Category: Wine Blogs & Reviews

Cable Bay Vineyards

Can’t resist Island Wine

Easy to get to, this Kiwi destination is littereed with vines and blessed with a landscape punctuated by cafe It matters not whether you’re a grey nomad, a Kiwi returning home or a seasoned wine tourist, no visit to Auckland is complete without a brief detour to the Hauraki Gulf’s most populous island, Waiheke. Recently…
Read more

Nick Spencer Gruner Veltliner 2018

Too Good to Resist

Nick Spencer Gruner Veltliner 2018 Back in the 1920’s when Jack O’Hagan penned his famed Australian folk song, there was an old-fashioned shack on the track, winding back along the Road to Gundagai. But if you take a journey to the rural town these days, you’ll find that the track is sealed, the shacks are…
Read more

Robert Stein, Semillon Riesling Gewurztraminer 2017

Robert Stein, Semillon Riesling Gewurztraminer 2017

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 a hint of aromatic sweetness about them? And in fairness,…
Read more

Kilikanoon 2018 Mort's Block Watervale Riesling

Riesling – why you need to give this grape a go

Rediscover a love for a style of wine that is often overlooked by the modern-day consumer I’ve never understood why riesling, as a style, isn’t more popular, but the fact remains that it accounts for only around 1.4% of the national grape crush. And to put that sad statistic in perspective, according to the 2018…
Read more

Hastwell & Lightfoot Fiano 2018

Hastwell & Lightfoot Fiano 2018

I’ve frequently raved about Italian reds like Amarone, Brunello and Montepulciano, but for the vino bianco lovers out there, that European country shaped like a boot has plenty of unique and approachable varietals to offer as well. In Australia we hear much about their pinot grigio and Moscato, but in my view, it’s styles like…
Read more

Toms Cap Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Review

Escape with Vine Wine

Wine Tourism is growing and the Gippsland Region should be top of your list Wine tourism is a burgeoning industry in Australia and with a falling Aussie dollar that trend seems destined to continue; especially for regions that are blessed with ideal terroir, temperate climate and close proximity to a large airport. One of the…
Read more

Vina Veramonte Wine Review

Chile’s savvy rise to favour

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc could be the next big thing Among white wine drinkers, sauvignon blanc is a name on almost everyone’s lips these days and perhaps somewhat ironically, the Old World regions steeped in the tradition of Sauvignon Blanc production are having to make way for the relative newcomers with their fresh and zesty styles…
Read more

Caymus 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review

Got to give it to the Yanks

Caymus 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon One winemaker has stubbornly been making only one variety since 1972, and to hell with the risk! Any good professional adviser will tell you that it’s risk management 101 to spread your risk and have a backup plan just in case. “Have another string to your bow”, or perhaps ” add…
Read more

Castle Rock Estate

Oh Fair Lady ‘Rizza’

Riesling is on the rise as versatility adds to her attraction. Move over Fonz, after years of being courted by sauvignon blanc, there’s a new cool kid in town and her name is Riesling! It seems that what started out as just a small group of friends and family lip-syncing the chorus, has become a…
Read more

Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chardonnay

It’s a party with chardy

Chardonnay is the South African wine industry’s leading light, and those from Stellenbosch are the best. Much to the chagrin of my good south African “buddy” Nev, I love little more than watching the YouTube clip of British comedian Michael McIntyre take the mickey out of the South African accent. It’s not that the accent…
Read more