Australian Wine Vintage 2008 on Squidoo

Vintage 2008 is underway

By all reports it is looking better in quantity at least better than last year, but It's big continent that we live on.

I am collecting a few reports for you to browse at

Australian Wine Vintage 2008 on Squidoo

Contact me if you are a winemaker or grower and would like to share your experience with this vintage.

Melbourne Food and Wine - MF

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is coming again.

Events will be held between 22 February to 8 March 2008.

You can get involved in classes, tastings, long lunches (throughout Victoria) and lots of other exciting Food/wine events. See link below for more details.


Melbourne Food and Wine - MF

Strathbogie Ranges Wine Region

Strathbogie Ranges Wine Region is one of the least known wine regions in Victoria. It's not that the region is remote, it is on the south east side of the Hume highway, between Seymour and Benalla.

But the countryside is rugged and there are only a few towns in the region. A large proportion of the grapes grown here is used in wineries based elsewhere.

But it is a region worth finding out about. there are many elegant wines available form this region.

It will feature at the next Victorian Wine Regions Showcase series on 6 and 7 February

Vinodiversity's discussion of the Strathbogie Ranges Wine Region

Victorian Wine Regions Showcase

I've put up the program for the Victorian Wine Regions Showcase Series. These events are held on the first Wednesday and following Thursday of each month at the Atrium in Federation Square Melbourne.

Each showcase features a particular region on cluster of regions. Wineries from the regions(typically 15- 30 wineries per month) set up stalls. As a visitor you are able to visit the virtual cellar doors of all of these in the course of the evening. You get a chance to talk to the winemaker, taste the wines and buy or order some. Most have a free mail list you can subscribe to.

When you register for your tasting glass you are give a voting slip to vote for the best wine in the people's choice awards.

the atmosphere at these events is generally good. It is a great way to improve your wine knowledge and meet other winelovers at the same time.

I go every month. See you there, drop by my stall for a chat.
Victorian Wine Regions Showcase Program for 2008

Nebbiolo has Arrivo

Article in the Adelaide Advertiser about Peter Godden (pictured below) and his passion for making great Nebbiolo





AdelaideNow... See the full article in the 'tiser

Vinodiversity's page about Nebbiolo wine including a list of other producers in Australia.

Wine Tasting Notebook

Steve De Long, the man of the Varietal Vine table has just released a snazzy new tasting notebook with a great cover.

I have a few available in Australia for sale, so you can snap one up if you are quick.

The 60 page book has a handy 8-page slip-out containing 216 aroma and flavour descriptors and other wine terms you should know, plus detailed instructions on how to taste a wine and write a professional tasting note about it.

You can make a permanent record of your tasting notes.


More details - Order your Wine Tasting Notebook

Drought, frost hits exports

The problems of drought, frosts and fires have severely impacted on the Australian wine crop over thee past couple of years. Production is down, and exports are falling rapidly. The price per litre received for exported Australian wine is going up. This is despite the continued high value of the Australian dollar. The graph below shows the unit value of wine exports is recovering strongly from the effects of the glut we had just a couple of years ago.




We can all expect domestic prices to go up over the next year or so, especially at the cleanskins end of the scale.


Info from ABS on wine exports

Sunnybrae Restaurant and Cooking School

My friend George Biron has entered the Blogosphere. He and his partner Diane are reopening the renowned Sunnybrae, the restaurant in the middle of the paddock.

George is a fabulous and inventive chef. His blog is beautifully designed and presented so check it out.

Sunnybrae Restaurant and Cooking School

Best wines of 2007

Another year has bitten the dust and we have all had some wonderful wine experiences, well I have I hope you have as well.

I've put up a list of some of my best wines for the year just past; you c an check it out, and perhaps make a suggestion or two. So far we have a Rkatsiteli from New York State, and a Cab merlot from Israel, surely there is someone who has tried a good Australian Alternative variety and can write about it. Don't tell me we have to wait for Kevin07's education revolution to find a literate wine drinker - present company excluded.

What were your best wines of 2007 See what others have said, and add your 2 cents worth.