It was 1878 when Ned Kelly and his band of bushrangers were drawn to the Strathboogie region in country Victoria by the prosperity of the area from wool production. Our most infamous bushranger and his henchmen successfully robbed the Euroa Bank of $2000 pounds in cash and a stash of gold. Fast forward 100 years…
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It is perhaps the most underrated wine area in Australia but could this also be one of the best? Wine industry tourism (or “Enotourism” to those proficient in the lingo) is flourishing around Australia and visitors are spoilt for choice. While some of our best regions, like those in southern Western Australia) are inconveniently located…
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For oenophiles like me, there’s an indisputable romance in wine, wineries and the vinicultural process. Sampling the product of other’s hard labour in the vineyard and expertise in the winery is enchanting, if not seductive; but for mine, there’s nothing more intoxicating than a good story about the journey of the people behind the brand.…
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At last we have a suitable white for Asian-fusion dishes The rise of Asian fusion style restaurants and our penchant for dishes with a hint of spice has seemingly caught Australian winemakers a little by surprise; is it just me or is there a dearth of wine lists with a wide selection of whites with…
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It’s confession time, and while I hesitate to admit it, the reality is I was wrong. Erroneous, incorrect or just plain mistaken, I was firmly of the view that longtime Sunshine Coast resident, Trevor Harch, had gone stark raving mad when he first told me that he had purchased a vineyard near Keyneton in the…
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Murray Street Vineyards 2017 Red Label “The Barossa” Fans of the comedy series, Frasier, would be acquainted with the French style, Châteauneuf-du-Pape; the red wine that Frasier Crane is frequently observed ordering while eating out at French restaurants. It’s a blend of red varietals from a region in the southern Rhône area near Avignon which…
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While the French and the Americans are still fighting about what it means to be an “organic” wine, there are some up-and-coming Australian producers who are kicking goals with “preservative free” styles of popular varietals; wineries like Temple Bruer in South Australia who are not only organic but also vegan friendly. I hadn’t ever had…
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It’s an ironic twist, but as a child I loathed any mention of the Coorong or South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. But these days start talking Fleurieu or Currency Creek, and like Pavlov’s Dog, my taste buds set my salivary glands in to overdrive! It must have been the English teachers I had for parents but…
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Orange’s climate elevation and diurnal temperature range is perfect for a number of grape varieties It’s always struck me as a bit of an oddity, but the blossoming region called Orange in mid-western New South Wales doesn’t grow citrus, let alone oranges. In fact, the staple crop of the region has historically been apples –…
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Experience a taste of Spain and broaden your horizons with the Rioja wine varieties It’s cool to be different these days, and if you’re in the dining sector, you’ll be attuned to the preferences of the funky hipster types; no more is it sufficient to offer five different beers or a range of wines from…
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