John Glaetzer, former Wolf Blass winemaker, says he saw it coming: the day that bigger companies might pull back on grape supply. And come it has, with a vengeance, as Canberra growers contracted to Hardys learned a few weeks back. Driving from the Barossa Valley to Langhorne Creek with John in late September, the gentle … Continue reading John Glaetzer saves growers’ bacon
In the last few years the very best Canberra district wines have increased in number and quality. Importantly, more wines have streaked away from the me-too ranks to stand comparison with the best of similar styles from Australia and, in one instance, the world. Having judged the local regional show for some years the lift … Continue reading Canberra wine region — a judge’s perspective
Believe it or not, there’s a move away in some wineries from the ‘sunshine in a bottle’ or ‘fruit bomb’ styles that propelled our wines to international success. That it can be desirable for fruit to be ‘dumbed down’ — to use Kamberra winemaker, Alex McKay’s, words – can be tasted in some of our … Continue reading De Bortoli Yarra changes — hold the sunshine
For many small winemakers Canberra’s Winewise Small Vignerons Awards is the most important Australian wine show, overshadowing the usually prestigious and larger – but to them irrelevant – Sydney, Adelaide and National Wine Shows. So how did this little home grown show assume such importance? What began for Lester Jesberg (then a tax office official) … Continue reading Winewise small vignerons awards
Business people have been easily seduced by the sheer size of China. Surely, the argument seems to go, if I can sell just one widget for every ten of the 1.3 billion population, then I have a market for 130 million widgets. But in China – as in every market – the devil is in … Continue reading Wine exports to China — it’ll be a long march
Ravensworth Canberra District Shiraz Viognier 2005 $30 Winemaker Bryan Martin works at Clonakilla Wines, Murrumbateman, helping Tim Kirk with the Clonakilla products and making his own wines under the Ravensworth label. Bryan’s first Ravensworth Shiraz Viognier blend improves significantly on the very good straight shirazes of recent years. It’s a seamless, seductive drop squarely in … Continue reading Wine review — Ravensworth, Eileen Hardy & Madfish
In late April The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation tipped a 2006 grape harvest of around 1.96 million tonnes – about one per cent down on last year’s record harvest. AWBC’s estimate includes the assumption that, just like last year, two to three per cent of the 2006 vintage will be left on the vine … Continue reading Vintage 2006 — an Australian report
Last year I promised to come back with an extended shopping list of 2005 vintage Australian rieslings. As a group these present an extraordinary buying opportunity because they offer exceptional drinking and, in most cases, can be found at discounted prices in Australia’s extraordinarily competitive market. Australia — and especially South Australia — has an … Continue reading Wine review — a feast of Aussie 2005 rieslings
Turn your back on a pinot noir vine and it’s likely to mutate. No kidding. Not that it has much chance to these days because, like all grape vines, they’re bred pure from cuttings — avoiding natural reproduction and the mutation that does with it. Thankfully French monks maintained pinot’s purity through the Middle Ages. … Continue reading Pinot grigio, pinot gris — call it what you like, it’s still grey
An air picture of Casella’s Yellowtail winemaking facilities shows rows of stainless steel tanks, each holding 1.14 million litres of wine! And there’ll soon be 68 of them. Gigantic as they seem, they’ll hold less than half of the 200million litres of wine stored at this site – home to a brand launched in the … Continue reading How the Casella family built the Yellowtail brand