2012 Cellar Door Wine Festival

South Australia’s wine industry will once again come together under one roof for the second Cellar Door Wine Festival - Adelaide in February. The Cellar Door Wine Festival gives wine enthusiasts the opportunity to explore 12 iconic wine regions and enjoy tastings from more than 150 wineries.

SA Wine Festival Masterclass

The 3-day festival (February 24-26 2012) features a series of Master Classes including Tastes of the Barossa, Wine and Chocolate Tasting, and a Spiegelau Beer Glass Tasting.

There will also be a regional Farmers Market where visitors can sample and purchase regional delights from boutique producers, and beer fans can sample brews from micro breweries through to iconic SA brewer Coopers Brewery.

“The Cellar Door Wine Festival is a great model to promote South Australian wines to a local consumer audience right in the heart of Adelaide,” Wine Australia’s Domestic Market Development Officer, Chad Elson said.  “An exciting component of the festival is the mix of smaller wine producers alongside famous and well known brands, as well as the range of educational and entertaining master classes on offer,” Mr Elson said.

Cellar Door Wine Festival entry ticket includes unlimited tastings and your very own Riedel wine glass.  For more information on the Cellar Door Wine Festival please visit http://www.cellardoorfestival.com/

Clare Valley Wine Show 2011

The results of the Clare Valley Wine Show are out. Some of our favourite producers which we visit on our private tours are big winners.  Knappstein Wines collected the trophy for Best Wine of Show and Crabtree Watervale Wines who won Best Small Producer. Jim Barry Wines who was named Best Exhibitor of Show. 

This year, 45 exhibitors submitted 352 wines across 22 classes. In total, there were 224 medals awarded, including 36 gold and 44 silver medals.

Glenn James, this year’s Chair of Judges, said; “I wondered how the current vintage whites where going to look but it was a great satisfaction that amongst the 2011 Riesling there were still classic Clare Rieslings worthy of gold and trophy awards. We tasted a decade of Riesling in the older Riesling class and it was just stunning the depth and quality of the wines was just astounding.”

2011 Clare Valley Regional Wine Show Trophies

• Best Sweet Wine:  Kilikanoon Wines, Mort's Cut Late Harvest Riesling 2009
• Best Fortified Wine:  Crabtree Watervale Wines, Liquor Muscat 15 yrs
• Best Exhibition Section Dry Riesling, 2010 Vintage:  Tim McNeil Wines, Watervale Riesling 2010
• Best Exhibition Section Dry Riesling, 2009 Vintage and older:  Knappstein Wines, Single Vineyard Ackland Watervale Riesling 2005
• Best Vintage Section Shiraz:  Kirrihill Wines Pty Ltd, Clare Valley Shiraz 2010
• Best Vintage Section Cabernet Sauvignon:  Knappstein Wines, Enterprise Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
• Best Vintage Section Dry Red:  Jim Barry Wines, Three Little Pigs 2010
• Best Dry Red from Exhibition Sections:  Koonowla Wines, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
• Mick Knappstein Trophy Best Current Vintage Riesling:  Kilikanoon Wines, Mort's Block Reserve Riesling 2011
• Carl Sobels Trophy Best Vintage Section Dry Red:  Jim Barry Wines, Three Little Pigs 2010
• Best Riesling of Show:  Knappstein Wines, Single Vineyard Ackland Watervale Riesling 2005
• Best Small Producer:  Crabtree Watervale Wines
• Best Single Vineyard Wine:  Crabtree Watervale Wines, Watervale Riesling 2006
• Viticulturist Trophy:  Brendan Pudney (from Crabtree Watervale Wines)
• Best Exhibitor of Show:  Jim Barry Wines
• Best Current Release Wine of Show:  Kilikanoon Wines, Mort's Block Reserve Riesling 2011
• Jim Barry Trophy Best Wine of Show:  Knappstein Wines, Single Vineyard Ackland Watervale Riesling 2005
• Best Museum Wine of Show:  Knappstein Wines, Single Vineyard Ackland Watervale Riesling 2005

Fiano, Fiano, Where For Art Thou Fiano

I was immediately enchanted to discovere Fiano through a couple of McLaren Vale producers a few years ago. It was different, it was interesting, it had my attention. It wasn’t a fruit bomb wine, had loads of texture and complemented much of the food we have around South Australia. It was also something new for our winelists. It was something we had been longing for.

Fiano originates from the Campania region east of Naples in Italy. So immediately I think of light fresh seafoods, sometimes richer dishes such as (seafood) risotto, or richer poultry dishes. Generally it has a nutty, herbal, characters which I just remember as pesto; ie pinenuts, basil, parmesan cheese. It can be quite aromatic, and sometimes with smoky spicy notes. It naturally retains its acid and so should work well in the warmer South Australian regions, where other varieties lose acid quickly.

I recently had the opportunity to try the 2011 Coriole Fiano. They had just won the trophy in the McLaren Vale Wine Show, for best White Wine. I have been an admirer of both Coriole’s earlier vintages and the Fiano from nearby Olivers Taranga. Both of which we visit on our McLaren Vale private tours.

The 2011 Coriole Fiano had that distinctive nutty character and lovely citrus floral aroma. On the palate pleasant rounded acidity, but not as much as I would expect from this variety and given the cooler 2011 vintage. Nice and soft moderately full, with a distinctive citrus pith grippy finish. A style just calling out for food to balance the grip. Lovely long fresh finish.

RRP $25
Alc 13%
Sample: Provide by producer.

Around South Australia also look out for these other producers for Fiano.
Olivers Taranga
Ducks in a Row
Fox Gordon
Scott Winemaking
Beach Road

McLaren Vale Wine Show 2011

McLaren Vale wine show has just been completed for 2011. The three-day show, featured more than 650 wines. Twenty trophies and four highly commended certificates were awarded by the judges, similar to previous years.

The majority were awarded to red wines. International guest judge Lisa Perrotti Brown, from the US, chose the 2010 Shingleback Red Knot Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre as her top pick for the show.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, said. “It was an incredibly packed week judging at the McLaren Vale wine show. Got a great overview of the recent vintages and the new trends for this region. A lot of exciting new grape varieties are emerging with less emphasis on vines that clearly can't excel in this region (eg Sauvignon Blanc) and increased plantings of warmer climate / more expressive grapes such as Fiano, Vermentino, Grenache and Mataro.

The Bushing King - the region’s best wine maker was Steve Pannell from SC Pannell.

McLaren Vale Wine Show winners
Best McLaren Vale Chardonnay and blend of:   Highly commended: 2011 Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale Chardonnay
Best McLaren Vale White Wine other:   2011 Coriole Fiano
Best McLaren Vale Rose or Sparkling Wine:   Highly commended: 2011 Mrs Wigley Rose
Best McLaren Vale Shiraz under $25:   2008 Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Shiraz
Best McLaren Vale Shiraz $25 - $50:   2010 Wirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz
Best McLaren Vale Shiraz over $50:   2009 III Associates Squid Ink Shiraz
Best McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon:   2010 Battle of Bosworth Cabernet Sauvignon
Best McLaren Vale Grenache:   2010 SC Pannell Grenache
Best McLaren Vale Single Red Varietal Other:   2009 Pertaringa Wines Tannat
Best McLaren Vale Shiraz Predominant Blend:   2010 Fox Creek Shiraz Grenache Mouvedre
Best McLaren Vale Cabernet Predominant Blend:   Highly Commended: 2010 DogRidge THE PUP Cabernet Merlot
Best McLaren Vale Red Blend Other:  2010 SC Pannell Touriga Tempranillo
Best Fortified Wine:  Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards The Banished Fortified
Best McLaren Vale Museum Wine:  2004 Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz
McLaren Vale Icon Red Wine:   Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2009/2005

Adelaide Hills ‘Spring Whites & Earthly Delights’ Weekend

The Adelaide Hills Wine Region invites you to enjoy beautiful wines and remarkable flavours from the spring garden this year over their ‘Spring Whites and Earthly Delights’ weekend from October 28 to 30 2011.

Held annually, Spring Whites celebrates the beautiful white wine varietals the Adelaide Hills is renowned for, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Sparkling and Pinot Grigio, to name a few.

The Adelaide Hills is Australia's most vibrant cool climate wine region. With over 90 wine labels and 48 cellar doors. The Adelaide Hills is one of the largest geographical wine regions in Australia, and amongst the most diverse in terms of climate, soil and topography.

This year acclaimed Culinetic chef, Cole Thomas, has embraced the alternative by developing a range of unusual canapés, inspired by often overlooked spring garden ingredients. Including plants sometimes considered as weeds, Cole believes his recipes pair beautifully to bring the tasting notes of white wine to life. “It is invigorating to cast a creative eye over often overlooked produce and see how wonderfully it brings to life the palette and aromas of the unique white varietals of the Adelaide Hills,” he said.

“Pigface succulent, nasturtium and marigold flowers and unusual herbs including love lies bleeding and lovage have been selected to create dishes that reflect a beautiful interplay between the spring season and the characteristics of Adelaide Hills white wine. While the unusual ingredients have lent themselves wonderfully to some fabulous spring inspired names including ‘Garden Bloody Mary’, ‘Blooms’ and ‘Bird’s Nest’.”

A sample of the culinary creations, matched with Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc, will be unveiled at the Central Market Spring Whites and Earthly Delights launch event on Friday October 28 from 4:30 – 8:30pm, where VIP passes boasting special offers from the 20 participating wineries will be given to 100 lucky market goers. For further information and to download a brochure for the weekend please visit: www.adelaidehillswine.com.au

International Grenache Day in South Australia

Grenache is the worlds most widely-planted red grape variety, and deserves to be celebrated.
The First Grenache Symposium in June 2010 was inspired by wine legend Stephen Spurrier. His suggestion to two Rhone producers, Domaine de Mour-chon and Chene Bleu, was to hold a Grenache think-tank in the Southern Rhone. Over 250 top Grenache producers, journalists, and retailers from 23 countries came together to celebrate Grenache, which many people consider an un-sung hero of the grape world. Versatile, velvety and voluptuous, it enhances blends, yet is capable of independently pro-ducing great wines that age beautifully. The idea was born for an International celebration of this variety - the 24th of September 2010 marked the first festivity.

This year, the International Grenache Day celebration will be held on Friday 23rd of September.

Below are a few of the GreanacheDay events around South Australia.  Let us know if we have missed any.

Kay Bros
Kay Brothers Cellar Door
57 Kays Road, McLaren Vale

Their winemaking team will be hosting 3 Master Classes on the day at 1:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm (each for approx 12 participants). The focus of the tasting will include two back vintages as well as the 2010 new release and a preview of the 2011 straight from the barrel. In addition they will serve delicious finger food including cured meats, cheeses, olives and wood oven bread to test the Basket Pressed Grenache‘s compatibility with food.

Reservations for the masterclasses re essential as they have limited space available - first in best dressed! Please call Cellar Door on 8323 8201 to make a booking

Turkey Flat


Grenache Vine in Barossa



Join them for a special tasting to celebrate International Grenache Day.  Available for tasting are three vintages of Grenache selected from their museum cellar. Taste 2003, 2007 & 2009 Grenache all sourced from their ancient 100 year old bush vines.

Please contact their Tasting Room for more details.
TURKEY FLAT VINEYARDS
Bethany Rd ,TANUNDA SA 5352
PH: +61 8 85632851
http://www.turkeyflat.com.au/

Henschke
Henschke are offering a vertical tasting of three vintages of Johann’s Garden in their cellar door!  This is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Shiraz.  Johannes Garden is produced from low-yielding, old, gnarled, dry-grown bush and trellised vines from selected vineyards. 

The cellar door can be found at;
Henschke Road, Keyneton SA 5353
9am - 4.30pm

http://henschke.com.au/profile/news/read/id/19/

Cadenzia
Is a group of independent wine makers across McLaren Vale who have got together to show of this great variety in the region. The Cadenzia group have Grenache as the dominant component in blends or as straight Grenache. The term is a musical term referring to a soloist improvised performance. And so winemakers have the creative freedom and individual expression to showcase Grenache solely from McLaren Vale.

These producers include; d’Arenberg, Olivers Taranga, Dog Ridge, Yangarra, Samuels Gorge, and Maximus. There are a number of event being held with the Cadenzia group around Adelaide.

Cadenzia Dinner at Lenzerheider
6 course degustation with matching Cadenzia wines.
Tuesday 20 September, 6pm
Lenzerheider, 146 Belair Rd, Hawthorn SA 5062 Bookings on 8373 3711

National Wine Centre
Friday 23 September
5-8pm free entre

More in depth sessions are available with two masterclasses lasting 45 minutes. Meet the makers and discuss the wines.
5:30pm & 7:00pm
$15
Further information call 08 8303 7462

The Grenache Cup
The title fight between McLaren Vale & Barossa!
Grenache was among the first varieties planted in Australia. Many of the plantings remain around Barossa and McLaren Vale. Originally used for fortified wines, they have emerged as one of Australia’s greatest fine wine assets. Come and taste Grenache wines and cast your vote in the ongoing battle of Barossa v McLaren Vale.

The Edinburgh Hotel
Saturday 24 September
12:00 to 4:00

Turkey Flat 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Ok I admit it.... I forgot. Well not forgot, just didn’t remember – not top of mind.

When you are surrounded by some great Shiraz in Barossa, I find sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon flies under the radar a little, I’m ashamed to say.

And Turkey Flat haven’t helped any either. The last time they produced a Cabernet was in 2006, which I fondly remember. But with International Cabernet Day on 1 September it was an opportunity to indulge in some great juice and their latest Cabernet release.

The 2009 show typical restrained elegant style which I love across Turkey Flat’s portfolio. Not an overripe, super extracted style much to my relief. You can tell its Cabernet with just a hint of herbaceous/tomato leaf on the nose. Sometimes I find this not that attractive in the variety but here it’s well balanced by juicy red fruit, and an intriguing savoury earthiness. Pretty violets add to the mix.

The palate shows nice acid balanced with rich dark fruit, which makes me think it could be a 10-15 year proposition. Even though it’s a new release the tannins are fine and soft. Again the same aroma characters are present on the palate; spicy cinnamon and liquorice, rich cocoa powder, with that savoury edge that lingers unremittingly.

With Barossa Cabernet this good I could almost forget about Shiraz. Well almost.

RRP: $40
Only 500 cases produced
Alcohol: 14.5%
Scores: James Halliday 94pts Tyson Stelzer 93pts
Sample provided by producer

International Cabernet Day in South Australia

A day dedicated to celebrating all things Cabernet. How perfect for South Australia.

International Cabernet Day will focus on tasting and talking about Cabernet, and using social media as the thread to connect the global conversation together. Most of the action will take place on Twitter using the hashtag #CabernetDay to link the conversation. Tasters get together across the world to taste their favourite Cabernets and take part in the global exchange. It’s called a tweetup and it’s as simple as having a chat over a glass of wine.

WHO: every wine drinker, winery, wine shop, journalist, restaurant, sommelier and chef around the world.
WHAT: Cabernet Day is meant to be a community owned celebration of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Blend and Cabernet Franc.
WHERE: on all social media sites and blogs including Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter, Friendfeed, Gowalla, Wordpress, etc….Just use the #CabernetDay hash tag in your post to make it trackable by everyone else.
WHEN: Thursday September 1, 2011 all day (this is a 24-hour thing to make it possible for people in all time zones to join)
WHY: Short answer: why not? Longer answer: Cabernet is one of the most popular and celebrated grapes in the world. South Australia produces some sensational Cabernets, from across a range of different regions and climates. Get together to discover the diversity of styles with this noble grape variety.
HOW: Add #CabernetDay to any thoughts, videos, tweets, blogs or experiences you have that day. Search the #CabernetDay hash tag by searching google, Twitter search, Facebook search or whatever monitoring software you like.

There are a range of events and tastings around South Australia. Below are a few details; let us know if there are any others or you would like yours listed. Follow @RichLingering for all that’s great about South Australian food and wine, and #CabernetDay.

ADELAIDE:
The Qwoff Boys Headquarters From 6pm
15b Richard Street, Hindmarsh SA 5007
Spots are limited so please email justin@qwoff.com.au for availability

For Adelaide wine lovers, Zema Estate are holding a dinner at Enoteca in Carrington St Adelaide, Thursday 1st September 7.00 – 11.00pm. Click here for a copy of the menu including matching wines and booking details.

BAROSSA VALLEY
Wolf Blass Visitors Centre 5-7pm
97 Sturt Hwy Nurioopta, SA 5355
Jump straight into some sensational Barossa Cabernet’s matched to Hutton Vale’s spring lamb (also from Barossa). For more details.

Turkey Flat Vineyards cellar door 11am-5pm
Bethany Rd, Tanunda SA 5253
Special tasting featuring their 2000, 2004 & 2009 Cabernet!

McLAREN VALE
dArenberg 1pm - 3pm
Osborn Road, McLaren Vale SA 5171

More details here.

COONAWARRA
Zema Estate Winery, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Riddoch Hwy, Coonawarra
At Zema Estate Cellar Door they will be offering tastings of our Cabernets both current release wines as well as some rare aged Cabernets. This will also be the first opportunity for visitors to the Cellar Door to gain a 'sneak peak' tastings of the yet to be released 2006 'Family Selection' Cabernet Sauvignon. If you are calling in, don't forget to ask about their Cabernet Day sales specials. More details here.

Coonawarra twitterers for a Cabernet Day Taste & Tweet Up
Zema Estate Cellar Door 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Sampling cabernets not just from Coonawarra (all samples welcome).

Adelaide Good Food & Wine Show

The Good Food & Wine Show is back in Adelaide again and the tickets have just gone on sale!

Take a journey of flavour as you taste delicious food from some of Adelaide's own including Heavenly Delight, Murray River Salt, Gelista, Matchetts and Riverland Smallgoods to name a few. You will also be able to discover other exhibitors from around the country, including mouth-watering meats, delicious cheeses and amazing baked goods and sweets.

As an exclusive to the Good Food & Wine Show, UK celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott, will be heading to Adelaide solely for the Show, where he will share his diverse, delicious and simple approach to cooking. Other celebrity chefs, who will be there to cook up a storm are Manu Feildel; Matt Moran and Tobie Puttock. So book your tickets now to get the best seats in the house to see them live on stage!

Whether you enjoy savouring fine wine, meeting celebrity chefs or discovering new cuisines to cook at home - you won't want to miss the Adelaide Good Food & Wine Show.

Cheese Discovery Class
Take an exhilarating journey through the world of cheese in this 45 minute class, as you taste your way through a variety of cheese styles. Tickle your tastebuds as each cheese is matched with a selected wine or beer and range of accompaniments.

Riedel Decanter Bar
If you want to learn more about the wine you love to drink, then book into a Riedel Decanter Bar session which is both educational and insightful. Limited to only 20 guests, there are a number of different sessions to do, from Shiraz to Sparkling and Pinot to Greek wine sessions, each led by our celebrated fine wine sommeliers.

The Good Food & Wine Show will be on 7 – 9 October 2011 at the Adelaide Showgrounds. Tickets can be booked via Ticketek

Barossa Gourmet Weekend 2011

Barossa Valley is well known for its sensational wines and gorgeous regional food. The region has a fabulous weekend (20 and 21 August) to celebrate the best of the Barossa wine region. With 27 wineries generously showcasing their world famous wines paired with heart-warming food and the best of SA live entertainment, the Gourmet Weekend is guaranteed to banish the winter blues. Come and experience Barossa hospitality at its best!

To get your experience underway, simply purchase a NAB Barossa Gourmet wine glass for $5 at the first winery you visit. Hang on to it as this glass can be used throughout the weekend at all participating wineries. For more information visit http://www.barossagourmetweekend.com.au/

This year sees the introduction of some special events guaranteed to delight locals and visitors alike. Take in a movie at Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre on Friday 19 August, or relax with selected museum wines at the Penfolds Supper Club. For those with a culinary leaning, the Regional Cooking School at Yalumba, hosted by Peter Clarke from Vintners Bar and Grill, on Sunday 21 August will an essential foodie experience.

The Barossa Gourmet Weekend program is available here.

Steven ter Horst Chocolatier

As we all know chocolate is one of the four main food groups. Wine, cheese, and something else complete the lineup.

Adelaide now has a new chocolatier. Stephen ter Horst has opened up a shop on Unley Road in Malvern, Adelaide. He has combined the best ingredients South Australia has to offer, with the highest quality chocolate from Belgium. This allows him to perfectly balance the hand-crafted chocolates. Not to forget the luscious petit gateaux and tarts.

A couple of the more interesting and delectable truffles include; 'Olio' a gorgeous dark chocolate with Olive Oil, and the 'Fleur de Sel' with a luscious salted caramel filling.

These can be paired with hot chocolates and Coffee Barun single origin coffees. Oh that's right, coffee is the other main food group.

Small Winemakers are Beautiful

Wine lovers will have the chance to taste over 100 new wines from 18 of the region's small producers when the 2011 Barossa Small Winemakers Annual Tasting kicks off at Chateau Tanunda on Sunday 17 July 2011.

The Barossa Small Winemakers is a collective of small and independent producers whose wares offer a unique snapshot of the Barossa's sub-regions and the craftsmanship that goes into producing small batch wines. Often tricky to track down in mainstream channels, Sunday's event is a chance to discover labels such as Balthazar, Eperosa and jb Wines.

Head to the Chateau Tanunda (9 Basedow Road, Tanunda) between 11am and 5pm, pay your $25 entry and enjoy live entertainment, gourmet food and of course a taste (or 100).

Adelaide Hils Wineroom

Lovers of Adelaide Hills wine have a new, online community of their own, thanks to a research project at the University of Adelaide looking at the use of social media by the wine industry.
As part of the project, the Adelaide Hills Wine Region will launch its new virtual 'Wine Room' - an online, interactive community forum complete with a program of events that showcase the best the region has to offer.

Dr Roberta Veale, marketing lecturer with the University's Business School, is spearheading the initiative as part of her GWRDC-funded research project 'Wine As A Social Bond', which is the first study of its kind looking at the use of social media by the wine industry.

"The Wine Room is a place where fans of the region's wine can go online and chat to their favourite winemakers, enjoy live streamed wine and food matching events, watch interviews with key wine personalities, and discuss their favourite wine experiences," Dr Veale says.
"Already there is a whole calendar of online events planned for June, with members able to log in at the scheduled time to view and participate in each event." she says.

Friday night's launch of the Wine Room, an 'online tasting' will be conducted by Hahndorf Hill Winery. Registered members of the Wine Room will log in and participate in a live, streamed tasting of wine matched to single origin chocolate. During which they can comment on the experience, pose questions to the Hahndorf Hill vignerons, and engage in wine tasting from the comfort of their own homes.

Membership of the Wine Room is free. To become a member, simply register at: www.adelaidehillswine.com.au/wineroom/register

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Turkey Flat Single Vineyard Shiraz

Christie & Peter Schulz of Turkey Flat in Barossa Valley, have named the three single vineyard wines from 2008 after their three sons, William, Alexander & Oliver. These wines, like their three sons, come from the same parents and have all enjoyed the same care and attention throughout their lives, yet they are all quite different and magnificent in their own right.

They have selected the best barrel from each of three Shiraz vineyards. Each located in different geological locatons within the Barossa Valley and demonstrate the wonder and diversity of nature that makes up Barossa’s ‘terrior’. There are noticeable differences between their soil types, climate, rainfall patterns and local native ecosystems. It is great to see these wines individually, in that they show the diversity of styles of Shiraz across the valley.

2008 “The Conqueror” Shiraz (Stonewell)
Earthy aromas, with spicy oak, cocoa powder, and sweet cedar. Palate is full bodied, big grippy tannin, good acid, intense fruit with dark plums and red cherry, balanced with noticeable oak. Good long length. Packed full of fruit. Needs time to come together and also to soften out. Be interested in looking at it in 10yrs. A typical ‘Barossa Shiraz’.

2008 “TheGreat” Shiraz (Bethany)
Shiraz vines are planted in 1847, just beside the winery. Delightful aromas of violets, and a soft floral/earthy character, lighter fruit intensity. Mouthfeel is soft, with powdery supple tannins, moderate acid, nice long length of flavour, greater fruit intensity on the palate, but still medium bodied for a Barossa Shiraz. Ripe dark berry, sweet spices, and bitter chocolate to finish. More restrained style of shiraz, but a typical Turkey Flat style. Will develop even greater complexity over time, but probably the most approachable of the three.

2008 “The Twist" Shiraz (Koonunga)
Aromas of both dark and light red fruit, spice, star anise/all-spice, a little floral in the background, good intensity of aroma. 100% new oak but not oak dominant, as they have used water-bent French hogshead barrels. Palate has good grippy tannins but still with a soft powdery texture. Good fruit intensity, balanced with noticeable acid. Medium to full bodied, with delightful sweet spice, and cinnamon finish.

150 packs (1 bottle of each single vineyard wine in 3 pack), will be released on 1 July 2011. Available from Turkey Flat Cellar Door.

Samples provided by producer.

Montepulciano By Jingo!

South Australia Vintage 2011 (Pt 2)

Ask any winemaker what the best vintage is and they usually reply the one that they are currently selling. However, this past vintage in South Australia is even being described ‘challenging’ by some winemakers.

During our private tours we are meeting with winemakers, walking through vineyards and wineries. So we get to see first hand what is happening across the various premium wine regions of South Australia. With almost all fruit being picked and just finishing their ferments in the winery, it’s a good time to look at the three-quarter time score.

As previously mentioned in mid February grapegrowers were hit by bad weather just as the majority of harvesting was getting underway. The Clare Valley wine region has been among the worst affected, with heavy rainfall. In 7 days Clare received 60mm, and 65mm in Barossa.

In chats with various people we have heard many winemakers/vineyard managers in Clare and Barossa not picking whole vineyards due to a range of issues – mainly botrytis, downy or powdery mildew. Some in Adelaide Hills who would normally hand pick 2-3 tonnes per acre, have been ‘lucky’ to get 150kg of good (non-diseased) fruit. This has reinforced the importance of hand harvesting in vineyards, or sorting in wineries to exclude any damaged parcels of fruit. The image alongside show Grenache fruit in Barossa dropped on the ground due to botrytis infection.

The exception to this has been McLaren Vale – just to the south of Adelaide city. While the vintage started much later than previous years, the region didn’t have the significant rain events as other regions. A last-minute decision to pick as much shiraz as possible from March 20 - following 10mm of rain the previous day - saved much of the grapes from disease. The fruit had sufficiently ripened by the long cooler season, and to have left it any longer would have been too great a risk. Cabernet, Shiraz, Grenache and white varieties have shone through as highlights of McLaren Vale.

Overall, due to the long cool season with mild days and very cool nights, expect more restrained styles of wines. Also probably expect more discreet use of oak not to overpower the fruit that is present. With careful triaging of fruit, either in the vineyard or winery, there has been some great material coming in – just not much of it.

Artisans of Barossa

Artisans of Barossa is a group of like-minded producers with a common goal to protect and promote small batch, sub-regional winemaking. At Barossa's newest cellar door, you can sample not one or two, but seven individual wineries, with different winemaking styles representing the breadth and diversity of the Barossa wineregion.

The Artisans of Barossa Cellar Door is open 11am - 6pm Wednesday - Sunday and is located on the outskirts of Tanunda. In addition to traditional tastings, themed wineflights are available for purchase and include a Barossan pour of one wine from each Artisan as well as a sample plate of local Barossa produce.

Some of the great Barossa wineries include; John Duval, Hobbs, Massena, Schwarz, Sons of Eden, Spinifex, and Teusner. Check out the Artisans of Barossa website for more details.

2011 South Australia Vintage Conditions (Pt1)

Grapegrowers in some key South Australian wine regions have been hit by more bad weather just as the majority of harvesting was getting underway, with some crops facing ruin.

The Clare Valley wine region has been among the worst affected, with heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours. In the past 7 days Clare has received 60mm, 65mm in Nuriootpa (Barossa). Luckily only 15mm in McLaren Vale over the last 7 days.

The vice chairman of the Clare Valley Wine Region's Grapegrowers Association, Anthony Koerner, says bunch rot and botrytis have already been causing serious problems.

"Quite a bit of fruit is already being rejected so it won't be picked, it will just be left on the vine because it's got too much rot in it and with this rain it would only get worse I think, it would spread more rapidly. It's not good at all," he said.

In McLaren Vale a number of growers are taking the opportunity and have decided to harvest a good proportion of fruit this coming week. While rainfall may not be a direct issue, higher levels of humidity are increasing disease preasure.

Barossa Rare & Distinguished Wine Auction

The Barossa Vintage Festival's most prestigious wine event, the Rare & Distinguished Barossa Wine Auction, is set to excite wine-lovers around the world following the release of the 2011 Auction Catalogue. The Barossa Wine Auction, relies on the generous donation of wines from the personal museum cellars of local producers, and raises funds to support the continuation of the Barossa Vintage Festival.

Featuring some of Australia's most sought-after and iconic wines, the catalogue's 133 lots is a wine collector's nirvana - Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace, Torbreck RunRig and Rockford Basket Press Shiraz leading the list.

Hosted at Penfolds on the morning of April 29, you can expect to see some fast and frenzied bidding for the wines, many of which are virtually unprocurable outside of the Auction. A full copy of the catalogue is available here (3.7Mb), with tickets available through Venue*Tix.

South Australia's Food and Wine events

Below is a sample of a few of the great food and wine events happening around South Australia.

Adelaide Hills Wine Festival - Crush
30 January 2011
Spend the day at the Adelaide Hill's flagship food and wine event. Crush is a fabulous celebration of Adelaide Hills food and wine, which enables you to meander between various venues around the region. You will have the opportunity to experience the best of the region's wine served with a gourmet menu featuring fresh, local produce.

Natuzzi The Parade Food, Wine and Music Festival
20 February 2011
An afternoon in the sun to enjoy the fantastic food, wine and music that make this festival so popular.

2011 Cellar Door Wine Festival - Adelaide
25 - 27 February 2011
South Australia's first state wine festival! Get your Passport... Come and discover the best wine, food and regional experiences right in the heart of the city at Adelaide biggest cellar door! Three days of wine tasting (100+wineries), master classes (with Australia's wine royalty!), food sampling and a regional farmer's market (yum!), plus you could WIN A SMART CAR!

Tastes of the Outback
1-10 April 2011
Wine and dine your way through the Flinders Ranges and Outback, indulging in fine regional food and wine accompanied by world-class entertainment. Ride a camel to an exclusive Candlelit Dinner or watch movies under the stars and regional cooking classes. Eat your way through the region trying great Outback dishes, collect the cook book and buy the Outback condiments to make these great dishes in your own home.

A Taste of Good Things
17 April 2011
Popular South Australian jazz musicians will entertain you through the day as you relax and enjoy a glass of local wine accomapnied by some great regional food - the music will get the feet tapping.

Barossa Vintage Festival
23 April - 1 May 2011 (bi-annual event)
The Barossa Vintage Festival is the largest and longest running wine festival in Australia. Enjoy tastings, twilight concerts, a festival ball, literary events and much more. This is a biennial event that runs for a full week, encompassing all aspects of the Barossa community. Wineries are joined by businesses, civic groups, churches and individuals to stage the various activities that make up the festival.

Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend
14-15 May 2011
Wear your most elegant (and stretchy) clothes and really indulge yourself with a weekend away in one of the world's premier food and wine destinations. On Saturday you'll literally get a taste of things to come with samples of the year's vintage before the winemaking process is complete - a privilege usually reserved only for vintners. Then on Gourmet Sunday you can start the day beside a bonfire, eating hand-made sausages and roasted tomatoes. Then, after a morning spent doing some leisurely wine tasting, sit down to a lunch of barbecued prawns with parmesan and saffron risotto while being entertained by a swinging jazz band.

BankSA Sea and Vines
11-12 June 2011
Want to enjoy a weekend of gourmet delights, live music and world-class wines in gorgeous Mediterranean-style surroundings? Here, South Australia's premier chefs and restaurants have joined forces with local wineries to create mouth-watering menus complemented by great wine and live entertainment throughout the region.

NAB Barossa Gourmet Weekend
20-21 August 2011
Set your taste buds free with a weekend of indulgence in one of world's best wine regions. Each of the cellar doors taking part in this event will be serving up a fine dining experience matched with premium wines and the smooth sounds of live music. Barossa Gourmet weekend is a fantastic opportunity to indulge in food, wine and music and famous hospitality in the beautiful Barossa. A range of entertainment to suit all tastes will be on offer at each of the venues.

Tasting Australia - Across South Australia
26 April to 3 May 2012

No gourmand can afford to miss this! Showcasing the world's top culinary talent, the biennial event is an opportunity to enjoy the best food, wine and hospitality that South Australia and the nation have to offer. If you've never experienced the food and wine state - South Australia - then Tasting Australia is the perfect time to discover its secrets.

Two Hands Wines Cellar Door Platters

Internationally renowned Barossa winery Two Hands Wines has just started tickling the tastebuds of their visitors with the introduction of their new Tasting Plate made of delicious local and international ingredients.

Two Hands Platter for Two Jamon Iberico de bellota, Duck Rillette, Cornichons,Nuova Generazione Sundried Tomatoes, Roman Artichokes, Forteto Peccorino, Woodbake of Stirling crusty bread roll and God's Country Extra Virgin Olive Oil. $35

For more information please contact Shannon on 08 8562 4566 or visit www.twohandswines.com.au

Adam Liaw to Cook up a Storm at Crush Festival

Masterchef Winner and SA's own, Adam Liaw, will be hosting a public cooking demonstration at Longview Vineyard, during the 2011 Crush Wine and Food Festival. The demonstration is free for all to attend and will be held at Crush on Sunday January 30th 2011, 1.30pm – 2.30pm at Longview Vineyard on Pound Road, Macclesfield, SA.

Adam's cooking demonstration is inspired by the finest local Adelaide Hills produce and paired with his favorite white varietal, Chardonnay.

“Discover your Crush” and celebrate everything vibrant the Adelaide Hills Wine Region has to offer at their 2011 Crush Wine and Food Festival. The region invites the public to enjoy the best of the region as winemakers and producers showcase their wares at over 30 unique Hills locations.

The lead up to Crush delivers a series of masterclasses and special events kicking off on January 26th before the major event on Sunday January 30th.

Adelaide Hills Crush Wine Festival

The Adelaide Hills Wine Region invites you to “Discover your Crush” and celebrate everything vibrant the character-driven region has to offer at their 2011 Crush Food and Wine Festival.

Held on Sunday January 30th, the lead up to Crush delivers a series of master-classes and special events kicking off on January 26th. From Howard Vineyards’ ‘Flights and Bites’ that matches gourmet food with wines, to Sinclair’s Gully Twilight Tasting of “Oysters and Fizz,” and the Barratt Wines and Bistro 25’s garden luncheon, the Crush Festival has something for everyone to discover.

This year, Crush offers a chance to meet South Australian winner of MasterChef 2010, Adam Liaw, to hear what he loves most about the region.

“I grew up in The Adelaide Hills so it’s a region that I am very passionate about. It’s brilliant the whole year round but the whole region really comes alive for the Crush Festival. It’s a great chance for people to discover the real Adelaide Hills region and experience the pleasure of its fabulous food and wine at your their pace for the day,” Adam says.

“We are so lucky in South Australia to have beautiful wines and excellent local produce right on our doorstep” he said. “There aren’t many places in the world who can boast a wine region of The Adelaide Hills’ quality in such close proximity to a capital city.”

The 2011 Crush Food and Wine Festival celebrates its 8th year in 2011. The region invites the public to join Adam Liaw in enjoying the best of the region as winemakers and producers showcase their wares at over 30 unique Hills locations.

The Adelaide Hills Crush festival will start on January 26th through a series of events and master-classes with the main celebration held on Sunday January 30th at various Adelaide Hills Locations. For more information visit: www.crushfestival.com.au