Alpine Valleys

This is a relatively new wine region in North Eastern Victoria which contains about ten wineries. Like the nearby King Valley region, the Alpine Valleys wine region has a variety of climates from the relatively warm valley floors to quite cold areas further up the slopes.

I have recently added a page about the alternative varieties made here. Check it out!

I now have guides to seven Australian wine regions. These guides concentrate only on wineries producing alternative varieties. As such they are unique sources of Information. You can access them from here

Well said Natalie!

In a recent article Distilling Ten Wine Myths Natalie McLean debunks her favourite wine misconceptions. Number one is Chardonnay is better. It's great to see that the message of diversity is being spread around. You can read the other nine myths in the full article on the link above. But the first one is the important one. You get more enjoyment out of wine by pursuing the diversity path. Now where have I heard that before?

By the way Natalie McLean was recently voted the World's Best Wine Writer, and you can get onto her mailling list via the article link above.

Cobaw Ridge Lagrein 2003 Released

Lagrein is an wonderful Italian red wine variety from Sud Tyrol - Alto Aldige. If your geography is a bit hazy all you need to know is - it is northernmost bit of Italy, near the border with Austria.

The variety has attracted a bit of attention in Australia, encouraged by aficionados such as Dr Peter May. There are three commercial producers in Australia - Hartz Barn in the Eden Valley, Domain Day in the Barossa and Cobaw Ridge in the Macedon Ranges.

Alan Cooper at Cobaw Ridge has released his 2003 Lagrein. This was the wine that convinced James Halliday, who has a healthy scepticism about new variewtals to say "I am now a convert to the cause."

I can tell you three things about it, It's not cheap, it's bloody good and there is not too much of it!



Check out the Cobaw Ridge range of wines

Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show

Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show is the major event of the year for many producers and lovers of Alternative Wines. It will be held in Mildura during Melbourne Cup Week. Last year there were over 300 entries, and this year it could be even bigger. See

Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show

1 Trophy, 4 Gold and 12 Bucks a Bottle!

YALUMBA EDEN VALLEY VIOGNIER 2001 boasts 1 Trophy, 4 Gold and 2 Silver medals plus Top 100 at the Sydney International Wine Competition 2003. And you can get it from Winemakers Choice for just $11.95!
It's not easy to find. You have to go to the site and do a search for miscellaneous whites under variety, and there it is!

James Halliday gave this wine 94 Points in the 2004 Wine companion. You heard it here first.

In Search of Wine Diversity in the US

Dan Berger is a prolific US based wine writer. In a recent issue of The Wine Trader he wrote a guest column praising the search for diversity in wine and linking it to the philosophy of the Slow Food Movement.

"In Search of Wine Diversity" :

Wine News

The long awaited launch of the new newsletter Vinodiversity News has finally happened. Issue no 001, October 2004 is now on every thinking drinking persons computer. (well, not quite every)

Did you get yours? - You can get it FREE by following the link below.

What is the catch? - There isn't one. Vinodiversity needs to build its readership and hits. You will not be pestered to buy anything. You will get a monthly email newsletter that you can browse or delete as you wish. You will get no spam and your email will be safe.


Subscribe to Vinodiversity News

Melon de Bourgogne to be produced in Australia

Read about the forthcoming release of another diverse wine variety, this time Melon de bourgogne, the variety behing the wonderful dry whites known as Muscadet sur lie, made in the Loire Valley of France. But the Aussie version is being made by someone who we ususally associate with Italian Varieties.

Of course this won't be news to you if you have already subscribed to Vinodiversity News

See the full article on Aussie Melon de Bourgogne