There’s something missing from Canberra’s National Wine Show of Australia. It’s touted as the grand final of Australia’s wine show season. But if you look to it as a guide to the best of the best, then you’ll be disappointed. There are gaping holes across most varieties, but particularly in the ranks of sauvignon blanc, … Continue reading National Wine Show of Australia must fill gaps
Whatever happened to cabernet, former king of the reds? By volume it’s running a distant second to shiraz. And in the publicity stakes it struggles to a poor third behind tiny-volume pinot noir. Yet, when Australia’s modern table wine boom began forty years ago, cabernet sauvignon was revered as one of the four ‘noble’ grape … Continue reading Whatever happened to cabernet?
Lake George Vineyard Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $21.99 This is the first of the 2008 releases from Lake George vineyard. Made by Alex McKay, it’s a blend of semillon from old vines on the original vineyard and sauvignon blanc from the Hillbrook vineyard, on the escarpment, and Hall. Alex says they’re all mature vines, ten … Continue reading Wine review — Lake George & Grove Estate
There’s plenty happening on the Canberra district wine scene at present. It’s the depth of winter, but the first of the 2008 whites are being released, along with the last of the 2006 vintage reds and what little there is of the 2007s. New-release samples to date look good. And a tasting of the latest … Continue reading Canberra wine district — pre-spring stirrings
As we move towards vintage 2008 Australia’s wine industry is in dramatically different shape than it was last year. In spring 2006 as vines budded for the 2007 vintage, I was in the Barossa and Langhorne Creek hearing daily of cancelled grape contracts as large winemakers, with storage tanks full, anticipated a third consecutive bumper … Continue reading Snapshot of the Aussie wine industry
The emergence of shiraz as Canberra’s strongest wine variety is fortuitous for the region’s vignerons. Why? Because it plugs in neatly to a growing global view that Australia is the world’s shiraz specialist. And, arguably, the greater the diversity of styles we deliver the wider the interest that we’ll generate. Phil Laffer, one of Australia’s … Continue reading The power of a regional specialty
Last week I presented the industry perspective on the Canberra Regional Wine Show, but what’s in it for consumers? Well, read on and for a guide to dozens of delicious wines coming from Canberra and surrounding regions – Tumbarumba, Gundagai, Southern Highlands, South Coast and Hilltops (Young). You can troll through the catalogue of results … Continue reading A judge’s drinking guide from the 2007 Canberra Regional Wine Show
Despite Hardy’s sudden departure from Canberra, its ten-year presence leaves a valuable legacy that’s bound to express itself in unsuspected ways. Short of a miracle, the legacy probably won’t be the Kamberra or Meeting Place brands – the small volume face of Hardy’s Canberra involvement. It’s more likely to come from the know-how of the … Continue reading Vineyards underpin McKay’s new Collector label
Sometimes a vineyard’s fate depends on succession, or lack of it – a story well illustrated by Canberra’s first two vineyards. In 1971 CSIRO scientists Dr Edgar Riek and Dr John Kirk, unknown to each other at the time, planted vineyards on the western foreshore of Lake George and at Murrumbateman respectively. Kirk’s Clonakilla passed … Continue reading Lake George renaissance part 2 — Lake George vineyard
Viognier’s a niche variety and likely to stay that way. Why? Well, for one it has too much flavour and individuality. How can a wine have too much flavour? Well, look, for example, at gewürztraminer. Its heady, lychee-like aroma and viscous texture might be unforgettable, and a joy to drink on occasion. But that’s the … Continue reading Niche white that viognier