time over 100 registered events will showcase the scope of Orange's winemaking talent..
What | Cumulus Estate Wines Budburst Lunch
When | Sat 23rd Oct Time | 12pm Cost | $100 incl. bus (bookings essential)
Where | Cumulus Vineyard, Molong (bus departs 11am from Orange Visitors Centre)
Contact | 02 8977 2800
E. info@cumuluswines.com.au | W: www.cumuluswines.com.au
Kate McIntyre Australia's new Master of Wine
Congratulations to Kate McIntyre on being awarded her Masters of Wine from the Institute of Masters of Wine based in London. Kate undertook tasting and theory exams and wrote a 10,000 word dissertation on Chardonnay titled: "Australian Chardonnay in crisis - reality or industry perception".
The qualification is very prestigious because the exams are extremely hard to pass. Currently there are only 289 Masters of Wine in the world. Speaking about the graduands, Dr. Josef Schuller MW, Chairman of the Institute, said: "The Institute is delighted to welcome these nine new Masters of Wine to its membership. They have demonstrated a unique set of skills in the art, science and business of wine."
Kate's life in wine started very early. At the age of 8, she picked grapes for the first time at Dr John Middleton's Yarra Valley vineyard, Mount Mary and in the same year her father bought a piece of land on the Mornington Penninsula. For the next ten years she discovered first hand what was involved in planting a vineyard and starting a winery.
A graduate of Monash University, she spent six months of her Honours year studying in Lyon, researching a thesis on wine and food as an integral part of the French cultural identity. In 1996 she began her career in the wine industry proper, at Philip Murphy Wine and Spirits.
In 1998 Kate was the inaugural winner of the Negociants Working with Wine Fellowship and in 2001 was the Professional winner of the CIVC Vin de Champagne Award. In July 2003, Kate returned to Champagne as one of thirty Australians, (and past winners of the Vin de Champagne award), to be inducted in to the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, bestowing upon her the title of Dame Chevalier.
Kate is a freelance wine writer and educator. She has written extensively for newspapers and magazines as well as contributing to Discover Australia: Wineries and Wine: A Globlal Encyclopaedia
Kate is also Marketing Manager for Moorooduc Estate, her family's 12 acre vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula and is involved actively in the production of the wines. She maintains the wine list for the restaurant as well as running various wine education seminars and wine courses in house and for The Prince Wine Store.
Mirabella Vineyards joins the Boutique Riverland Wine Industry
Encompassing family history, a passion for good wine and determination, the boutique wines from Mirabella Vineyards, are showing the wine industry just how good Riverland wines can be.
The emerging boutique wineries are the future of wine in the Riverland. As in other great wine areas in Australia, vineyard holdings are unique, with their own terroir and microclimates, and the wines produced reflect the particular characteristics of each parcel of land. Individual personalities are allowed to shine through giving consistent unique quality, with most wines coming from single vineyards and harvests.
Riverland wines are varied and interesting, and in the case of Mirabella Vineyards, exceptional quality and value.
Mirabella Vineyards entered a new era when the first wines were produced in 2009. The label may be fresh and modern, and the wines young and vibrant but much of the fruit is sourced from 80 year old vines. Mirabella's first year of winemaking produced an award winning Shiraz of great structure which won silver at the 2009 Riverland Wine Show. In 2009 they also made a Chardonnay and Semillon Chardonnay blend which are crisp wines full of citrus and stone fruit.
There has never been a better time to drink Riverland wine. Smaller doesn't always mean better, but in the case of Mirabella Vineyards and the many other boutique wineries in the Riverland you should give them a go and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
2008 Shiraz - silver medal Riverland Wine Show 2009
For further information:
and to purchase please visit www.mirabellavineyards.com
Pindarie - the Barossa's newest cellar door
Pindarie Wines has announced the opening of a gateway cellar door to the Barossa Valley. Sitting high on the Valley's Western Ridge with magnificent views to the Barossa Ranges, Pindarie's is the first cellar door along the Gomersal Road to Tanunda, the central town of the valley.
Pindarie is welcoming, interesting and very beautiful. Owned and managed by Tony Brooks, a sixth generation South Australian on the land, and Wendy Allan, a New Zealander, the farm is very much a labour of love. Wendy uses sustainable practices in the vineyard and Tony has replanted native vegetation through the Trees for Life program. Historic stables and grain room have been restored to the original timbers, brick and stone to create an elegant relaxing space for wine tasting, seasonal lunches and lazy afternoons.
Morning light on Pindarie's historic cellar door
The views from the wide verandahs are breathtaking and inside the cellar door are very comfortable chairs and an open hearth in winter - the perfect atmosphere to enjoy Pindarie wine.
Wendy, a former senior viticulturalist with Penfolds has focused on Shiraz, Sangiovese and Tempranillo. Winemaker Mark Jamieson crafts a generous Tempranillo-Sangiovese-Shiraz blend as well as a straight Shiraz. He also makes a Traminer Riesling from fruit sourced from the Adelaide Hills.
Pindarie's first vineyard produced white, Savignan (what was once known as Albarino) will be released in July.
Their wines have had no shortage of medals and accolades since their first vintage in 2006.
Cellar door now open daily, 11am - 5pm. Take the Sturt Highway from Adelaide. The property also produces sheep, cereals and their own olive oil. Visitor facilities include children's playground, gardens and disabled access.More information and map pindarie.com.au/
Kick off ! ... Blue Pyrenees 42nd vintage and the Winewise Championships
The inaugural Winewise Championships announced Blue Pyrenees Sparkling Shiraz 2004 the first "Champion Sparkling Shiraz" of the exciting new competition which salutes outstanding wines in a 'best of the best' competition format.
The best wines from Australia’s leading national show, the National Wine Show of Australia and the Winewise Small Vigneron Awards are judged against the best wines from other major regional wine shows during the previous year's wine show circuit in order to select the Champion wines in each style category. Some wildcard entries from invited winemakers were also included to balance out the first year’s competition.
Unlike most Sparkling Shiraz made in Australia, the Blue Pyrenees wine is made in small batches and the still base wine is oak matured in small oak barrels for two years prior to blending.
The 2004 Sparkling Shiraz is the current release, having benefited from several years cellaring prior to release.
Blue Pyrenees has been 100% Australian owned since 2002 and entered a new quality winemaking phase under winemaker Andrew Koerner’s talented stewardship since he began in 2004.
Wins at Winewise and the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show in February for the newly released 2008 Blue Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon confirm this commitment to quality. "One of our aims when I joined Blue Pyrenees in 2004 was to improve wine standards right across the range and I think these results prove we have done just that. Winning a sparkling and still wine trophy in a matter of weeks is good confirmation that we are doing great things at Blue Pyrenees," says Andrew.
2004 Blue Pyrenees Sparkling Shiraz (RRP $25)
2008 Blue Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon (RRP $18)
Stockists: Available from:
Blue Pyrenees (03) 5465 1111 or www.bluepyrenees.com.au
For further information:
Damian Monahan, Blue Pyrenees. Email: damian.monahan@bluepyrenees.com.au Kylie Teasdell, Winestream Communications
Phone (02) 9439 1633 Email: kylieteasdell@winestream.com.au
Fuzzy Ball Wines launched to support local tennis clubs across the country
Cuttaway Hill, a leading Southern Highlands winery, has joined other leading wineries around Australia to support tennis clubs across Australia in nurturing the next generation of Australian tennis stars.
L to R: Tara Critchley (Tyrrell's), Damien Percy (Fuzzy Ball), Mark Bourne (Cuttaway Hill), John Fitzgerald, Rick Grounds (Alkoomi)
Fuzzy Ball Wines, the brainchild of Damian and Terri Percy aims to support an estimated 2000 tennis clubs Australia wide, through the sale of fine wines.
"For every case of wine ordered through Fuzzy Ball Wines, a nominated tennis club will receive $25. Thanks to this, if only 80 members from a tennis club ordered one case of wine per year, the tennis club would reach its average annual fundraising target of $2,000. All at absolutely no cost to the club," said Damian.
Tennis legend, Davis Cup Captain and Australian Open commentator John 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald says he recognises the important role that local tennis clubs play in nurturing future tennis stars.
"I encourage tennis fans, wine lovers and the general public to support local tennis clubs across Australia by simply ordering a case of wine through Fuzzy Ball Wines. Not only will you be purchasing leading Australian wines at discounted prices, but you will also be supporting the future of local and national tennis," concluded John.
Orders through Fuzzy Ball Wines can be placed online at www.fuzzyballwines.com.au. Fuzzy Ball Wines is the official wine sponsor of the Australian Pro Tour and will also be available at Australian Pro Tour tournaments. Contact 1300 854 707.
- Advertorial -
©
Wine Diva. If you would like to use any material on this site for commercial
purposes, please click
here.