Monty Python's Australian Wine Review

A lot of people pooh-pooh Australian table wines. This is a pity as many fine Australian wines appeal not only to the Australian palate but also to the cognoscenti.

Black Stump Bordeaux is rightly praised as a peppermint flavored Burgundy, whilst a good Sydney Syrup can rank with any of the world's best sugary wines.

Château Blue, too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn.
Old Smokey 1968 has been compared favorably to a Welsh claret, whilst the Australian Wino Society thoroughly recommends a 1970 Coq du Rod Laver, which, believe me, has a kick on it like a mule: eight bottles of this and you're really finished. At the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour.

Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is Perth Pink. This is a bottle with a message in it, and the message is 'beware'. This is not a wine for drinking, this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.

Another good fighting wine is Melbourne Old-and-Yellow, which is particularly heavy and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.

Quite the reverse is true of Château Chunder, which is an appellation contrôlée, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation; a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.

Real emetic fans will also go for a Hobart Muddy, and a prize winning Cuvee Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga, which has a bouquet like an aborigine's armpit.

Maggie Beer cooking demonstration

Thinking of planning a seminar, conference or team building exercise in the Adelaide and Barossa region? Why not include a trip to Maggie Beer's Farm Shop and book an exclusive and interactive corporate verjuice cooking demonstration for groups of 10 or more.

These new demonstrations are held in the Farm Shop's Studio Kitchen where the popular television show The Cook and the Chef is filmed.

The demonstrations include straight verjuice tastings, plus audience participation with the preparation and tasting of tender corn-fed chicken tenderloins, sautéed with fresh herbs and deglazed with verjuice, plus Aussie mushrooms sautéed with fresh herbs and deglazed with verjuice and salad with verjuice vinaigrette.

At the end of the demonstrations, each guest will receive a signed copy of Maggie Beer's cooking with verjuice book and a bottle of Maggie Beer's verjuice. The demonstrations cost $15 per person. More information: 08 8562 4477

No more Port or Sherry

The wine industry will announce in a few months potential names for the fortified wines sherry, port, tokay and Marsala.

Australia signed a new trade agreement with the European Union last week, agreeing to phase out the use of wine names which are tied to places in Europe.

Chairman of the fortified sustainability project committee, Colin Campbell, says developing the new names has cost the industry a lot of time and up to a million dollars so far.

"We think we've now got to a point where we're on the last phase of our research, just testing names and hopefully from there we're hoping to have at least by March to have the new names out in the arena, so that we can start the process then of launching them and introducing them and promoting them."

Rich & Lingering Named Best Tour Operator in South Australia

Rich & Lingering was named best Tour Operator at the South Australia Tourism Awards gala dinner, on Saturday 22 November. Rich & Lingering will now go forward as the South Australian entrant to contest the Australian Tourism Awards, in February 2009.

The award is recognition of Rich & Lingering’s creativity, professionalism and innovation in the industry. It acknowledges their focus on providing high levels of wine and food knowledge, together with outstanding customer service.

State judging is conducted by a panel of independent industry peers appointed by the SATC. The panel comprises a cross-section of tourism industry experts. Judges are selected for their knowledge and experience of the industry.

“It is gratifying to receive recognition from the industry of our commitment to excellence, and caps off another very successful year for us” said Jason Miller of Rich & Lingering.

“We focus on the premium segment of the food and wine tourism market which requires Rich & Lingering to partner with other exceptional businesses across the regions. A big thank you to all who support Rich & Lingering and we look forward to continuing our relationship into the future.” said Mr Miller.

“South Australia is a fantastic place for food and wine, with many new indulgence seeking visitors discovering the regions for the first time. Rich & Lingering aim to be a key promoter of the state’s wonderful food and wine producers into the future.”

Rich & Lingering provides private tailor made food and wine experiences for guests, focussing on Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, and McLaren Vale wine regions of South Australia. Guests are able to draw on the knowledge of their guide of not only regional products but also international styles. Tours encourage guests to discover new products and the art and science of viticulture and winemaking.

Barossa in Top 10 Wine Regions of the World

The Barossa has been named one of the world’s top 10 wine destinations by the world’s largest online travel community, TripAdvisor. The iconic South Australian wine region was the only Australian destination to make it onto the prestigious list, alongside European regions such as Bordeaux and Tuscany.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the listing is significant because it was based not just on TripAdvisor editors’ opinions, but also on the Barossa’s popularity with travellers. “The TripAdvisor website is home to more than 15 million reviews of holiday destinations and products written by real travellers who want to share their experiences with others,” she says.

“South Australia, and in particular the Barossa, is obviously being highly praised by those who have visited here for a holiday. The Internet is the place where more and more travellers are researching their holidays, and its importance as a tool to spread the word about visiting South Australia cannot be underestimated.”

In its list of the world’s top 10 wine destinations, TripAdvisor praised the Barossa as: “this scenic region in Southern Australia (which) is highly regarded for its Shiraz and its other robust varieties of red wine. Characterized by its visibly rich German heritage, along with its rolling, vine-covered hills, Barossa Valley is a uniquely beautiful destination for sightseers and wine connoisseurs alike.”

The Barossa is an important drawcard for attracting Australian and international tourists to South Australia. “The South Australian Government is committed to marketing the region through the South Australian Tourism Commission and Tourism Barossa,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.

“The South Australian Government will continue to promote the Barossa’s unique culture, heritage and acclaimed wine to the world. “Being named as one of the world’s top 10 wine destinations shows just how marketable the region is as a tourist destination,” Minister Lomax-Smith says.

For more information on Barossa Valley check here.

Fleurieu Fiesta 08

October is upon us and so the limelight this month shines on Fiesta!

Fiesta! is a celebration of exceptional food, wine and hospitality across the Fleurieu. We celebrate Spring with a myriad of events during October, showcasing the very best that this culinary diverse and rich region has to offer. On offer are degustation dinners, salubrious long lunches, intimate workshops, as well as celebratory feasts, tastings of cheeses, new season olives and olive oils and new vintage wines.

Once again the Fleurieu Peninsula will open its doors and invite everyone to be a part of the celebration. Fiesta! 2008 is set to be a feast of the freshest seasonal food packed with over 20 wine and dine events, involving 15 restaurants, seven wineries and 24 galleries. All of the events offer a different experience to the public. Some of our picks include;
· Fiesta! at the Willunga Farmers Market (each Saturday) Fiesta! hosts its own stall at the market featuring Punters Pick and Fleurieu Peninsula Slow Self Guided Tours.
· Oliver’s Taranga Degustation Dinner (10 October) Food by XO Supper Club matched to museum & current release wines.
· French Flavours Come to Penny’s Hill (17 October) Come and enjoy French Provincial Cuisine with a modern Australian Twist.
· Wild about Yeast (19 October) Bread, Beer, Wine and Olives. Get wild about yeast at Producers of McLaren Vale.
· Fiesta! Finale (Saturday, 25 October) An Italian inspired slow food feast featuring current and museum released wines, at Primo Estate.

Throughout the festival you may notice restaurants across the Fleurieu offering a unique dish using regional produce, matched with local wines. Be sure to support these guys and eat local.

This is a perfect opportunity for visitors and locals alike to experience some of the peninsula’s best kept secrets and indulge in the region’s diverse range of food and wine. For more information visit Fleurieu Fiesta, or www.richandlingering.com.au/fiesta_tours.html

Shadow's Passing at Fox Creek

South Australia's wine world lost a faithful friend this week with the death of Fox Creek winery mascot, Shadow. Shadow, a border collie, greeted visitors to the McLaren Vale winery for more than a decade, appeared on TV shows and even had wine named after him.

He was loved by many visitors to cellar door, and always eager to charm our guests. Shadow's party trick was to chase the vibrating trellis wire along the vineyard rows during vine pruning. Due to this a wine was named after him in 2001 - Shadow's Run.

Shadow, who died on Tuesday, aged 11. We are certain he will be missed by the Fox Creek team, and the McLaren Vale community.