The Orange region in the Central Ranges of New South Wales is undoubtedly one of the up and coming vinicultural districts of the Australian mainland. Blessed with the ideal geology of Mount Canabolas, a coolish climate and 600 plus metres of elevation, the area surrounding the township of Orange has blossomed since vines were first…
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For reasons that I struggle to understand, the Marlborough wine region has become synonymous with sauvignon blanc. The region dominates in sales of the varietal not just in New Zealand but in Australasia for that matter. Since about 2009, the Kiwis’ sauvignon blanc has been the biggest selling wine in Australia; at one point accounting…
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The Mornington Peninsula was once a fertile agricultural and grazing region, but in more recent years has become a playground for Melbourne’s bizzoids and socialites. It’s as picturesque as it is conveniently located – being only an hour and a half from the city centre. There are literally hundreds of boutique wineries on the promontory…
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For as long as I can remember, Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula has been revered for its stunning coastline, pristine beaches, rugged clifftops and golf courses – but not least of all, its pinot noir. If you’re a lover of wine, the district would be well and truly on your radar when searching for an affordable alternative…
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THE Italian city of Verona lies in the country’s northeast and is one of the regional capitals of the Veneto district. Made famous by Shakespeare who used it as the setting for the Romeo and Juliet story, it’s now a mecca for tourists who seek out its art, architecture and history. For the oenophile, there’s…
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No one wants to pay more than they need to but the bitterness of poor quality lingers well after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. In these troubled economic times, most of us are constantly on the hunt for value; that Goldilocks balance that’s “just right” in the tension between quality and price. After…
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It’s often been said that, “You only get what you pay for”, or that, “If you buy cheaply, you’ll pay dearly”, but is that always the case when it comes to wine? Or is it possible to proverbially drink champagne on a beer budget? Value, like anything, is in the eye of the beholder and…
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“Gee that’s nice, what is it” – the first words spoken by the lady of the house as she took her first sip of the glass I poured then handed to her after a Saturday afternoon of chores being diligently completed. “Grüner Veltliner”, I said. “Never heard of it”, the reply without lifting her gaze…
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If my recent straw poll of white wine drinkers is any guide, so-called Savolanche – Australia’s fascination with sauvignon blanc from the Marlborough region in the north of the Shaky-Isles – seems to have finally begun to decline. And that would be to the collective sigh of hundreds, if not thousands, of winemakers around the…
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When it comes to organic labelling of products, Australian consumers have become accustomed to paying a premium for the ecolabel on the packaging but somewhat ironically, it has been quite the contrary with bottled wine. Whether it’s because of a perceived trade-off of quality for ecologically focused practices in the vineyard, or just that the…
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