Taste, Taste, Taste!

Tastings, I like to go to as many tasting as possible.

I think it's a great way to introduce diversity into your "wine life". I find they work best if you go with an open mind, try that wine you aren't familiar with, go to that winery's stand you've never heard of.

I though it would be nice to give you all a lil heads up on some of the tastings I will be going to over the next few weeks / months that I think are worth while attending.

#1 - EastEndWineDown - $30 - Sunday 7th of April, 12pm to 5pm - Vardon Ave, East End, Adelaide

This is put on by East End Cellars and a few other people. There are few interesting winery's at this one I'm keen to checkout, see what they are doing and have out. Alpha Box & Dice one winery I consider "ahead of the curve" when it comes to the direction wine is headed in, in Australia. Oliver's Taranga and Golding just to name a few others I'm also keen on.

There's a heap of winery's that will be there for more details / tickets follow the link below

EastEndWineDown

#2 Mont Redon Chateauneuf du Pape Masterclass - $25 - Wednesday 10th April, 6:30pm to 8pm - Edinburgh Cellars, Mitcham, Adelaide

Being a huge fan of Chateauneuf du Pape this is a must for me especially since there is a chance to taste all the way back to the 1978 vintage. With those unfamiliar with Chateauneuf du Pape, it's an appellation (aka region) in France known for growing Grenache and making blends. Think GSM, Grenache, Shriaz, Mourvèdre.

For more info check out the link below or to book call 8373 2753

Edinburgh Cellars

#3 - Fassina SA & NZ Boutique Wine Tasting - $15 ($10 refunded on purchase) - Wednesday 17th April, 7:30pm onwards - Fassina, 37 Oaklands Rd, Somerton Park, Adelaide

A tasting put on by Fassina Liquor showcasing Muster Wine Co's portfolio. Muster Wine Co's portfolio contains a few of my favorite wines. Dalzotto who make an awesome Prosecco, Kangarilla Rd who are growing some awesome Italian varietals that are starting to get popular in Australia. Huia wines from NZ and a few other International winery's.

This is defiantly a worth while tasting to sus out. To book call Fassina Somerton Park on 8376 1848

#4 Game of Rhones - $45 - Friday 26th July - Ormond Hall, 557 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

A tasting showcasing the varietals grown in the Rhone Valley from France. These include Shriaz, Grenache, Mourvèdre and some cool grapes you may not be so familiar with Carignan, Cinsault, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. There will be producers from all over the world such as Australia, America, NZ and France showing their wine. The Rhone Valley style's of wine is very up and coming in Australia and this is a great chance to get familiar with them and with a trailer like this who can resist?


For more info check out the following links

Facebook Page and Website

So that's it for the moment, I hope to see you at some of these events trying something new!

For now Ciao!

B

Grüner Veltliner Show Down

                       VS

Does Australia have what it takes to produce an Austrian classic?

A couple of years ago I was looking for a bottle of white, feeling pretty open minded and bored of the usual's I stumbled across something I couldn't even pronounce at the time! This was a bottle of Grüner Veltliner, and a start to a whole new wine journey for me.

Grüner Veltliner (It's pronounced Grooner) is a white wine grape verity best known for growing in Austria. In 2006 it first made its way to Australia with the Hahndorf Hill Winery bringing in the vines. 2009 saw the first bottle produced in Australia by Lark Hill in Canberra.

I have come to fall in love with Grüner's over the years they suit our drinking climate very well, as they have light acid tones and a nice little hint of white pepper on the back palate. It's that wine you want to be drinking with a nice Antipasto dish sitting out the back with friends, or it's just as well suited to the Roast Chicken your mum cooks on a Sunday night!

Last vintage saw 3 producers in Australia make a Grüner Veltliner, and this 2013 vintage is set to shoot up to around 10 or so. This is defiantly a variety starting to take off in Australia. 

Today I'm going to mix things up a bit and bring you a side by side tasting of three Grüner Veltliner's. Two of them from Australia and one from Austria. So without further adieu I would like to introduce the 2012 Hahndorf Hill Grüner Veltliner, The 2011 K1 by Geoff Hardy Grüner Veltliner and finally all the way from Austria the 2009 Fred Loimer Grüner Veltliner.

Hahndorf Hill, K1 and Loimer Grüner Veltliner's

The side by side tasting is going to be done via video and I'm not going to lie I was a little nervous but I think it came out alright for my first one, check it out below.


Click This Link To View Video

There's always 1,000,001 things I'd like to say but, didnt get a chance too. If you have any thoughts or questions feel free to send them in.

So for now as always Ciao,

B