Wine & Musings

Come and share my passion for wine and food.

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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Travis Schultz Law

Despite the cliche, it seems that we are not motivated by money…

When it comes to employee engagement, money matters. But if my instincts are right, genuine and timely appreciation, flexibility, and a positive culture motivate staff far more than financial rewards alone. And it’s a recipe for retention. We all know that staff turnover costs; both in cash and in productivity, so it makes sense to…
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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…
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Hutchinson Builders Flying Forties Lifeflight Ball

2019 Hutchinson Builders Flying Forties LifeFlight Ball

As a board member for the Lifeflight Foundation, I am pleased to share details of their upcoming Gala Ball – and I would love you to join me. Details on how to secure your tickets or to book a table are below. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to purchase tickets to…
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BMW X5 30d

BMW X5 30d

I’ve driven some really nice cars in my time, but the new X5 is just about the best 4WD or SUV I’ve ever had the privilege to drive. And that’s probably unsurprising given that advances in technology are a given in this digital and industrial revolution that we are living through. But this one’s special.…
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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…
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2019 Travis Schultz Wine Master Class

2019 Travis Schultz Winemakers Masterclass

This classy annual corporate business lunch hosted by Travis Schultz features some of Australia’s most well-known winemakers in an entertaining afternoon of matching fine food and wines. The event includes some of Australia’s favourite wine makers who will each provide wines served in Riedel glassware to be matched with our five courses. This year one…
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