Plonk, at Fyshwick markets, now offers “growlers” – two-litre bottles filled on demand from 30-litre kegs. Growlers became a big part of America’s craft beer scene years ago, but made their Australian debut only last year in Melbourne. Growlers give drinkers access to fresh, take-home draft beer from small brewers. For small brewers they mean … Continue reading Growlers seen in Fyshwick
Wig and Pen Multigrain 285ml glass $5 We savoured the wholemeal goodness in the Wig’s new cask-conditioned ale, brewed from rye, barley, corn, oats and wheat. It’s a hand pumped beer, meaning less gassy fizz – an attribute that sits well with gentle, creamy palate and invigorating citrusy hops character. It’s another original, more-ish brew … Continue reading Beer review — Wig & Pen and Tooheys
Eperosa LRC 2009 $35 Light Regional Council Greenock Vineyard, Barossa Valley, South Australia Some time back Barossa viticulturist Brett Grocke turned to winemaking, determined to capture distinctive characters from “favourite sites throughout the Barossa and Eden Valleys”, he writes. In LRC we taste a unique, generous, elegant, spicy and savoury shiraz that could, at first … Continue reading Wine review — Eperosa, Jacob’s Creek, d’Arenberg, Juniper Crossing and Shelmerdine
The liquor section occupies just one aisle of the vast Costco warehouse. You weave your way to it past pre-fab gazebos, kayaks, pallets of flat screen televisions, groceries, small goods, dairy products and more, dodging truck-sized trolleys loaded with everything – including the kitchen sink (double tub). Yes, the kitchen sink distracts us as we … Continue reading The Costco Canberra wine offer
Widespread predictions of a dramatic, disease-driven collapse in grape production this year proved way off the mark. The Winemakers Federation of Australia estimates a total wine-grape intake of 1.62 million tonnes in 2011 – one per cent up on 2010 and marginally short of the five-year average of 1.63 million tonnes. Production remained well short … Continue reading Vintage 2011 — rain, disease fail to dampen grape output
How did Jim Murphy thrive in Canberra’s competitive liquor retail environment over all those decades? He set up shop in the late seventies, just as the Trade Practices Act (aided in Canberra by liberalised licensing laws) precipitated a complete restructuring of wine production, distribution and retailing Australia wide. Yet Jim successfully stepped from the genteel … Continue reading Farewell Jim Murphy — Canberra’s tenacious retailer
The Gate by Shingleback Shiraz 2006 $30–$35 McLaren Vale, South Australia The bling-laden label raises expectations – four gold and five silver medals from wine shows around the world. Pull the cork, thankfully no cork taint, pour the wine and instant joy. This is beautiful McLaren Vale shiraz, grown on the Davey family’s Shingleback vineyard, … Continue reading Wine review — Shingleback, Geoff Merrill, Peppertree, Tyrrell’s and Pio Cesare
In July 2009 wine retailer Jim Murphy and Canberra lawyer Michael Phelps bought the Schobers vineyard – one of three prime Clare Valley sites offered by Constellation Wines Australia in a mass clearance of its Australian wine assets. In October 2008 Constellation had announced the coming sale of three large wineries – Langton in Western … Continue reading Canberra’s Jim Murphy and Michael Phelps buy historic Clare vineyard
Overproduction, slash-and-burn retailing and our strong dollar should keep a lid firmly on mainstream wine prices throughout 2011. Adding to that chaotic mix are rising volumes of clean skins and labels owned or controlled by retailers, a dollop of parallel importing and the less-obvious but increasingly important activities of online retailers, auctioneers and direct marketers. … Continue reading Wine — slash and burn, burrow and build in 2011
Shelmerdine Riesling 2010 $24 Heathcote, Victoria Really fine riesling is just that – delicate and finely textured with not a trace of hardness derived from skin contact. Shelmerdine is as finely textured as they come, thanks to hand harvesting and whole-bunch pressing. The gentle handling technique also allows the fruit flavour to flourish. In the … Continue reading Wine review — Shelmerdine, Chalmers, Cape Mentelle, Mitchell and Zonte’s Footstep